Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
Christie reporting this today
Aussie Player Exodus
- Thread starter swingpass
- Start date
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Some yes, at least once we get the new TV deal signed, but how many and at what rate of growth is the big question. Part of the problem is the repeated change not only at the head coach level, but also in the DoR/High Performance manager role - the one responsible for planning these contracts out long term. We've ended up handing out top ups to players we aren't that interested in at a wallabies level anymore and ended up with little to no money for some that we are. It's never going to be perfect there, but with more stability and long term planing it could be a hell of a lot better.
Right now though, it all spins on this TV deal, it's next to impossible for them to make any moves until they have an idea how much we're bringing in year on year.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Damn that would gut the team.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Send them all to Japan and pick foreign based players. Just get it done. Do a BBL style league where we have 8 teams and I recognise 3 players in each. At the end of the season the Reds/Brumbies/Waratahs form together to play a champions cup style comp against Japan/NZ/Fiji.
LevitatingSocks
Watty Friend (18)
In order of priority for me:
1. Ikitau
2. Wright
3. Frost
4. Lolesio
5. Tupou
Tupou is a dominant prop but the injuries and inability to play huge minutes really limit his value. I don't see Lolesio being head and shoulders above our other available playmakers either even if he is the best of the bunch.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
That low Sky/NZRU deal is a real kick in the teeth. We could end up with a better Stan deal, but less money overall as the Super Rugby revenue share might be lower
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
What's Super Rugby revenue worth? 10 bucks?
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
What's it worth, or what is it worth to NZRU to keep it going by sharing millions of dollars with us?
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
It doesn't help, but if we get anything like the upgrade we are hoping for (and need) we should still come out well ahead without the revenue sharing portion from the NZRU. Also worth noting that having one less team to support in the Rebels will go a long way here - I believe that NZRU payment is roughly equivalent to 2 super rugby team grants per year.
Tazzmania
Bob Loudon (25)
I am not a fan of Rugby Australia, however credit to them for not sucumming to FOMO that a lot of journalists, posters and bloggers appear to be.
We are for all intents and purposes a bottom half of the top ten international side, a fragile yet sometimes competitive team.
Please can someone explain to me why we should not be letting players who can earn better else where go and do so, and correctly so then become ineligble for the Wallabies, as the player(s) that will replace them locally may and will possibly keep us at the same international level and unlikley to be much worse, but may have the potential to be better as the player(s) leaving, as those players have not lifted us very far from where we were, if that makes sense.
We are for all intents and purposes a bottom half of the top ten international side, a fragile yet sometimes competitive team.
Please can someone explain to me why we should not be letting players who can earn better else where go and do so, and correctly so then become ineligble for the Wallabies, as the player(s) that will replace them locally may and will possibly keep us at the same international level and unlikley to be much worse, but may have the potential to be better as the player(s) leaving, as those players have not lifted us very far from where we were, if that makes sense.
stoff
Trevor Allan (34)
NZR cash is about three Sua'ali'i's currently I believe ($5m).
Super Rugby distribution is $3.9m (just under two player option contract extension Sua'ali'i's) down from $5.5m pre-pandemic.
Not hard to see why players are going overseas chasing their true value. Not like much good will was shown towards the existing players from RA in bringing in a league player on crazy money, even if someone else was going to foot the bill originally. The departures over the past six months or so really do feel like that decision coming home to roost.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I think they are being over-valued. Particularly in England where their financials don't justify paying overs for talent but they do it anyway. I guess they were inspired by the Rebels corporate excess?
Regardless, at least when the deal was initially struck, Joseph was supposed to be privately funded similar to Pocock and Folau. I think the funds never materialised in McLennan's absence, though.
Agent
Billy Sheehan (19)
Wouldn't it be great to see a player of Hooper's ability giving back to the game and playing a year in the Shute Shield. Imagine the crowds he would attract and what a thrill it would be for younger players to play with and against him.
JRugby2
Bob Loudon (25)
While it would be awesome I don't think he needs to give back anything to the game. Blokes given quite a bit already.
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Manly? Surely if Hooper was going to go and give back to club land he'd be embracing his roots, not playing for some cashed up Shute Shield club masquerading as grass roots...
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
They definitely can't afford himEmbracing his roots you say?
I know of a team looking for a new backrower...
stoff
Trevor Allan (34)
Whilst it would be an interesting counterfactual to speculate where RA would be at without the previous Vic Gov deal and the reduction in rights if the Rebels had been shut down earlier like during Covid, my point was more that we can’t afford players in the current market. Market value is what they can get elsewhere regardless of what you think they may be worth.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
On the other hand, outside of Len and T Wright, what back played better than JS?
The punt to bring him across in the first instance has worked out. In a team that is lacking of quality in the backs, JS's introduction was immediately felt.