Suliasi Vunivalu shock code switch

[taste2taste]

Warning, I'm going to go on a left of field rant that may be as boring as a game of Rugby.

The biggest issue I have with players swapping codes is the negative headlines it gives league. In the last month there have been headlines of 'stars' such as Kata, Rapana, Chambers, Moeroa and now Vulivanu swapping codes and a big article about Moeroa following his heart back to union and a few weeks later another article about Joseph Manu's dream of one day playing for the All Blacks.

For casual sports fans this feeds into the misconception that Union is the superior code with the pick of the best talent. Remember that article a few years ago from a rugby writer saying not a single Kangaroo is good enough to make the Wallabies ? Really? this was when Inglis, Smith, Slater and Thurston were in their primes. ( sorry couldn't find the article to link )

If you talk to someone with only a general interest in sport they actually believe this crap and think League is only played by simpletins who aren't good enough to play the 'global' game of Rugby.

 

[Burns]

he isn't even that good

 

[Mr Spock!]

Warning, I'm going to go on a left of field rant that may be as boring as a game of Rugby.

The biggest issue I have with players swapping codes is the negative headlines it gives league. In the last month there have been headlines of 'stars' such as Kata, Rapana, Chambers, Moeroa and now Vulivanu swapping codes and a big article about Moeroa following his heart back to union and a few weeks later another article about Joseph Manu's dream of one day playing for the All Blacks.

For casual sports fans this feeds into the misconception that Union is the superior code with the pick of the best talent. Remember that article a few years ago from a rugby writer saying not a single Kangaroo is good enough to make the Wallabies ? Really? this was when Inglis, Smith, Slater and Thurston were in their primes. ( sorry couldn't find the article to link )

If you talk to someone with only a general interest in sport they actually believe this crap and think League is only played by simpletins who aren't good enough to play the 'global' game of Rugby.

Has been going on since Joey kept threatening to go union every time he wanted more money.

There was an Easts centre who was quite good at league and disappeared when he went to Union.

 

[ReddFelon]

Remember that article a few years ago from a rugby writer saying not a single Kangaroo is good enough to make the Wallabies ? Really? this was when Inglis, Smith, Slater and Thurston were in their primes. ( sorry couldn't find the article to link )

If you talk to someone with only a general interest in sport they actually believe this crap and think League is only played by simpletins who aren't good enough to play the 'global' game of Rugby.

Where would you put any of the mentioned players on a pitch?

Some dual-code players do incredibly well. SBW is a prime example of this. On the flipside Benji Marshall and Sam Burgess are great examples of guys who were good in League and terrible in Union. The misconception is that swapping between the two is easy.

In general Wingers are the players who can switch between the two games easily. Forwards are practically impossible to switch, fullbacks also are not good for the switch case in point Folau was shit compared to actual Union fullbacks like Halfpenny.

 

[Springs09]

Has been going on since Joey kept threatening to go union every time he wanted more money.

There was an Easts centre who was quite good at league and disappeared when he went to Union.

You’re not talking about Ryan Cross who was only a solid league centre and played for the Wallabies in union?

 

[Walter sobchak]

Pretty sad indictment of our game really. Play league and confined yourself to playing in 3 states and Auckland once a year or play union and see the world.

And get payed handsomely to do so. It’s a no-brainer as the yanks say.

 

[hineyrulz]

Can he kick....

He can Knee.

 

[Canard]

Pretty sad indictment of our game really. Play league and confined yourself to playing in 3 states and Auckland once a year or play union and see the world.

And get payed handsomely to do so. It’s a no-brainer as the yanks say.

Except in Australia, they(Union) can't afford to pay more the one or two marquee players a year.

There ability to compete for talent with League is minimal at best.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Pretty sad indictment of our game really. Play league and confined yourself to playing in 3 states and Auckland once a year or play union and see the world.

And get payed handsomely to do so. It’s a no-brainer as the yanks say.

Ever heard of a travel agent?
If this is why people played sport everyone would play soccer.

 

[t-ba]

Pretty sad indictment of our game really. Play league and confined yourself to playing in 3 states and Auckland once a year or play union and see the world.

And get payed handsomely to do so. It’s a no-brainer as the yanks say.

Bizarre argument. It's not the 1990s anymore and these guys aren't spending two months abroad slowly taking in the sites. They're in camp on international duty and aren't seeing much of anything besides their hotel room and the training pitch.

If players wanted to see the world they are handsomely compensated enough (in either code) to do it in their offseasons. They might even get to do it with their families or partner!

As it is, Suliasu Vunivalu's idea of a good time is getting into barfights in a place I can only describe as the bogan infused armpit of Indonesia. I doubt he's particularly interested in taking in the Trappist monasteries of South of France for cheese tasting with his day off from Wallabies duties...

 

[Mr Spock!]

You’re not talking about Ryan Cross who was only a solid league centre and played for the Wallabies in union?

Yeah thats's him....played 8 years at the roosters.

Bit better than average.

Must've slept through his wallaby games.

 

[Generalzod]

The Wallabies need all the help they can get lol

 

[Mr Spock!]

Lol enjoy getting towelled by the poms, volcano.

 

[Perth Red]

Pretty sad indictment of our game really. Play league and confined yourself to playing in 3 states and Auckland once a year or play union and see the world.

And get payed handsomely to do so. It’s a no-brainer as the yanks say.

yeh Tbf it’s a sht game and a real step down in quality for the players but looking at the WC currently taking place compared to the the fan interest in the nines, as an athlete you wouldn’t say no to being part of big events like that. The large number of test matches, olympics etc etc is very appealing I’m sure to many.

 

[Perth Red]

Bizarre argument. It's not the 1990s anymore and these guys aren't spending two months abroad slowly taking in the sites. They're in camp on international duty and aren't seeing much of anything besides their hotel room and the training pitch.

If players wanted to see the world they are handsomely compensated enough (in either code) to do it in their offseasons. They might even get to do it with their families or partner!

As it is, Suliasu Vunivalu's idea of a good time is getting into barfights in a place I can only describe as the bogan infused armpit of Indonesia. I doubt he's particularly interested in taking in the Trappist monasteries of South of France for cheese tasting with his day off from Wallabies duties...

nothing to do with seeing the world, all to do with playing in big sports Events around the world

end of day the loss of a few decent outside backs isnt going to make A jot of difference to the quality of the nrl.
Maybe a couple of extra clubs will help keep talent in nrl?

 

[Perth Red]

Yeah thats's him....played 8 years at the roosters.

Bit better than average.

Must've slept through his wallaby games.

craig wing another one, played a few years in japan

 

[t-ba]

nothing to do with seeing the world, all to do with playing in big sports Events around the world

Bro, did you even read the post I responded to?

 

[Perth Red]

Bro, did you even read the post I responded to?

yes, it’s Appeal isn’t in travelling the world, as you say they are well paid and have two months a year they can get a round the world business class ticket to do that. it’s in playing in front of 70k at twickenham or60k at Millenia stadium wales or a World Cup in Japan in front of packed out stands. Aside from the gf and soo we don’t have anything comparable.

 

[t-ba]

yes, it’s Appeal isn’t in travelling the world, as you say they are well paid and have two months a year they can get a round the world business class ticket to do that. it’s in playing in front of 70k at twickenham or60k at Millenia stadium wales or a World Cup in Japan in front of packed out stands. Aside from the gf and soo we don’t have anything comparable.

Then why did the original poster make the argument about seeing the world if that was the argument?

 

[Uncle Kraka]

He doesn’t even know league rules. Will struggle in union.