League Targets

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He started for the Storm/Norths Devils as Centre and was developed into a half. There's always been a crossover going. Wally Lewis, Ricky Stuart played Rugby and League.

It's so hard to say who would and wouldn't work as I think we would have some international Rugby players that wouldn't get a look in playing League but some Rugby players who arent Test standard that would. This works both ways. First thing you need to be any chance in League is explosiveness. Mark Nawaquintawase has it in droves and it's showing. Would a guy like Mack Hansen make it in the NRL? I'd say no chance. Crafty Wingers ain't on the menu and he may make the Lions squad.

 

[PhilClinton]

Are there guys that can do better? Yes, but even a half like Illias at the Dragons who was an Aus Schools Rugby player is on 500k. With new teams entering and their cap likely to go up by a large percentage it's out of our bracket. 1.5m will be the price of a top 8 halfback in 5-6 years months time.

Made a small correction for you.

This Dylan Brown situation is going to have repercussions across our game as well. Regardless of whether he goes on to win 5 premierships with Newcastle and win the Dally M a few times, it'll go down as a monumental shift in the way play makers and their managers view their worth in the NRL and likely rugby.

If the going rate for a mediocre halves player was over $1M in league a couple of years ago, we would have lost guys like Quade, JOC (James O'Connor) and To'omua pretty quickly.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think your'e right.

I'm thinking the guys like a Jamal Fogarty in the NRL who are marginally above the average will be getting 1m at least. When they have 20 teams it will be crazy extensions for guys like Cleary and God knows what for blokes like Walker who sides will pay for potential.

Rugby is going to have a fight on it's hands for any outside backs in the coming years. Not just the academy players but blokes like Lancaster. The NRL will be there with the French as the highest salaried Rugby comp in the world. With no restriction on where your'e from like leagues around the world.

 

[Strewthcobber]

If the going rate for a mediocre halves player was over $1M in league a couple of years ago, we would have lost guys like Quade, JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and To'omua pretty quickly.

I don't know, maybe?

Cooper was reportedly offer $850k by Parramatta in 2010. O'Connor was likewise on an Eels scholarship all through school, only went to Nudgee for a couple of years and had barely played any rugby union at all before accepting a pro rugby offer.

We were able to keep these guys then when the money from NRL was good too, even if it wasn't as good as it is now

Edit - mainly by paying and playing them at a young age when they probably weren't mature enough to deal with it!

 

[LeCheese]

A number of established players (Quade particularly comes to mind) were very close to signing with League teams during the covid uncertainty too if I recall correctly. Obviously all hypothetical now, but that could've been a real sliding door moment.

 

[PhilClinton]

2009-12 Quade was prime young superstar premiership winning Wallaby version, I am sure he would have been hovering around that coin along with the lure of a RWC trophy.

The return of Quade (circa 2017 onwards) is what I'm referring too when I say a mediocre halves player. I am sure if the NRL came knocking with an $850k offer around that time, he would have taken it. And I reckon his form then wasn't much different to what Dylan Brown is offering now.

EDIT: It sounds like 'prime Quade' was earning around $500k a season back then and the Parra deal has multiple reports to be worth anywhere from $500k - $850k a season.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I was always sceptical of Quade in League. Parra are probably one of the only Clubs willing to throw enough shit at the wall and see what sticks. It's a giant basket case that eats itself (much like Rugby). I feel he could have had some magic moments but also some braid dead shit that doesn't get tolerated as long in the NRL as Rugby. His Defence would have been an issue, can't deny that.

JOC (James O'Connor) was probably too early to be effective in the NRL around 08. League was still in guts of heavy packs with more interchange and block plays. 2010 JOC (James O'Connor) would have suited the game now as the no.14 utility on the bench that can come on as forwards tire with the limited interchange and increased speed of play with the 6 again. He's a much more physical player but Connor Watson comes to mind (another Aus Schools Rugby player)

 

[PhilClinton]

If Quade has packed up shop in Japan (I posted in Wallabies thread that his socials seem to imply that). I wonder if he'll have a crack for the Burleigh Bears back home.

I put the Titans in the same bucket as Parra and Newcastle when it comes to teams who will just throw money at options and bury their team in shit contracts.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Does a 36 year old want to play State Cup? It's a brutal game regardless. I'd rather go play local A grade where he can avoid most big hits and not have 22 year old future NRL forwards run at him non stop.

I reckon he's a big time signing target for an MLR side. Think it would fit his branding re fashion/social media etc.

 

[PhilClinton]

Yeh actually didn't consider MLR. I think that is going to be most likely, sign with either LA or San Diego most likely if he goes for that exposure considering there is no NYC team.

 

[LeCheese]

If Quade has packed up shop in Japan (I posted in Wallabies thread that his socials seem to imply that). I wonder if he'll have a crack for the Burleigh Bears back home.

I put the Titans in the same bucket as Parra and Newcastle when it comes to teams who will just throw money at options and bury their team in shit contracts.

Short-term injury cover for one C. Gordon?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Doubt it. Gordon would have started the year as 4/5 on the halves depth chart at the Titans anyway. Centre was his shot at getting a game and QC (Quade Cooper) isn't getting a call from Des about lining up there.

We're going to get a mind numbing amount of shirtless coffee making and breathing exercise vids followed by plyometrics and broncos for the rest of the year and then he'll be running around in LA with Bill Meakes and a bunch of other Aussies.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Quade would be a great pick up for any MLR team. With his fashion brand you could also see the appeal for him.

I hope before it all ends for him that he heads back down to Chipsywood. It was electric for all QPR teams when he played. Dragged all the crowds out and despite his age I’d say it would happen again

 

[LeCheese]

I hope before it all ends for him that he heads back down to Chipsywood. It was electric for all QPR teams when he played. Dragged all the crowds out and despite his age I’d say it would happen again

Disregarding the fact that he is/was now aligned with GPS, I don't think a QPR return would generate anywhere near as much buzz as it did in 2018.

A late-career player having a run after returning from overseas doesn't really have the same meatiness as a current Reds/Wallabies superstar (for all intents and purposes) being unceremoniously dropped by his new coach.

 

[JRugby2]

Quade would be a great pick up for any MLR team. With his fashion brand you could also see the appeal for him.

I hope before it all ends for him that he heads back down to Chipsywood. It was electric for all QPR teams when he played. Dragged all the crowds out and despite his age I’d say it would happen again

So do souths, they need blokes for 3rds.

 

[PhilClinton]

Disregarding the fact that he is/was now aligned with GPS, I don't think a QPR return would generate anywhere near as much buzz as it did in 2018.

The allegiances of Quade, Kerevi, Genia, Mafi and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) are some of the most confusing for a GPS supporter over the past couple of years.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Agree that the pull would be diminished but there would still be plenty there and who cares what club. It would just be great to see him run around.

 

[dru]

Though the buzz generated in this one solo fan might goa long way to filling the gap. [ Opps I said it out loud.]

 

[LevitatingSocks]

The allegiances of Quade, Kerevi, Genia, Mafi and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) are some of the most confusing for a GPS supporter over the past couple of years.

Has Quade actually put the boots on for GPS yet or are people assuming he's aligned with them because his younger brother played there instead of Souths?

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Does a 36 year old want to play State Cup? It's a brutal game regardless. I'd rather go play local A grade where he can avoid most big hits and not have 22 year old future NRL forwards run at him non stop.

I reckon he's a big time signing target for an MLR side. Think it would fit his branding re fashion/social media etc.

I imagine MLR and making cameo appearances at events like HK10s this past weekend is the future for him.

Would put him in the same space as a lot of rugby and non-rugby content makers.