New "LIV Style" Global Rugby League

[Wilson]

Disagree myself. I think the real competitors always want it and chase it and play in the pinnacle games. NZ have held every trophy in the past decade but don't seem to drop interest.

There is also the draw of being a sporting celeb that things like Origin can do for these young men. People can't even name Wallabies these days.

Regardless, they are giving up high honours if they go to R360 but the potential money will sway guys. It has to. Some players are being offered money that does put them in secure places for the rest of their life if they aren't dumb. I tend to think we just havent heard of the Rugby players yet as they are playing games and people are trying to play nice.

Those guys definitely exist, but I'm not convinced there are that many of them, or more that their are enough guys who aren't that in the NRL for R360 to get good pay from targeting them.

To be honest I think our biggest worry from a player perspective with R360 will be second order departures - not the guys getting lured to the unproven, pie in the sky comp, but the ones we lose to Top 14, Japan, etc. to back fill after they've lost marquee players themselves. That, and the other end when NRL goes much harder for our shared junior talent, particularly with a couple of new clubs to fill. I think there's a bit more reticence around taking the unproven R360 contract because the guys in union have seen clubs collapse first hand, and most don't have the NRL rip cord that a player coming over will have if it all goes tits up within a season.

 

[Major Tom]

Origin isn't nothing, but it only counts for so many of them for so long, I don't think it has the ongoing draw that test rugby does once they've played a season or two, particularly once they've won it (it's a bit the same with a Grand Final). The fact that our guys aren't winning anything means they're still hungry to try for a lot longer. International league is similar right now, probably with more interest in repping Samoa or Tonga a few times and moving on. That's something they can still do if they go to R360, just in Union instead. I don't think anyone really cares about the Kangaroos (yet) when it comes time to think about contracts.

But overall I think the big reason it's different is because RA is used to being outbid and having to compete somewhat outside of financial terms for their playing talent. In league that has only ever happened in isolated spots and they don't have a whole of game strategy to address a cashed up competitor going directly for their top flight talent. It's also a bit tricky when you've got ~18 clubs running around but only a few guys still get to be the "best" or "biggest name", it leaves a lot more genuine stars with wandering eyes who are open to an opportunity like this.

It will be interesting if it ever gets up. Super Rugby and the NRL are both vulnerable, but NRL definitely have more to lose and it's showing. Personally, I love watching the horse guy publicly sparring with a "competition out of a cornflakes box".

 

[Major Tom]

Those guys definitely exist, but I'm not convinced there are that many of them, or more that their are enough guys who aren't that in the NRL for R360 to get good pay from targeting them.

To be honest I think our biggest worry from a player perspective with R360 will be second order departures - not the guys getting lured to the unproven, pie in the sky comp, but the ones we lose to Top 14, Japan, etc. to back fill after they've lost marquee players themselves. That, and the other end when NRL goes much harder for our shared junior talent, particularly with a couple of new clubs to fill. I think there's a bit more reticence around taking the unproven R360 contract because the guys in union have seen clubs collapse first hand, and most don't have the NRL rip cord that a player coming over will have if it all goes tits up within a season.

I think that it's come at the worst possible time for NRL as they look to expand. PNG will get tax incentives but it's going to cost money to keep them afloat (they are getting assistance from the government). And I have heard that the Perth Bears aren't going to get any salary cap concessions so it's not going to be successful with the amount of travel they have to do. Anyone that thinks it's going to work like the Dolphins is delusional. I reckon he's a bit under the pump with that.

 

[KOB1987]

It will be interesting if it ever gets up. Super Rugby and the NRL are both vulnerable, but NRL definitely have more to lose and it's showing. Personally, I love watching the horse guy publicly sparring with a "competition out of a cornflakes box".

V’landys (the horse racing guy) looked noticeably shaky when he was questioned about the Lomax defection on TV last night.

 

[Wilson]

Regardless of whether this comp is likely to get up, or a real threat to our player base, RA (alongside other unions like NZ and SA) should absolutely be leveraging it as a way to get player transfer fees off the ground. The biggest issue with R360 in it's current guise is that it bypasses development funding (a big part of why it can pay players overs for players) and as such exists as a largely parasitic entity. Force that development funding through transfer fees and it becomes much easier to see it fit in the overall rugby ecosystem, and probably means nations can walk back their test selection ban.

If they can use the threat of R360 to get a few of the Northern Hemisphere nations on board (Wales must be pretty keen given there recent financial struggles and reducing pro teams) than it's arguably a better position for us then we are in right now, whether or not R360 gets up or even if it chooses to exist as an unaccredited comp outside of world rugby's purview and avoid the fees as a result.

 

[Omar Comin']

I get the sinking feeling that a whole host of Wallabies have signed with R360 and it'll be announced after next week's game.

There's no reason why they can't poach our best if they can also poach NRL's best who are paid that much more than the Wallabies to begin with.

How many in or close to our best 23 come off contract in 2026? Max Jorgensen is one - and he'd obviously attract a big offer, but I think most of the bigger names have been signed through to the world cup. I guess Mark Nawaqanitawase could go there for the first season too, maybe Noah Lolesio. The bigger impact will be post world cup if r360 is still going by then and the money remains the same.

