Why are NRL players so good at other sports?

[WaznTheGreat]

If NRL players are so good at other sports then how come none of them have ever won a Victoria Derby

 

[TheDalek079]

Martin Offiah too.


And for the OP, Cross was a unionite poached to NRL and dominated before returning to his native sporting code

 

[LordLeague]

In the 70's 80's and 90's, RL as a sport never "poached" RU players. RL clubs simply offered RU players an honest salary if they thought that player would provide an on-field benefit to their club. This was attractive to RU players who were only amateur and playing RU for free :sarcasm:

Lord League

 

[Brutus]

didn't RL poach players like Ridge, O'Connor and Ray Price?

Individual RL clubs poached them.

Not the ARL or NSWRL or BRL/QRL.

The Crushers also poached Garrick Morgan. lol

 

[Brutus]

If NRL players are so good at other sports then how come none of them have ever won a Victoria Derby

Stu Galbraith once won a Wellington Boot. Does that count?

 

[Joker's Wild]

I tried to watch the Wallabies Lions game, was the most dull shit I've ever witnessed. I would seriously rather watch AFL

Too far bro

 

[M2D2]

And for the OP, Cross was a unionite poached to NRL and dominated before returning to his native sporting code

lol.

 

[Joker's Wild]

I think O'Connor, North, Ashley-Cooper and Palou would be great in RL. Pocock too

 

[El Diablo]

I think O'Connor, North, Ashley-Cooper and Palou would be great in RL. Pocock too

who are they?

 

[rabbitohs95]

O'Connor wouldn't be a bad fullback, Ashley Cooper could be a decent winger and Pocock would make a decent lock.

 

[Son of Minto]

O'Connor is a leaguie anyway. Burleigh junior from way way back.

 

[El Diablo]

Jonathan Davies
Scott fairburn
Alan tait
Ricky Stuart
John devearux
Brian carney
Franco botica
Scott Gibbs
Dally messenger

Etc etc

Me thinks the op's theory may be flawed!

Stuart played both. RL first

not a convert

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Rugby backs could quite easily make it in league,on the flip side rugby forwards would have no chance of making it in league,they have no skills at all,forwards in league these days play like halfbacks and can pass,kick,offload,pick ball up on half volley etc etc,rugby forwards just flop to the ground and have no skills.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Genia too

 

[Loudstrat]

O'Connor wouldn't be a bad fullback, Ashley Cooper could be a decent winger and Pocock would make a decent lock.

Ashley - who would name their kid Ashley? Ashley Graham, Ashley Harrison - its guaranteed you kid would be a f*cking nigel :lol:

History shows a raft of Union players coming over - obviously to turn pro. Now that Yawnion is a paid game, and with no salary cap, the "challenge" has reversed. League nuffies can get big paycheck and play rep footy in Union, or struggle for first grade with an NRL club.

 

[aqua_duck]

The guys that have done well have either been high level guys or guys who've got abit of a union background.
Quite a few union guys have done well in league aswell. JWH had never played proper rugby league until he signed with Manly in 08, 18 months later he was representing the kiwis and today is arguably the best prop in the game. Ben Kennedy was a private school union player at St Joey's only started playing league after high school and turned out to be one of the best backrowers of the modern era.

 

[POPEYE]

didn't RL poach players like Ridge, O'Connor and Ray Price?

Some Union players reach a stage where they know they can play a more challenging game, most are content to wallow in a place where to be isolated with the ball is too demanding to contemplate. David Campese the perfect example, a lunchtime legend in Australia who would have been fortunate to play SL reserve grade if he switched codes.

 

[eozsmiles]

NRL players are carving up in other sports, especially Rugby Union.
It doesn't happen the other way around, nobody from Union succeeds in league.
Folau made the Wallabies in no time and dominates.

Heck even blokes like Cooper Vuna and Joseph Tomane who could barely hold down club spots in league represented Australia after switching to Union...

Other players such as:
- SBW
- Berrick Barnes
- Brad Thorn
- Wendell Sailor
- Lote Tuqiri
- Mat Rogers
- Timana Tahu
- Ryan Cross

have all done well in union, and that's just off the top of my head.

So why do NRL players go to union (and other sports) and find it so easy compared to league?

Andrew Johns even played cricket....

Other than rugby union, league players don't dominate other sports. And they only dominate the backs, not the forwards. You can claim Mundine in boxing if you like, up to you. Maybe before professional sport guys could play 1st grade footy and another sport in the summer, but it doesn't work that way anymore.

Swimming?
Athletics?
Golf?
Tennis?
Basketball?
Soccer?

Andrew Johns was a terrible cricketer. He was a below average 5th grader in a small town competition with 5 grades. Izzy is better at AFL than Joey is at cricket. And Izzy isn't very good at AFL.

 

[shinobi]

Rugby backs could quite easily make it in league,on the flip side rugby forwards would have no chance of making it in league,they have no skills at all,forwards in league these days play like halfbacks and can pass,kick,offload,pick ball up on half volley etc etc,rugby forwards just flop to the ground and have no skills.

a rugby players skills are in scrummaging, rucking, mauling, lineouts. its not just hit up after hit up like in league.

 

[firechild]

Didn't Brett Sheehan play for the Wallabies? He probably wouldn't of made NSW Residents if he stayed in League. Shit sport.

Pretty sure Brett Sheehan played rugby when he was younger. He was a surf boat rower at my surf club and most of those blokes played rugby.