wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
ARU shouldn't entertain signing the likes of Inglis if we are losing the likes of Quade, Kepu and Foley.
Get your own house in order first.
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For every difficult situation, there is a simple, easy, solution which is totally wrong,
The ARU does not operate in a vacuum, it is responsible for the promotion of a minority sport which has had to make the transition from amateurism to professional status, in a very competitive environment. Not only that, but demographic and other changes are working against it.
For every complex situation, it is always easy to promote a simple solution. The "house" that the ARU needs to "get in order" is a small, under-funded place, subject to huge and dangerous challenges.
I personally would not go chasing Inglis, but there is a shed load of free publicity to be gained, whether or not he signs with the ARU.
Free publicity is about all the code can afford. Bums on seats, eyes on the box, that's what it's all about these days. It makes commercial sense to recruit from other sports because there are some very good athletes in those sports, particularly league, players who either came from our sport or who, like Inglis, grew up in an environment where it was not a realistic option for him as a junior. Commercial success means that, in turn, the code has a chance of surviving as a relatively serious sport in Australia, and that the diminishing grassroots supply of young players, or some of them, can be offered the chance of a career in the game.