Australian Rugby / RA

[stillmissit]

It was very well documented that we did try to - but we couldn’t compete with a $1.7m offer from the Rabbitohs.

What period was that over? do you know? Just interested in how much we have lost. He may not have improved at the same level of professionalism over the last 4 years in RU he could have followed Mark and Carter to league.

 

[Braveheart81]

What period was that over? do you know? Just interested in how much we have lost. He may not have improved at the same level of professionalism over the last 4 years in RU he could have followed Mark and Carter to league.

He had a contract with Souths from when he was 14.

He then signed a contract with the Roosters and made his NRL debut as a 17 year old.

The concept that Rugby Australia was "too stupid to pick him up at the time" is completely revisionist. They did try and sign him when he eventually left Souths and signed with the Roosters. I don't think there was ever a realistic chance he was going to become a rugby player at that time unless we offered a stupid amount of money.

I also don't think contracting someone at a younger age generates much or anything of a loyalty discount next time around.

 

[KOB1987]

My recollection at the time was that there was no way RA could justify competing with that money for a 17 year old and that it was a better outcome to let the NRL develop him and then buy him back later. Which is exactly what has transpired, probably a bit over what was anticipated though.

He was openly telling the boys at the school that he much preferred playing rugby but the money was too good to knock back. He wasn’t allowed to play in year 12 so was basically the water boy for the 1st XV that year, and the following year he was watching the Kings games every Saturday that he didn’t have an NRL clash, passing balls around with the kids, signing autographs etc.

Class act off the field as well as on it.

 

[Dctarget]

Class act off the field as well as on it.

I know it's hard to see past the media training but he really does look like he's got his head screwed on. From his chat on the field to all the things he's been saying off it.

Thank fuck we won that game and didn't get pummeled, what a different story it is for Jo's debut and rugby career. Hopefully gets a few league boys turning their heads and watching him have a blast in London.

 

[Adam84]

JS Messiah Chat here

https://greenandgoldrugby.com/commu...d-messiah-watch-joseph-Sua'ali'i.19756/page-2

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

He had a contract with Souths from when he was 14.

He then signed a contract with the Roosters and made his NRL debut as a 17 year old.

The concept that Rugby Australia was "too stupid to pick him up at the time" is completely revisionist. They did try and sign him when he eventually left Souths and signed with the Roosters. I don't think there was ever a realistic chance he was going to become a rugby player at that time unless we offered a stupid amount of money.

I also don't think contracting someone at a younger age generates much or anything of a loyalty discount next time around.

I think the story is a young bloke his agent wanted something around 700k. RA said no, and rightly so. The rest is history.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I imagine if Hamish was in the seat we would not be hearing the end of what a genius he is etc etc. All he did was spend a bucket load of money on a guy we were too stupid to pick up at the time.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/11/...ali'i-is-next-campo-and-nrls-worst-nightmare/

And right on cue, the milkman relises he can get 5 more seconds of self promotion out there on the back of Sua'ali'i's debut

 

[Mick The Munch]

"[Former RA CEO Andy Marinos] wasn’t a fan of the idea and neither was RA Chairman Daniel Herbert, and so I wanted it all to be a positive experience when meeting the Suaaliis"

with chicken