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Aussie Player Exodus

Slim 293

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
That really sucks...

Genuine star player... easily the best winger in Australia right now.

What a year!
 
Members Section

Members Section

John Thornett (49)
Massive Marky fan & def our best currently, how ever if the last 12 months has shown us anything we need to time into players that are going to be there for the lions series/wc. Who ever the new coach is needs to be picking Toole, Wright, Max & so forth
 
Derpus

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Members Section said:
& the fact that a player who has never played Super Rugby let alone a test would have been on 3x him
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Yeah this. Kick in the balls considering he had on paper performances to justify a hefty salary.

I can see how some other players probably couldn't justify being upset by Sua'ali'is massive salary given their lack of performance but this doesn't apply to Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase).
 
L

Linerunner2023

Watty Friend (18)
Rugby AU probably asked Marky N to leave so Sua'ali'i could take the right wing spot for tahs as it would have embarrassed is he was on the bench for the Waratahs behind Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) for 3 x the money
 
Hawko

Hawko

Tony Shaw (54)
Linerunner2023 said:
Rugby AU probably asked Marky N to leave so Sua'ali'i could take the right wing spot for tahs as it would have embarrassed is he was on the bench for the Waratahs behind Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) for 3 x the money
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Sua'ali is probably more suited to 13 than wing - I was looking forward to a back three of Nawaqanitawase, Jorgensen, Pietsch working off him. It would have been a dynamite combination. But "such is life".

One thing I won't miss is having to check the spelling three times before I post!
 
Dctarget

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
Any URC watchers can tell me how Ralston is going for Connacht? I notice in their opening championship game this weekend he's starting on the wing, shifting Hansen to fullback. Not sure if that's a regular occurrence.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Worth posting from behind the SMH paywall ‘I’m not doing this to have a crack at rugby’: Why Wallabies star couldn’t say no to Roosters


‘I’m not doing this to have a crack at rugby’: Why Wallabies star couldn’t say no to Roosters​

ByDanny Weidler
December 10, 2023 — 5.30am
Save

​


League convert Mark Nawaqanitawase has dismissed suggestions that his code switch in 2025 is some kind of “up yours” to rugby union in the ongoing battle between the two sports.
Nawaqanitawase has instead praised Roosters coach Trent Robinson and chairman Nick Politis for the care and understanding they showed in negotiations, saying he is grateful and excited for the opportunity to join such a professional outfit.
And, as you’d expect with his league contract running out in a Rugby World Cup year in 2027, which will be played in Australia, he is leaving the door ajar for a possible return to rugby – not that it is on his mind right now.
“I’m not doing this code change in any way to have a crack at rugby,” he said, speaking for the first time publicly since his code switch. “I love the sport and it’s got me to this position in life. To see some of the stuff that is being said is actually quite laughable.

“I’m not some part of a code war, I’m just doing what is right for me right now, and the opportunity at this young age to play for a club like the Roosters is something that I could not knock back.”
Nawaqanitawase, 23, is coy about his long-term ambitions in rugby league.

“That’s just going to depend on how things go over the next couple of years, and if I fall in love with the game like I expect to do,” he said.
“I’d be silly not to look at things in 2027 when it comes to rugby, but right now that is a long way down the track and a lot can happen in that time. Of course, I wouldn’t rule anything out but, to be honest, the opportunity I’ve got right now is one that not many people my age could hope to get.”

The obvious name that gets linked with Nawaqanitawase’s move is that of Rooster Joseph Sua'ali'i, who will move the other way to rugby in 2025 on a monster deal.
“I’ve seen our names are often mentioned together, but I’ve never met him and I’m sure he’s got a lot on his plate right now,” Nawaqanitawase said.
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“Of course, if we ever got the chance to have a chat I’d like that given the link with the Roosters and rugby. I’ve obviously watched everything that he’s gone through.”
Politis didn’t hold back during the week when he described Nawaqanitawase as a “beautiful young man”.

“Did he say that?” Nawaqanitawase asked. “He’s the beautiful one – for the way he’s treated me in a short period of time, and the respect he’s given to me and my future. Dealing with him and dealing with Trent Robinson has been a pleasure.”
He was full of admiration for Robinson.
“Well I look at what he did for the career of someone like Daniel Tupou,” Nawaqanitawase said. “He was in reserve grade at Parramatta, and now look at where he is with the Roosters. Same with James Tedesco when he came from the Tigers. He’s gone to a completely different level as a footballer under Trent Robinson and I hope that I can learn on and off the field from Trent.”
The Roosters should be grateful to Nawaqanitawase’s mates, too. He grew up playing for Leichhardt Wanderers in the Balmain juniors admiring Benji Marshall.

“Yeah, Benji was the man when I was growing up, but my mates were Roosters supporters and they made me crazy about the Roosters as a kid,” he said. “Obviously, I admired a number of their players, but I really watched the careers closely of Israel Folau and the way he played, and of Sonny Bill Williams obviously in the way he came back to the Roosters and made such a huge impact was an inspiration for me.”
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PhilClinton

PhilClinton

Mark Loane (55)
The highlighting of wanting to play for Trent Robinson is the biggest takeaway point.

Can’t really say we have any coaches in super rugby that players would be jumping out of their skin to play for. Definitely an area the NRL have it on us.
 
Dctarget

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
Luke Morahan, after being a Bristol Bears hero, was released mid season for cash flow issues, signed with Bayonne, played 3 games at the end of their season before having a foot injury which he hasn't recovered from. Bayonne CEO has cited this injury and announced they've released Luke.

Hope he can get better but not looking good, he's 34 with no return date for his injury. Will always be remembered for the greatest try ever against the Lions.
 
Wilson

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
Dctarget said:
Luke Morahan, after being a Bristol Bears hero, was released mid season for cash flow issues, signed with Bayonne, played 3 games at the end of their season before having a foot injury which he hasn't recovered from. Bayonne CEO has cited this injury and announced they've released Luke.

Hope he can get better but not looking good, he's 34 with no return date for his injury. Will always be remembered for the greatest try ever against the Lions.
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Very tough at that age to come back from a foot injury, but given it'll be a year since he last played he might be an outside chance to pop up at a super rugby club as squad depth for a final season at home.
 
Derpus

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Dctarget said:
Luke Morahan, after being a Bristol Bears hero, was released mid season for cash flow issues, signed with Bayonne, played 3 games at the end of their season before having a foot injury which he hasn't recovered from. Bayonne CEO has cited this injury and announced they've released Luke.

Hope he can get better but not looking good, he's 34 with no return date for his injury. Will always be remembered for the greatest try ever against the Lions.
Click to expand...
Got a couple of successful Cafe's to return to I reckon. Down the road from my in-laws.
 
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The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Simon Poidevin (60)
What is the foot injury? Some of them take a long time to recover with high rate of re injury. At 34 it's unlikely a team would take him on for the rehab and wait and see so it would be up to him if he wanted to chase something. Maybe Japan if he wants a start...

Could do a Jesse Mogg style return?

He was a Test level talent that struggled with inconsistency when young, like most do.
 
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