WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
It's not necessarily about the money. Well, not immediately at that age. It's about the opportunity to participate in a high level competition where you can be seen.
Rugby League players who could have/could make the switch
- Thread starter EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7
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It's not necessarily about the money. Well, not immediately at that age. It's about the opportunity to participate in a high level competition where you can be seen.
It's amusing that RL fans think the fact Union chases RL stars proves they are superior players. The fact is that these players are great athletes regardless of the sport. It's not like guys like SBW, Burgess, Folau, Benji are average league players. They are the superstars of the sport. Lesser players like Willie Mason were complete flops. It's as if they are so conditioned to hate RU that when a star leaves their code to play RU they come up with every reason they can think of why it is not a bad thing instead of facing the fact it is a massive loss e.g. x player is past it, x player is bad for team chemistry, x player is all about the money etc.
I'm sure Folau could cut it as a RB or WR (World Rugby) in the NFL, this doesn't prove NRL players are superior athletes to NFL players, just that Folau is a great athlete. Fifita and JWH were in junior Super Rugby squads, If they stayed in Union then League fans would say they are shit athletes but as soon as they become stars in the NRL then they are magically proof League players are superior. JWH didn't even play any league growing up, not sure about Fifita.
I'm sure Folau could cut it as a RB or WR (World Rugby) in the NFL, this doesn't prove NRL players are superior athletes to NFL players, just that Folau is a great athlete. Fifita and JWH were in junior Super Rugby squads, If they stayed in Union then League fans would say they are shit athletes but as soon as they become stars in the NRL then they are magically proof League players are superior. JWH didn't even play any league growing up, not sure about Fifita.
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
Ironically enough this is actually a thing in the USA, my local team. Not that I know how good they are, if you count the universities here the Fight (and I guess you could count the Doylestown Sharks in too) are outnumbered somewhere around 7 or 8:1 by Rugby clubs.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
I was talking about Australia. There is a tradition of amateur rugby league in England, but not here.
T
Train Without a Station
Guest
I don't know about fully amateur Wamberal, but grass roots rugby league is probably far bigger in Australia than Rugby Union.
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
..And I was making a comment about the irony that a minnow nation has an amateur scene where (according to you) the world giant in the game doesn't.
Tangawizi
Peter Fenwicke (45)
The Broncos have named their squad for the Auckland 9's and there is an interesting name in there. Joe Ofahengaue, nephew of Willie O and also a fairly big unit.
Will be interesting to see how he goes this year. http://www.qt.com.au/news/joe-set-to-grab-his-big-chance/2130896/
Will be interesting to see how he goes this year. http://www.qt.com.au/news/joe-set-to-grab-his-big-chance/2130896/
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Rugby league has never been amateur, though, has it? Money (or the possibility of it) is number one. That is the point I was making. Even at the grass roots, nobody plays for fun, it is deadly serious. Whereas a lot of people play park rugby for the fun and fellowship of it all. A huge cultural difference.
This seems like the sort of sweeping generalisation that The Rock would have made (except in reverse).
I've had a few friends play rugby league as adults. It was no more or less serious than subbies rugby.
They definitely weren't getting paid either.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
Yeah, it was a sweeping generalisation.
But it wasn't far wrong.
I also have known hundreds of guys who played League for no money.Although I can't think of anyone of those guys who was in a team where no one was paid.
It is just part of their culture,generally speaking.
But it wasn't far wrong.
I also have known hundreds of guys who played League for no money.Although I can't think of anyone of those guys who was in a team where no one was paid.
It is just part of their culture,generally speaking.
T
Train Without a Station
Guest
Even in subbies rugby players get paid. May not be every team in each comp, but I'd say you'd struggle to find a single comp, where there aren't players getting paid.
To say any level below Premier Rugby is any different to the levels below Q/NSW Cup is misleading and taking payments of "a pie and a coke" far too seriously.
To say any level below Premier Rugby is any different to the levels below Q/NSW Cup is misleading and taking payments of "a pie and a coke" far too seriously.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
My experiences are apparently different to your experiences. As for The Rock, I think it is insulting to be compared to that half-wit, frankly.
We all generalise, to some extent, from our own experiences. When I was young I played junior rugby league, and the whole ethos was totally different to the junior rugby teams that I played in.
