Who really cares about RL players going to different competitions?

[NK Arsenal]

I do care about NRL Players going to the ESL, but I reckon its for the good of the game.

It is no secret that Australia is the best International team going around at the moment, so the ESL is trying to make their comp better by having more Australians. It is like in Football how the European clubs want a hold on the best Brazillian players.

Some time soon there will be another big club competition somewhere in the world that wants to buy Australians for big $, and they should go for it. I know that it would make them un-able (well in most cases it is) to play for the Kangaroos, but I say scrap that rule. Union is dumb with that aswell. Imagine all the Socceroos that would not be able to play for them because they played in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga etc etc.

Opinions?

 

[Ridders]

as long as they don't take our future stars like inglis, SBW, etc. i dun really mind if they go to ESL. As long as it helps rugby league to grow i'm all for it

 

[Stranger]

know that it would make them un-able (well in most cases it is) to play for the Kangaroos, but I say scrap that rule

There is no rule in RL im pretty sure.

 

[Dutchy]

There is no rule in RL im pretty sure.

un-written rule maybe...few exceptions in the past..Lyon, Smith etc

 

[Titanic]

They should take Tate - the further the better.

 

[Stranger]

un-written rule maybe...few exceptions in the past..Lyon, Smith etc

No 'un-written rule'. The fact that Lyon played would prove that.

 

[dilbz]

At the end of the day, when has the general wellbeing of the game of Rugby League actually gone downhill because of a player leaving? None that I can think of...

 

[Perth Red]

Unfortunately 70% of the NRL players in ESL are not great players though. Considering the amount of ex NRL players (upto 80% of the first team at some clubs!) it is causing huge detriment to British RL and it will be a very long time till the Lions are competitive I fear.

 

[ParraDude_Jay]

It is like in Football how the European clubs want a hold on the best Brazillian players.

Yep, and look at how well the English and Spanish national teams are going.

Players like Barrett, Johns, Lockyer etc. going over there is a good thing because they are great players who boost the profile of the game but it's the guys like Mark O'Neill, Glenn Morrison etc. who were never that great going over there in their 30's for one last payday that are holding back British RL, it's disgraceful IMO. The English public would get behind a dominant England RL team if they could build one, but it won't happen while young talents like Brett Ferres are getting released to fit Glenn Morrison in.

Then you get the Titans signing a talented young Englishman and playing him out of position in the QLD cup, but that's somewhat different. Mathers will probably be back in England next year 10 times worse for the experience.

 

[yosh64]

I dont really mind them going to ESL. But for the good of the game over there it doesnt help them. Its not like they are getting the best players like soccer does over there. It would be exciting if lockyer went for the fans but phil bailey, trent barrett, glenn morrison arent the best. Stacey Jones is great but at the end of his career.

So all it does is take a spot that could go to a local junior that the locals could get behind and support (remember beckham). Plus when England has a competitive national team im sure they would get new supporters. They love beating us. Homegrown stars are better than foreign stars in a developing sport.

Soccer isnt developing anymore in England, its the dominant sport. People know about it and talk about it all the time. But league needs local players to get that or at least to get the best (remember the increase in crowds and media coverage when johnsy went and played). Haha, can just see the outrage when we have union and superleague getting all our good players.

 

[TITAN1]

I dont care.

 

[Biscuits]

I long for the day that evry superleague team has at least 7 players, and every player in the waratahs, Brumbies, reds and the force all cut their tyeeth in the NRL. That day is closer than you think. Then let them rubbish our game.