Australian Rugby / RA

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Biggest downside to losing Mark right now is, in the span of 12 months we'd lose both him and Marika. In Marks case, he's given us some great assurances to the high ball that the others don't.

It'd be interesting to see how long it takes Mark to adjust to defending in league as it took him a few years in Union.

They'll stick him in NSW Cup for a few rounds and see how he's looking. So much also depends on who the Center is on his side. They do 75% of the work if Mark can stay calm on the outside and not shoot out of the line because then the good halves pick you apart. If he works out Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) and Dom Young are some big exciting Wingers they have

 

[Wallaby Man]

Spot on. They floated the idea a month ago or so and it was dismissed by many.

Guess who will be the next target? Jorgenson without doubt. Bulldogs and Roosters wanted him while at school.

I think Rugby love to say the players get to see the world... Sure, but the average earnings of an NRL player are better than a Rugby player I assume which means a hell of a lot more than a Test in Cardiff. Not like the NRL players aren't travelling for leisure in the off season and players like Mark have the ability to play Rugby all over the world if they want when they want.

Yep. Most like to think of the financial might is with rugby but the NRL is by a comfortable margin the richest ‘rugby’ league in the world. T14 has some sugar daddies and favourable local government deals but the tv money isn’t near what the NRL generates. Its markets are largely smaller cities than Sydney and Brisbane etc. as Paris isn’t a rugby city as much as Perth or Melbourne are one.

If you added 3rd party deals there is a plethora of guys in the NRL earning $1m+ a season. Add to this the facilities are elite, media coverage top class and the competition itself is full of world class athletes.

Outside of international test matches, the domestic leagues in rugby arent great. Top 14 has made huge strides and is heading in the right direction, but the coverage of Super Rugby, Premiership rugby and URC is like watching sport from 15yrs ago. This product butters most players bread for the majority of the season.

 

[Highlander35]

Yep. Most like to think of the financial might is with rugby but the NRL is by a comfortable margin the richest ‘rugby’ league in the world. T14 has some sugar daddies and favourable local government deals but the tv pokies money isn’t near what the NRL generates. Its markets are largely smaller cities than Sydney and Brisbane etc. as Paris isn’t a rugby city as much as Perth or Melbourne are one.

If you added 3rd party deals there is a plethora of guys in the NRL earning $1m+ a season. Add to this the facilities are elite, media coverage top class and the competition itself is full of world class athletes.

Outside of international test matches, the domestic leagues in rugby arent great. Top 14 has made huge strides and is heading in the right direction, but the coverage of Super Rugby, Premiership rugby and URC is like watching sport from 15yrs ago. This product butters most players bread for the majority of the season.

 

[Wallaby Man]

SMH now saying he’s confirmed the deal and told teammates last night

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

The Hammer started out well in the depths of covid slashing costs and boostin/securing revenue but....you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain....yikes. his last 12 months are a debacle.
not meaning to be captain hindsight here but how do you only offer mark a 1 year contract? at that point he's begun to show his worth as an exciting young talent capable of being a name brand player (i have melbourne friends who never watch rugby but in recent wallabies tests have all said "that Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) is super exciting". the average punter who isn't a die hard, really doesn't care what numbers 1-8 are doing. the excitement machines at 9,11,14,15 get them in the door along with a big hitting fast running centre. seems like another bad decision by hamish on a list of 3-4 now.

 

[RugbyReg]

Marika is apparently reconsidering retirement.

Mark’s a good player and I’d prefer to keep him more for what he brings to super rugby than the wallabies. But he’s not a huge loss to the national side.

But it’s repeated losses of the likes of Swinton etc that weakens the quality of super rugby which obviously flows on to the preparedness of our players to step up in test rugby.

 

[Dctarget]

Posted elsewhere but wonder how much the grim world cup campaign played a part. That would've been mentally exhausting for a lot of those kids.

 

[Dctarget]

Not to be whiney and complaining but I feel like we're trying to compete with other international unions with both hands tied behind our back. Not only do we get our players poached by the home nations like NZ, SA (and we do to Fiji). But we have our brightest being poached by other sports back home. Imagine if Will Jordan went to the Warriors.

Then on top of all that, our administration is run by a bunch of bellends.

Fiji probably have it the roughest but we're giving it a red hot go.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

When the 18th side is announced for the NRL you can bet sides are going to be looking at Rugby talent from throughout the Pacific. He rejected them but Henry Arundel was approached by NRL sides.

 

[Homer]

At least he is here for the 2024 season so the new coach has time to work on options. I think it is more about teaching other wingers to build their work rate off the ball, Marky M (Nawaqanitawase) and Marika are the best at that.
If we end up with Joe Schmidt he plays a very structured style anyway, which suits players like Mack Hansen and possibly Pietsch.

When is the Director role being announced, i thought it was early Dec?

 

[HogansHeros]

I think Rugby love to say the players get to see the world... Sure, but the average earnings of an NRL player are better than a Rugby player I assume which means a hell of a lot more than a Test in Cardiff. Not like the NRL players aren't travelling for leisure in the off season and players like Mark have the ability to play Rugby all over the world if they want when they want.

yeah this has baffled me a bit, esspecially when Super Rugby included the saffas and argies, paid less but have to travel all over the place all season. Sounds great if you are a young single bloke. If you are no longer in your in your early twenties and want to start a family the NRL is way more attractive, home every night.

 

[Slim 293]

Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) is a massive loss... I'd easily have him over any other wing in the country.

 

[Tomthumb]

At least he is here for the 2024 season so the new coach has time to work on options. I think it is more about teaching other wingers to build their work rate off the ball, Marky M (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) and Marika are the best at that.
If we end up with Joe Schmidt he plays a very structured style anyway, which suits players like Mack Hansen and possibly Pietsch.

When is the Director role being announced, i thought it was early Dec?

He shouldn't be included in the Wallabies next year

 

[Dctarget]

He shouldn't be included in the Wallabies next year

I think he should be.. If you know Marika is retiring the year after, you still include him. Same for leaving the comp.

 

[Braveheart81]

He shouldn't be included in the Wallabies next year

Why?

That seems like a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

If he's clearly in our best team he should play.

 

[Tomthumb]

I think he should be.. If you know Marika is retiring the year after, you still include him. Same for leaving the comp.

I wouldn't include either, but comparing a 30 year old veteran like Marika that has given his best years to the Wallabies to a 23 year old that used rugby as a step ladder to get to Bondi is apples and oranges

 

[Tomthumb]

Why?

That seems like a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

If he's clearly in our best team he should play.

We are trying to build a team for a Lions series and a World Cup, why include a guy that wont be there and doesn't really want to be here anyway

And what message does it send to the players loyal to Australian Rugby?

 

[Braveheart81]

We are trying to build a team for a Lions series and a World Cup, why include a guy that wont be there and doesn't really want to be here anyway

And what message does it send to the players loyal to Australian Rugby?

He's signed for 2024. If he plays to the necessary standard then surely that shows he does want to be there while he's contracted.

There's a reasonable chance he'll be back for 2027 as well.

We should select our best team each time we run out.

It's a professional sport. Pick your best players who are under contract.

 

[John S]

I read someone (either here or elsewhere I can't remember now) say to shut the door on 2027 RWC for him now - to make a statement to other Wallabies thinking of jumping ship.

I don't think that's necessarily the right thing - same as not picking him this year.

 

[oztimmay]

I think he should be.. If you know Marika is retiring the year after, you still include him. Same for leaving the comp.

Heard he's now planning to make himself available for Wallabies (via SMH).