One code signs kids up at the age of 14, and it is not rugby. That tells me all that I need to know about their attitude to the sport, and is consistent with my experiences.
The Rock
Ward Prentice (10)
NRL are not allowed to sign a kid before 15 years, so get your facts straight, most of you have No Idea what goes on in the NRL but go on by Gossip or Rumors !! Nasty, Nasty, Nasty, I am so upset !! Lol Gee some of you are really Bitter and Twisted and so One Eyed ! I am sure if your little Jonny got a nice little Contract with the NRL, you would be thinking differently. A lot of Jealousy on here With so much Nastiness, I can understand now why parents are pulling their kids out of the Weekend Club Rugby Competitions in the droves and putting them into League. Most parents tell me Most of the Rugby Folk are a Bunch of Snobs and are Rude and too much Politics involved. I can see what they mean now Lol. Your not doing your code any justice in the PR Department, the way some of you carry on, you need to grow up and get a life,too many Key Board Warriors here ! Everyone is entitled to an opinion on here that's why its a forum. No Wonder Rugby is Struggling in this Country Big Time, to many Half-Wits involved !
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blackheart
Peter Burge (5)
I can't even begin to imagine the size of the chip permanently residing on your shoulder!!
RugbyFuture
Lord Logo
I do agree lots of rugby people are snobs, though I also enjoy their ability to spell
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Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk
terry j
Ron Walden (29)
and use punctuation, as well as a reasoned argument.
T
TOCC
Guest
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
Not in all cases but sadly you speak some hard truths.
Fellas, might be an idea just to take the personal insults out of your posts and keep the discussion civil.
terry j
Ron Walden (29)
seriously?
not too sure there are that many insults, most of us are trying to understand what he is even saying.
THEN there might be insults, but we gotta know before we go surely.
And he, an obvious league guy (which is fine) comes on here and starts bagging the shit out of us and our game. Why does he not just shove off and do it on a league forum? (not that he bothers me too much, he is without too much overt antagonism)
kambah mick
Chris McKivat (8)
I'll take a bite on The Rocks bait. My cousin was a recent captain of South Sydney and a premiership winning player at Easts, which in Rocks view might give me some cred.
My nephew was signed up by a league club at 15, two years after entering an agreement along with his parents to accept regular payments for special dietary requirements. (In view of the ASADA affair I must add that the dietary requirements were strictly a balanced diet provided by the club dietician in order for the nephew to grow strong with a fair muscle cover during his 14/15 year growth spurt.)
He was from outside a small country town, and it was expected that he would move to a specified school for the last two or so years of school so he could receive coaching and advanced physical training under a supervised diet, whilst playing U16 and U18 competitions. It was expected that he would move on to the national U20 competition after school.
At 17 he was injured, and then homesickness, distaste for city life, and all the things that can affect a youth from the bush caused him to return home. By then the local RL club (like a number of them locally) had folded so RU or soccer were the only options. He took up Union but only very socially, and retired from the game at about 26.
Rugby Union in the central west and northern riverina is booming, albeit at a very amateurish level of play among the smaller towns. RL on the other hand is dying, such that there are at least twice as many defunct clubs as functioning ones, and those that do function are struggling, teetering on bankruptcy, relying on imported players (paid) that do not return anything like enough through the gates to pay their way.
My nephew was signed up by a league club at 15, two years after entering an agreement along with his parents to accept regular payments for special dietary requirements. (In view of the ASADA affair I must add that the dietary requirements were strictly a balanced diet provided by the club dietician in order for the nephew to grow strong with a fair muscle cover during his 14/15 year growth spurt.)
He was from outside a small country town, and it was expected that he would move to a specified school for the last two or so years of school so he could receive coaching and advanced physical training under a supervised diet, whilst playing U16 and U18 competitions. It was expected that he would move on to the national U20 competition after school.
At 17 he was injured, and then homesickness, distaste for city life, and all the things that can affect a youth from the bush caused him to return home. By then the local RL club (like a number of them locally) had folded so RU or soccer were the only options. He took up Union but only very socially, and retired from the game at about 26.
Rugby Union in the central west and northern riverina is booming, albeit at a very amateurish level of play among the smaller towns. RL on the other hand is dying, such that there are at least twice as many defunct clubs as functioning ones, and those that do function are struggling, teetering on bankruptcy, relying on imported players (paid) that do not return anything like enough through the gates to pay their way.