The Rumours Thread

[Draginzaaar]

Why would Sua'ali'i come to the Dragons for $1.5M when he is the sort of player that could command $5m+ from Rugby 360?

Dismiss Rugby 360 if you choose but remember the Saudi's have invested over $5B into LIV golf thus far.
Aramco's profits for the past 2 years were $120B & $106B respectively. The Saudi's via the Royal Family and PIF own 97%. That's some serious dividends that can be thrown towards Rugby 360. They could easily cover a $5B investment if not more.

Imagine these metrics -
Teams: 12
Players per team: 30
Total player: 360
Salary pool 50% of the $5B operating costs = $2.5B
Initial Term: 5 years
That's an average salary of $1.39M per player per year.
Now apply the usual bell curve distribution to salaries and it's clear key players will receive $5M+ per year (some maybe $10M) while 'minimum wage' players will receive $500K per year.
And remember - these amounts are in US Dollars!
And remember - any player that is prepared to move their residency to Saudi Arabia would pay minimal tax.

Now how does this effect the NRL - well you can kiss goodbye any decent player that has played Union. Players like - Cam Murray, Angus Crighton, Payne Haas, Reece Walsh, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Tom Trbojevic, Kayln Ponga, James Tedesco, Loko Pacifica Tonga and Cam Munster just to name a few. Some players would not want to join Rugby 360 but you can be sure their player agents would be steering them in that direction. Easy $$$$ for them.

Where does that leave the NRL as it expands to 18,19 & 20 teams. Any reduction in top class player numbers will dilute the watchability of the game. If spectator and TV ratings reduce it could result in lower media rights going forward which then means lower player salaries which ironically make the Rugby 360 metrics even more compelling. It could even force the NRL to reduce the number of teams?

Golf and Rugby are a bit different. Golfers were already getting $Millions.

 

[twinkletoes]

For the life of me I can’t understand why we did t go seriously at Fogarty and just let Manly have tails run to sign him….looking at his kicking game this arvo thinking if only we had someone who could kick the ball that far we’d be a far better side..alas missed opportunities

 

[possm]

For the life of me I can’t understand why we did t go seriously at Fogarty and just let Manly have tails run to sign him….looking at his kicking game this arvo thinking if only we had someone who could kick the ball that far we’d be a far better side..alas missed opportunities

For me, DCE makes more sense right now. Reed will end up our long-term halfback and it will depend on who is available for us to sign for the period bleeding up to Reed's promotion to the NRL halfback position.

Marquee players that we need and want will become available. I'm looking forward to seeing our new recruitment manager getting the job done.

 

[twinkletoes]

We’re all guessing about Reed… everyone is assuming he’s going to be a superstar….hes still playing Flegg and there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before anyone knows what his future will be

 

[Gold_Coast Dragon]

We’re all guessing about Reed… everyone is assuming he’s going to be a superstar….hes still playing Flegg and there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before anyone knows what his future will be

It is almost a 100% curse to be tagged as a future star at the Dragons.

 

[possm]

Reed played with the first-graders in the trials this year. I'm sure he also had a game or two in reserve grade this year. Other clubs identify their star juniors and welcome their positive development. We are in desperate need of a star halfback and so there is nothing wrong with positively praising such brilliant young talent.

 

[TheRev]

There are so many young star halves that dont make it, lets say 95% of them dont make more than a few first grade games (best case).... even someone like Glover (who is 23 btw) has only just come of age in NSW Cup this year.. but still deemed not good enough to take the next step up..

Even when they make it, they almost never stay in 1st grade.. they almost always end up back in reserve grade for another year or two before getting another shot.. its just so damn hard.. #7 is the worst of them because for some reason fans and media love a pile-on on the halfback...

The other thing is ideally Reed will come thru when our pack is going alright.. that said so far so good for Kade.. and I love that he has an arsenal of kicking options.. hes not a cookie cutter in any way.. my one criticism is that he looks great when he runs, but its not all that often that he actually cracks the line.. but still hopeful.. but he might be 2nd or 3rd in the list of halfbacks we need in 1st grade.

 

[mattw5]

I have no doubt that Reed will be our star 7 into the future it takes time don’t expect a real push until 2027/28

 

[maestro1]

For the life of me I can’t understand why we did t go seriously at Fogarty and just let Manly have tails run to sign him….looking at his kicking game this arvo thinking if only we had someone who could kick the ball that far we’d be a far better side..alas missed opportunities

Daniel Atkinson can kick. Talented individual.

 

[Illusion]

I have no doubt that Reed will be our star 7 into the future it takes time don’t expect a real push until 2027/28

So what do we do , keep going as we are with no real 7 and wait and hope that Reed makes it in a couple of years and ( I hope he does ) So do we sign a 7 if available for 3 years ......... ?

 

[redv13]

So what do we do , keep going as we are with no real 7 and wait and hope that Reed makes it in a couple of years and ( I hope he does ) So do we sign a 7 if available for 3 years ......... ?

Definitely sign a genuine experienced 7 for the next 3 years. George Williams from SL, will be 31 at the end of the season. Pay the transfer fee and get him over here from 2026. These knuckleheads need to stop f**king around. He wants to come back, Dolphins have fallen through, go and bloody get him.

No disrespect to Reed, but nobody can say whether he will make it or not, needs plenty of games in cup against grown and experienced men to show his wares. Some people on here live in absolute Willy Wonka world

 

[Illusion]

Definitely sign a genuine experienced 7 for the next 3 years. George Williams from SL, will be 31 at the end of the season. Pay the transfer fee and get him over here from 2026. These knuckleheads need to stop f**king around. He wants to come back, Dolphins have fallen through, go and bloody get him.

No disrespect to Reed, but nobody can say whether he will make it or not, needs plenty of games in cup against grown and experienced men to show his wares. Some people on here live in absolute Willy Wonka world

X2 .......... Why not for now give Ilias another shot , can't be as bad as it is with Kyle at 7 , he tries hard but is no 7 ........

 

[redv13]

X2 .......... Why not for now give Ilias another shot , can't be as bad as it is with Kyle at 7 , he tries hard but is no 7 ........

Problem is mate if Ilias gets another crack at 7 then KF goes to 6. Now I know some people will say how about Ilias at 7 and LKT at 6 but we both know that won’t happen unless injury or suspension dictates that move.

 

[Murfy]

Anyone heard anything about Chevy Stewart being a done deal?

 

[TheRev]

Ilias really isnt the answer, take Kyle, add in a huge bunch of errors, add in a slightly longer kick, take away the goalkicking.. and throw in that we are for sure expecting him to move on in 2 months time..

Injury is another story.. thats how change will happen with the Reed/Glover/Ilias/Kyle/LKT situation... expect a savage cup game against the Warriors next week also.. we got found out yesterday, injuries r biting all grades.

p.s. hope ur right Murfy.. Chevy doesnt excite me as much as some of the more battle hardened fullbacks that should be poachable.. but hes a sloan replacement.. has respectable enough speed.. and im very much up for that.

 

[RedV11]

Anyone heard anything about Chevy Stewart being a done deal?

Someone on FB said it was a done deal