Australian Rugby / RA

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I did appreciate PWaugh's measured comments about the situation and more generally.They've frankly been a breath of fresh air after all the bluster from Hammer and EJ (Eddie Jones) over the last 12 months.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Losing Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) is a symptom of bigger issues, he's a canary in a coal mine. Being petty and excluding him from selection after the toxic atmosphere of the World Cup will confirm to Mark that he made the right decision to defect to league.

Time for RA management to take a look in the mirror if they can't compete on financial terms and offer a worse environment for players. Hamish provoking V'landys was like Argentina going after the Falklands.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

I did appreciate PWaugh's measured comments about the situation and more generally.They've frankly been a breath of fresh air after all the bluster from Hammer and EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones) over the last 12 months.

Completely agree. He is a relief. Hamish looks stupider by the day

 

[stillmissit]

Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) going to league ain't the end of the world and we should be focused on how to turn the Wallabies around and who should be the next coach.
Most of our players need what Tim Sheens said when he took over West Leagues?. He had them running and passing at speed all day and one of the players said "Hey coach when do we start practising some moves?" Tim said, "When you learn how to run and pass!"

In the Wallabies' case there is much more than just running and passing.

 

[Homer]

RA is very quiet about the Director of Rugby at the moment. Thought it was supposed to be announced by now.

 

[Wilson]

RA is very quiet about the Director of Rugby at the moment. Thought it was supposed to be announced by now.

End of the year deadline I thought

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) going to league ain't the end of the world and we should be focused on how to turn the Wallabies around and who should be the next coach.
Most of our players need what Tim Sheens said when he took over West Leagues?. He had them running and passing at speed all day and one of the players said "Hey coach when do we start practising some moves?" Tim said, "When you learn how to run and pass!"

In the Wallabies' case there is much more than just running and passing.

Even if Nawaqanitawase never comes back, the situation can be a net positive if it's a catalyst for RA learning from its mistakes.

Chasing publicity with controversy and flashy luxury signings should be retired. Time to play the long game by hiring a good coach/DoR and committing to multiple years of support through the inevitable bumpy patches, expanding the pool of youth players by bringing the game to more public schools, and learning from the successful models elsewhere.

There's quite a lot to learn from league.

Keep aggressively building a social media presence through instagram/tiktok/youtube vlogs about training sessions. Let fans and the general public get to know the players as people both on and off the field and get invested in their success. The Queensland Reds have 1.7k followers on Tiktok while the Penrith Panthers have 150k followers, that should be an area of concern because that's where all your potential future Wallabies and fans are spending their time right now.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Absolutely. Focus on our own backyard. There is going to be natural crossover among players which usually favors us and just leave it at that. If someone steps up and says “I want to switch” well then deal with it but targeted poaching leads to a tit for tat scenario and the entity with the most $$ will win that race to the bottom.
There’s a lot of blow hards in business who think if they shout the loudest they win and seems that was the case here. In this instance it appears the loudest in the room was the weakest (actually for both jones and hammer)
Phil seems to be righting the ship and setting our table right. It’s going to be a bit slow and steady for us
I actually think Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) is a blow but had he been at another team other than the one that just got Joseph it would be worse. Still would’ve loved to have seen RA and qru whop him up.

 

[oztimmay]

RA is very quiet about the Director of Rugby at the moment. Thought it was supposed to be announced by now.

I read somewhere it's announced next week. Can't remember where tho.

 

[Wallaby Man]

Have been hearing that world rugby has Australia as a going concern and have been pushing hard for their guy to come in for that role. Has been exasperated with the state spiel lately, as even though the Hammer wasn’t a favorite they are concerned that the needed constitutional reform won’t happen, and they did like what he was trying to achieve in terms of reform. Let’s see who comes in and what power they are actually given to do their job correctly instead of having one hand tied behind back. Which we will all end up blaming and we continue on the same round about

 

[ForceFan]

Seeyou Mark....don't let the screen door hit you on the way out......................
There is insufficient detail or background to make any further comment.

