Major Tom
Chilla Wilson (44)
Yeah, hang that carrot in front of him. As well as the home world cup.
R360 or not he could make a bucket load in Japan at 30+.
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R360 or not he could make a bucket load in Japan at 30+.
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
Yeah agree with everything that has been said so far.
A player of his calibre being released early without an immediate link to another NRL club certainly gives the vibe that he's off to R360.
I wonder if he will actually be looking for another deal between now and then or if he's just trying to stay fit. He's had some shocking injuries and potentially he's not keen to risk blowing a knee out before his new $3M deal becomes guaranteed.
A player of his calibre being released early without an immediate link to another NRL club certainly gives the vibe that he's off to R360.
I wonder if he will actually be looking for another deal between now and then or if he's just trying to stay fit. He's had some shocking injuries and potentially he's not keen to risk blowing a knee out before his new $3M deal becomes guaranteed.
Major Tom
Chilla Wilson (44)
True but R360 ain't exactly guaranteed though.
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
I wouldn't be surprised if he's been offered a promo bonus payment of some kind to be the first high profile NRL player to officially commit to them and essentially tell the NRL to get farked, in the hope that it opens the floodgates by adding some tangible names to their roster.
Wait and see what transpires over the coming weeks.
Who knows - maybe he's about to sign a big deal with the Gold Coast Titans it's been kept under wraps.
Strewthcobber
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
A bit off topic here, but really don't understand the R360 strategy. Do they think high profile NRL players will move the needle much in what is going to be a very GMT and NH focussed comp?
There are no Australian or NZ teams, and maybe one weekend where the timezone will actually work well.
Who is the target audience for this?
There are no Australian or NZ teams, and maybe one weekend where the timezone will actually work well.
Who is the target audience for this?
The Ghost of Raelene
Tim Horan (67)
It will a bit. The NRL does have a good regard even if people don't watch it.
From an athlete perspective especially in the back some of them are spectacular so it could help the on field product of not just picking up 2nd tier Rugby players.
From an athlete perspective especially in the back some of them are spectacular so it could help the on field product of not just picking up 2nd tier Rugby players.
Wilson
Tim Horan (67)
I think the consternation and heavy handed response from the NRL is probably a big part of what they wanted. The players themselves may not move the needle massively in their target UK market (though they will still help a bit) but the reaction is really feeding into the global coverage, and it'll probably help them get a slightly larger deal from DAZN here, or feed into a bigger overall broadcast with a global partner.
For all that it hasn't really cost them much, being associated to some degree with every high profile player on the NRL with only a few likely to sign. Given the struggle they might have to get test players currently in union I doubt they're missing out on anyone in union by chasing a few leaguies.
It's probably also being driven significantly by league agents like Schifcofske, and R360 has very little reason to poor cold water on the ensuing speculation right now.
Major Tom
Chilla Wilson (44)
Man if this thing actually gets up it's only gonna take the first round to realise how shit it is.
Omar Comin'
Peter Fenwicke (45)
I think it's probably more that they want flashy 'highlight reel' type players and athletes. They'll probably sign more Fijian union players alone than the total number of NRL players, it's just that the league journos have latched onto the story.
I bet they target some other crossover athletes too, particularly Americans who had a stint in the NFL but never quite made it, or got unlucky with injury - like Perry Baker types. They can craft a few stories around guys like that trying to make it in rugby.
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
I think they're going to go down the UFC route with their marketing. The early days of the UFC it was genuinely a bunch of guys from different combat sports fighting each other to see who was best. No one really followed karate or sumo wrestling at a global level but they had those guys competing. They didn't really rely too heavily on household names, the spectacle was the reason for tuning in.
I agree with Omar, I think we'll see a wide range of athletes from several sports who will be marketed as 'the best of their kind' coming together to create rugby teams full of superstars.
I agree with Omar, I think we'll see a wide range of athletes from several sports who will be marketed as 'the best of their kind' coming together to create rugby teams full of superstars.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Which will be needed as I suspect it will feature a lot of T2 players. Which you know. Good for them.
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
Doesn't look like he's aged or gained any weight since high school!
The Ghost of Raelene
Tim Horan (67)
He would have been a nightmare. Aus rep in touch then School Boy Rugby with his speed.
He’s what the women’s 7s program was built off. Elite touch players taught to tackle. Harder curve for the blokes once a bit older.
He’s what the women’s 7s program was built off. Elite touch players taught to tackle. Harder curve for the blokes once a bit older.
Strewthcobber
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
To be fair he was well and truly a league player through all of that too. Years of junior rugby league, a NSW u16 & u18 rep plus Harold Matthews while also playing for Oakhill
He never needed to be taught how to tackle