Australian Rugby / RA
- Thread starter Dave Beat
- Start date
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
If it's Twiggy paying $1million a year, it's like you spending $10. Just back end the deal so you don't waste the cash on a kid who may go off the rails when he turns 18.
I'm a bit torn on this. If it all falls through and he signs with Souths then I won't be crying into my beer. But he does seem like a talent, if we can get him at the right price.
The thing that I like about it is it gives the neutral fan a reason to tune in. We have no genuinely marketable figures in the game at the moment. The Fox SuperAU promo features Karmichael Hunt FFS. That's the best we can do at the moment.
Guys like Beale, Quade, Folau all had big cut through with the wider sporting public. They played exciting footy, had name and face recognition and yeah the occasional off-field headline.
At the moment it's maybe Tongan Thor, Hooper (who is likeable but hardly gets the pulse racing), and then who? JOC (James O'Connor)?
Sua'ali'i could, maybe, possibly be a bloke who can fill that void. For all the talk that the money should be spent on Harry Wilson or Rory Arnold, the fact is general fans aren't tuning in to a Super game to see them.
The thing that I like about it is it gives the neutral fan a reason to tune in. We have no genuinely marketable figures in the game at the moment. The Fox SuperAU promo features Karmichael Hunt FFS. That's the best we can do at the moment.
Guys like Beale, Quade, Folau all had big cut through with the wider sporting public. They played exciting footy, had name and face recognition and yeah the occasional off-field headline.
At the moment it's maybe Tongan Thor, Hooper (who is likeable but hardly gets the pulse racing), and then who? JOC (James O'Connor)?
Sua'ali'i could, maybe, possibly be a bloke who can fill that void. For all the talk that the money should be spent on Harry Wilson or Rory Arnold, the fact is general fans aren't tuning in to a Super game to see them.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Yeah, but, if we have 3 million dollars it should go to honoring out existing obligations before splurging on a star player.
Id be furious if my employer cut my salary and then brought someone in on huge money. I'd definitely be looking for a new gig. It's insulting.
If it's third party money id be on the phone to every single player letting them know that.
Id be furious if my employer cut my salary and then brought someone in on huge money. I'd definitely be looking for a new gig. It's insulting.
If it's third party money id be on the phone to every single player letting them know that.
Well it's important to state no deal has been signed yet, and the one that seems to be on the table isn't $3m.
And then there's very likely a complex $$ mix in that figure. Private cash, Olympic cash, maybe incentives and sponsors, who knows.
So the notion that it could be simply spread around to others may not be correct. I don't know though.
I agree it will require some quite delicate diplomacy by Clarke with the current playing group, but we have no reason to believe that isn't taking place right now.
And then there's very likely a complex $$ mix in that figure. Private cash, Olympic cash, maybe incentives and sponsors, who knows.
So the notion that it could be simply spread around to others may not be correct. I don't know though.
I agree it will require some quite delicate diplomacy by Clarke with the current playing group, but we have no reason to believe that isn't taking place right now.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
I actually read something similar on a League forum, part of this is RA gambling on a marketing figure. I'd also add another part of this is likely trying to demonstrate there are pathways into Union for young players after the Crichton debacle. No better way to show there are pathways than have someone debut in Union before they were League eligible.
sendit
Bob Loudon (25)
Definite change in tune from poor Crichton who wouldn't play for the tahs till he was 23 to, Joseph who is legally still a child may/may not play super rugby/internationals by the end of the year
And he also goes to the Olympics, too. That's a pretty big weapon to have in your arsenal.
Yep, he is physically unlikely to be ready for a full season of adult 13s or 15s for a couple of years
So being offered the opportunity to be paid well to travel the world as a 17/18 yro and be a chance at being an Olympian sounds like a nice "gap year" to me.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Not really a gap year, he’s still at school next year!
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
That is bang on barb, one of differences between NZ and Aus rugby is the top stars that do the magic that brings in the punters on tv! Players like Nugget Smith etc that make you suck in your breath when you see what they can do. As you say Beale and Quade could mke a cock up every now and then, but by geez the positive stuff they could do made ANY rugby person want to watch any game they were involved in to see it!
sendit
Bob Loudon (25)
Pretty sure him and Murray have pretty decent length contracts. Pity i was hoping we'd get the pair back over
rugboy
Jim Clark (26)
Considering his current contract is worth a reported 1 mil a year. RA are going to need to find more benefactors to come to their aid next year for Crichton.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
He'll be lucky to get that again. We're flushed with backrowers, I don't see much of a reason for RA to dig deep into the purse for him.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
He was a backrower at Scots but played 12 to fit with the side but agree he'd probably be more valuable as a centre.
