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David Wilson (68)
Yes we will miss Kerevi. Still.
12. JOC (James O'Connor) 13. Jordy. Fill the FB from elsewhere. That 12/13 could well continue in the WBs next year.
Reds 2020
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Yes we will miss Kerevi. Still.
12. JOC (James O'Connor) 13. Jordy. Fill the FB from elsewhere. That 12/13 could well continue in the WBs next year.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Hegarty/Stewart/Lucas to share the 10/15/22 jerseys.
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Bobby Sands
Guest
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David Wilson (68)
Some set of mid-field backs!
It's a shame, but I'm not sure how many players Aus pro rugby can really afford on $1million / yr +.
We can argue in circles whether all these big contracts are deserved, but it's unsustainable, IMO.
I wonder, if Kerevi had been offered enough more to stay, if the pot for Tupou would have been so large? I reckon maybe not quite.
Not sure McMahon would be worth too much dough in the longer term - given his injury issues that were a big part of going to an "easier" gig in Japan. Great player without doubt, but maybe not going to be on an upwards trajectory? Shorter term contract, maybe?
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Bobby Sands
Guest
He’s from QLD and spends a lot of time on the Gold Coast. Will be interesting what he decides to do.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Why are you so surprised? He's getting paid significantly more money and comes across as a huge family man. I don't blame him for making his short playing career easier on his post rugby life.
More importantly, countless of mates of mine traveled to Europe/America/Asia to work a couple years after University. No-one complains about that as we all know they want to explore the world. So why do we hold rugby players to a different level?
If Kerevi had really wanted to stay in Australia AND maximise his earnings potential he should have held out and started his negotiations around now.
RA made a pretty incredible offer to a guy who had played relatively few tests and never really excelled at that level. It was a big offer with a fair chunk of it based on potential.
This year has looked for all money like his breakout year on the international stage and after three tests that certainly seems likely. If he was negotiating a contract now it's not unreasonable to think he could come very close to being our highest paid player.
Hopefully he comes back in a couple of years.
RA made a pretty incredible offer to a guy who had played relatively few tests and never really excelled at that level. It was a big offer with a fair chunk of it based on potential.
This year has looked for all money like his breakout year on the international stage and after three tests that certainly seems likely. If he was negotiating a contract now it's not unreasonable to think he could come very close to being our highest paid player.
Hopefully he comes back in a couple of years.
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
I think Kerevi's earning capacity in Japan will end up being significantly more than the ARU could ever pay him.
It's a smart business move entering the Japanese market directly after their World Cup. You would imagine rugby could go close to overtaking baseball as their number one sport in the coming years and a player like Kerevi will draw masses of fans with his playing style. Endorsements and contracts will be epic.
The fact the he has committed to a team already, pre what I imagine will be a rugby boom over there, will bode well for his future negotiations.
It's a smart business move entering the Japanese market directly after their World Cup. You would imagine rugby could go close to overtaking baseball as their number one sport in the coming years and a player like Kerevi will draw masses of fans with his playing style. Endorsements and contracts will be epic.
The fact the he has committed to a team already, pre what I imagine will be a rugby boom over there, will bode well for his future negotiations.
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Bobby Sands
Guest
Why am I so surprised? Because there’s almost no precedent of it happening before.
I’ve travelled plenty, but I’m not sure my years on the road pre-degree were equivalent to leaving my industry as best of field.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Rocky Elsom played a season in Ireland that many believed was his undoing as the best blindside flanker in the world.
Joe Roff 'retired' in 2004 at 29 and then played in France and Japan.
Dan Vickerman spent several 'seasons' in the UK from 08-2011 studying and playing rugby.
Liam Gill, Jesse Mogg, Joe Tomane and others are plying the careers outside of Australia in their 'prime years'.
Quade, Willy G and Beale have spent a year or two overseas in their 'prime' years.
But many young Australians head overseas post degree to work in the exact same field as the ones they were/are working in Australia.
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Bobby Sands
Guest
Rocky Elsom left later in his career and became the "best flanker in the world" while in Ireland, not before. He also left to go to a great club in a tier 1 nation.
Vickerman left at an unusualt time, but he left for non-rugby related reasons ie to study.
Liam Gill left because he could not get a run with a the Wallabies and also had a massive falling out with the Wallabies after challenging his drinking suspension (one of the few to do so).
Mogg and Tomane were fringe players at best and left for great opportunities in France.
Again Kerevi is almost without precedent in that he is the best back in Australia and arguably the form centre in the world leaving to play in an inferior competition at 25. Sean McMahon is probably the closest but he left because his body was failing and he had a falling out with Cheika. The Wallabies were desperate to keep him but he was steadfast.
Beer Baron
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Can't we be united in our grief at Kerevi's departure 
Wasn't the way I heard it.
Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
He'll be back by the next World Cup. No need for grief, I hear Tom Carter is coming out of retirement to fill the gap.Can't we be united in our grief at Kerevi's departure
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David Wilson (68)
Gels with me.
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