 

[Major Tom]

BRONCOS BACKFLIP: Haas’ shock $1.5m decision looms in brutal R360 blow

BRONCOS BACKFLIP: Haas’ shock $1.5m decision looms in brutal R360 blow

www.foxsports.com.au

Bit of a non story just likely to stay with the broncos with a bump in salary. R360 came at the perfect time for him.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

The raids are more likely post WC though. If they have the gumption to eat a bad first year but then try and get as many guys as possible post WC.

If you’re 27+ it will be real tempting to grab the cash then.

 

[Wilson]

The raids are more likely post WC though. If they have the gumption to eat a bad first year but then try and get as many guys as possible post WC.

If you’re 27+ it will be real tempting to grab the cash then.

Whether or not that works for them might depend on the players they can get for that "bad first year". If it's not a good enough roster it might do more harm then good and they'll probably be better off just delaying the launch until post world cup, but they'd need to have a pretty committed set of investors to make that work.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Couldn’t really care less about the comp would like to see it go away tbh. The worry for me is the fact if Australia lost 10 of the top 40 players it would dramatically hurt all our sides instantly in the comps that matter to the Wallabies.

 

[stoff]

Couldn’t really care less about the comp would like to see it go away tbh. The worry for me is the fact if Australia lost 10 of the top 40 players it would dramatically hurt all our sides instantly in the comps that matter to the Wallabies.

That's why as a union that relies on outside events for solvency (Lions, RWC) we should embrace R360. If the working theory is a strong Wallabies underpins RA's success we need the best players. It's the same argument as the overseas player selection one. Bring in the best and work out how to make it work around availability.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Has anyone worked out who will be teaching Haas how to play rugby if he makes the move? Any coaches etc?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Not happening by the looks of it but if SBW could make the move and end up in the backline then Haas would be fine after the first few months of figuring it out.

If he did go to Rugby one day I feel for the poor bastard who cops an illegal clean out from him.

 

[Wilson]

Has anyone worked out who will be teaching Haas how to play rugby if he makes the move? Any coaches etc?

Assuming he doesn't play NRL in 2026, your expect they'd be hunting for a short term deal in Japan/France to ease the transition. Same as Lomax, Papenhuyzen, etc.

That, or we're going to see some very interesting shute shield and hospitals cup sides next year...

 

[Major Tom]

Not happening by the looks of it but if SBW could make the move and end up in the backline then Haas would be fine after the first few months of figuring it out.

If he did go to Rugby one day I feel for the poor bastard who cops an illegal clean out from him.

Nah the goal line drop kick or even running off a lineout running directly at their backline is when I would fear for someone’s life

 

[Strewthcobber]

Nah the goal line drop kick or even running off a lineout running directly at their backline is when I would fear for someone’s life

Someone will eventually pull him down and then he'll get penalised for doing something really stupid after the tackle because it'll be literally the first ruck he's ever been in in his life

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

The amount of wrestle work they do and work to find their front he'd do fine with his power. League backs can have issues about getting to ground in Rugby but more often than not I think a guy of Haas' size would get down and get it back.

 

[Braveheart81]

That's why as a union that relies on outside events for solvency (Lions, RWC) we should embrace R360. If the working theory is a strong Wallabies underpins RA's success we need the best players. It's the same argument as the overseas player selection one. Bring in the best and work out how to make it work around availability.

Are the Lions and RWC outside events or are they just an infrequent part of our standard cycle? They generate revenue for Rugby Australia.

R360 won't generate any revenue for Rugby Australia. While our top players might get paid more I'm not sure that helps the situation. If they are less reliant on match payments for playing for the Wallabies does that mean we will need to increase them to entice players to play?

One of our biggest issues with selecting overseas players is that they have to take a fairly substantial financial hit in order to play.

 

[stoff]

Are the Lions and RWC outside events or are they just an infrequent part of our standard cycle? They generate revenue for Rugby Australia.

R360 won't generate any revenue for Rugby Australia. While our top players might get paid more I'm not sure that helps the situation. If they are less reliant on match payments for playing for the Wallabies does that mean we will need to increase them to entice players to play?

One of our biggest issues with selecting overseas players is that they have to take a fairly substantial financial hit in order to play.

Outside events to the extent that the external factors that enable them are more out of our control than they are for the year-on-year events. This is particularly applicable to the RWC. It's not the argument here, but that money needs to be a future fund to protect against the next shock to finances, not part of the budget cycle.

If there are a group of players in R360 who are being paid outside of the RA system why not make them eligible for selection whether they are league converts or ex-Super Rugby. As to the argument around the financial hit, that applies whether players stay here for less money or take a reduced contract overseas. Those who want to play for the Wallabies will.

Super Rugby will end inevitably end up as a development comp as the wealthiest leagues cement their position. If RA embrace that then you can still thrive as a national side. SA prove you can have over a third of your side based overseas and do this. So do Argentina, and if you look at the rankings, Fiji are right up our clacker. If the Wallabies are the revenue generator, give them the best chance to grow the game by being successful.

 

[Braveheart81]

If there are a group of players in R360 who are being paid outside of the RA system why not make them eligible for selection whether they are league converts or ex-Super Rugby. As to the argument around the financial hit, that applies whether players stay here for less money or take a reduced contract overseas. Those who want to play for the Wallabies will.

I'm certainly not arguing that we shouldn't select these guys. We will probably have to.

I'm just not sure it's going to be a net benefit that they are being paid a lot of their salary by someone else.