 

[The Phoenix]

For heaven's sake everyone, get a grip. We have been losing players since rugby league began. The problem with this site and The Roar is that most posters have no knowledge of the history of our game. I have been watching players switch codes since I've been following rugby. We lose them and we move on.
This panic over one player is ridiculous. Sure he has come on over the past 12 months but he can be replaced. For example he's no Michael O'Connor or Brett Papworth. We lost both of them and moved on, and they were far better players than Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase), as were Geoff Richardson, Russell Fairfax and of course Dally Messenger.
Let's get behind the sport we love and stop doing rugby league's work for it by death riding rugby.

 

[NoName]

I did appreciate PWaugh's measured comments about the situation and more generally.They've frankly been a breath of fresh air after all the bluster from Hammer and EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones) over the last 12 months.

How long has Waugh been CEO and what was his role in RA prior to that?

 

[NoName]

For example he's no Michael O'Connor or Brett Papworth. We lost both of them and moved on, and they were far better players than Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase)

Agreed - he's nowhere near those guys at all. But consider that those guys were not even close to the best players in the team in the 12 months prior to them leaving, but Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) was one of the only two positives for the last 12 months by a clear margin.

The fact that RA are targeting the pathways as the root cause of the problem speaks volumes of about our current elite playing group.

If the pathways have failed, then the quality of elite players are not adequate. Our players are bad.

Losing one of the best is worse.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

How long has Waugh been CEO and what was his role in RA prior to that?

He's been in the CEO role a few months and on the Board before that. To the best of my knowledge he wasn't out blowing the bugle ad nauseam like those other two clowns.

 

[eastman]

Seeyou Mark....don't let the screen door hit you on the way out......................
There is insufficient detail or background to make any further comment.

You’re about 3 days late.

 

[KOB1987]

Having just sat back and quietly digested the Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) situation all week, I'm not as down on it as others. There are a lot of inputs to enter into the equation - the Wallabies/Waratahs environment(s), the lesser money for a switch to the NRL, even more potential money from France & Japan rugby, he played both codes growing up, his dad played in the NRL, taking a 2 year contract with the Roosters v the 3 years they wanted, etc etc, etc.

My read on the whole thing is that he was going to have a crack at the NRL at some stage, regardless of anything else, and sees those 2 years as his best opportunity. He clearly just loves playing footy and it's not about money at this stage of his life, it's about enjoyment and opportunity. He is a professional athlete and doesn't want to die wondering. He is sacrificing the Lions tour but is leaving the door open for the 2027 RWC. By then he might be loving the NRL and looking to lock down an Origin jersey. Alternatively he might not cut it, spend a year battling in reserve grade and is back at the end of 2025 negotiating with Super clubs, having the blessing of the Roosters for an early release. Or he might be at the top of his game but come back to rugby anyway. Who knows.

As for whether to select him next year? If he's the best option in the country for the jersey, absolutely. Right up until when his contract expires, not sure if that covers the EOYT, if it does then the caveat here would be to also select to tour whoever is most likely to be filling his jersey in 2025. Just like an injury, shit happens and the team has to deal with it on the fly, at least we can plan for this one. Waugh is going heavy on selecting the best available team for national representation and I 100% agree with him.

Footnote - I reckon every professional outside back and center should spend 2 years in the NRL as part of their development pathway early in their career. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) may well come back from this a better player, we all know his weakness is his defence and maybe Robbo can sort that out for us.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Footnote - I reckon every professional outside back and center should spend 2 years in the NRL as part of their development pathway early in their career. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) may well come back from this a better player, we all know his weakness is his defence and maybe Robbo can sort that out for us.

What is he going to learn? How to bite in when they are evenly numbered and be scored on the outside? That seems to be the most common defense move from a league winger

 

[KOB1987]

What is he going to learn? How to bite in when they are evenly numbered and be scored on the outside? That seems to be the most common defense move from a league winger

How to tackle properly maybe?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Agreed - he's nowhere near those guys at all. But consider that those guys were not even close to the best players in the team in the 12 months prior to them leaving, but Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) was one of the only two positives for the last 12 months by a clear margin.

The fact that RA are targeting the pathways as the root cause of the problem speaks volumes of about our current elite playing group.

If the pathways have failed, then the quality of elite players are not adequate. Our players are bad.

Losing one of the best is worse.

How about Ray Price, Ken and Dick Thornett? IIRC all were current Wallabies when they moved across to League. In earlier times, Arthur Summons (I think was the current Wallaby captain) and Keith Holman. There are plenty of others.