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Aussie Player Exodus

upthereds#!

upthereds#!

Peter Johnson (47)
Still concerning. Even if they havn't signed yet, their contracts end this year, and there is no knowing if they will get another Super Rugby contract, and for how much. Wheras a Japanese contract is real and most likely significant.
 
RebelYell

RebelYell

Arch Winning (36)
The MLR will be a genuine threat against the new Super Rugby competition for talent.

I spoke to an Aussie based there who was offered a Super Rugby contract this year, which came in at less than his MLR base - and he also has the opportunity to be a free agent for the other 6 months of the year and boost his earnings in ITM Cup, Europe etc.

The Aus y'day spoke of Meakes & Cottrell heading to the US. If true, these are exactly the kind of depth players we will struggle without.

I've been big on the MLR for quite some time. I like the way they are going about it. If I had a choice between earning 50k in Aus (WTS) or US, I know which I would take as a young footy player.
 
Derpus

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
'Straya needs to figure out how to continue to produce rugby talent whilst being free to select overseas players. I've always thought it inevitable that we would have to select from overseas. It can work IMO. Plenty of countries in Soccer compete internationally with awful domestic competitions.

I once watched a game of soccer in Medellin and it was like watching the under 12Cs. Colombia aint bad though.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
Is there really a position we are desperate for in terms of the Wallabies though? If Rodda does go then someone like Arnold or maybe Skelton (based on comments I’ve read here as I haven’t seen much of the European rugby) would be a useful addition to our lock stocks, and we’d kill for a gun 10 from anywhere but there isn’t one, and our priority for the Wallabies is around retaining who we have as much as possible. If we do that then our best 23 are mostly eligible anyway (Nic White being the only one who isn’t already playing super).

Where the likes of Butler, Skelton, Gill & Godwin et al would be really handy now though is complementing the existing playing rosters to create 5 truly competitive sides. Even better if enough could be made available to make 6 in conjunction with any available PI players and maybe some from the Sunwolves squad.

When it became apparent Australia would be one if the first places back playing I did think there might be some opportunity to get a heap of these guys playing back here - even if only for a short while, but it seems it isn’t to be which is a shame (IMO).
 
B

Bobby Sands

Guest
Jimmy_Crouch said:
Why? Solid player. Not really a 6 not really a 7.
Click to expand...

Just a fantastic footballer. Will be Irish qualified in July, and I think will acquit himself very well at that level. I would only play him at 6 or 8 tbh.

Interesting that Connacht have held onto Australian John Porch, who was barely spoken about in Super Squad's here. I have zero read on his ability or form, but just find it interesting.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
Skelton would have been a huge addition to the Tahs pack. Would have given them much more balance. But he would have had to improve out of sight and be a viable jumping option to be a priority signing for the Wallabies.
 
Derpus

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
TSR said:
Skelton would have been a huge addition to the Tahs pack. Would have given them much more balance. But he would have had to improve out of sight and be a viable jumping option to be a priority signing for the Wallabies.
Click to expand...
He has, since he slimmed down and got some proper training under his belt at Saracens. He was one of the top locks in Europe - regularly playing in probably the best team in Europe and at the time probably the second best club team in the world.

Last year he won the Premiership and the European Championship, the final for which he started in.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
Yeah - I get all that. But - correct me if I’m wrong - but from what I’ve read he still isn’t a primary lineout target and benefits from playing in a team where they have a number of backrow options who are strong in the lineout.

Australia simply doesn’t have the backrow options to complement him.

That isn’t his fault, but it is a fact and it would have been very evident to anyone considering contracting players.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t try and get him back, but until we have at least one backrower who is a primary lineout target Skelton simply can’t be a priority signing.
 
Rebels3

Rebels3

Jim Lenehan (48)
Bobby Sands said:
Just a fantastic footballer. Will be Irish qualified in July, and I think will acquit himself very well at that level. I would only play him at 6 or 8 tbh.

Interesting that Connacht have held onto Australian John Porch, who was barely spoken about in Super Squad's here. I have zero read on his ability or form, but just find it interesting.
Click to expand...
Porch is still in contract whereas all the others had expired. Has had solid returns without been spectacular. Colby Fainga'a was the greatest of their recruits, won player of the year for them last season.
 
Derpus

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
TSR said:
Yeah - I get all that. But - correct me if I’m wrong - but from what I’ve read he still isn’t a primary lineout target and benefits from playing in a team where they have a number of backrow options who are strong in the lineout.

Australia simply doesn’t have the backrow options to complement him.

That isn’t his fault, but it is a fact and it would have been very evident to anyone considering contracting players.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t try and get him back, but until we have at least one backrower who is a primary lineout target Skelton simply can’t be a priority signing.
Click to expand...
None of their backrow options are any better than the Wallabies options as lineout targets except Itoje who often gets played at 6 - which is what we do with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto).

Billy V, for example, would be no more a target than Isi or Samu.
 
B

Bobby Sands

Guest
Rebels3 said:
Porch is still in contract whereas all the others had expired. Has had solid returns without been spectacular. Colby Fainga'a was the greatest of their recruits, won player of the year for them last season.
Click to expand...

That's a take for sure, and I can see the logic. Butler is the skipper and was player of the year in 2017.

I just personally prefer Butler to Colby, no disrespect to him at all.
 
Quick Hands

Quick Hands

David Wilson (68)
If they aren't already, alarm bells should be ringing loudly.

The current $57m a year broadcast deal with Fox Sports looks like a river of gold that is about to dry up. There is speculation Fox will only pay $10m to $18m a year or even put rugby on a performance-based deal, and these rumours are making players nervous. The fear is that Australian rugby will become a semi-professional sport with the Wallabies the only marketable product remaining. In that event, players could not be blamed for wanting to leave.
RA has let go consultants Shane Mattiske and Michael Tange with chairman-elect Hamish McLennan to drive the broadcast negotiations as a “matter of urgency”. That could be an understatement. Fox Sports – or whoever RA negotiates with – may believe they hold all the cards, but RA does have one card up its sleeve – the gold Wallabies card. That needs to be leveraged for all it is worth and then some.
With the exception of the Reds trio, the players have kept their heads down so far, but they will follow the broadcast negotiations closely, keeping their options open. There will come a time around the end of September or the beginning of October when the players will demand certainty about the financial future of the game here or look elsewhere.
If RA is unable to deliver a sustainable broadcast deal, more and more players will leave, not just a few Queenslanders, placing enormous pressure on the shape and structure of Australian rugby. The clock is ticking.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...ustralia-to-avoid-mass-overseas-player-exodus
 
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