Wallabies 2023

[TSR]

Like Radradra, Speight, Vunivalu and most of Fijians. He could has been poached by ABs, France, England or whoever.

If you look at the full glass thanks to the NRL you got him being a legal Australian resident ready to play instanly. Speight played for Waikato, Vunivalu played for Blues Academy so most of them could have been ABs or even Japaneses with the current market

I think the difference is though is that, to my understanding (may be wrong) Koroibete didn’t play much rugby growing up.

 

[Wallaby Man]

I think the difference is though is that, to my understanding (may be wrong) Koroibete didn’t play much rugby growing up.

Yep, it’s often presumed that because he’s Fijian he had a rugby background (I’m sure there was some exposure) but actually came through the non traditional Fijian rugby league pathway instead of Union.

Many don’t remember how Koroibete was after 2 years (so many people saying waste of money and doesn’t know how to defend etc.) but Vunivalu is arguably a better player 2 years in that Marika was, it’s just his injuries that are the biggest issue whereas Marika managed to stay fit and therefore improve.

 

[Braveheart81]

NRL coaches asked about Eddie's grab looks like Rugby is still getting mentions in NRL circles even if it's a poll put out by the paper.

Apparently none of the coaches or clubs are "worried" about Rugby targeting players with a union background.

Not sure if we could match salaries anyway

They shouldn't be realistically. How many NRL players do we sign on average a year? A handful at maximum and it will rarely include someone even remotely close to being a star. Mostly it will be someone like Tom Wright who has maybe played a couple of NRL games.

On top of that they will all know that most of the talk of players being signed by rugby are actually nothing more than agents trying to create additional (fake) interest in their player to help with contract negotiations. Treating it seriously would give credence to those mostly false claims.

 

[Derpus]

Yep, it’s often presumed that because he’s Fijian he had a rugby background (I’m sure there was some exposure) but actually came through the non traditional Fijian rugby league pathway instead of Union.

Many don’t remember how Koroibete was after 2 years (so many people saying waste of money and doesn’t know how to defend etc.) but Vunivalu is arguably a better player 2 years in that Marika was, it’s just his injuries that are the biggest issue whereas Marika managed to stay fit and therefore improve.

Nonsense. MK was a Wallaby within 2 years.

 

[John S]

They shouldn't be realistically. How many NRL players do we sign on average a year? A handful at maximum and it will rarely include someone even remotely close to being a star. Mostly it will be someone like Tom Wright who has maybe played a couple of NRL games.

On top of that they will all know that most of the talk of players being signed by rugby are actually nothing more than agents trying to create additional (fake) interest in their player to help with contract negotiations. Treating it seriously would give credence to those mostly false claims.

You're not wrong. I think I mentioned earlier the article was probably a way for Nine to get Rugby up in the news (seeing as they own SMH).

I'd much prefer we try and stop NRL poaching the good up and coming union players and keep them in our system than try and poach theirs.

 

[Marce]

I'd much prefer we try and stop NRL poaching the good up and coming union players and keep them in our system than try and poach theirs.

Bring back some of the many Aussie locks playing overseas would be more helpful. The stock of quality locks at Super Rugby level is worrying

 

[Wallaby Man]

Nonsense. MK was a Wallaby within 2 years.

Vunivalu is a wallaby

 

[Derpus]

Vunivalu is a wallaby

Vaguely.

 

[PhilClinton]

Vunivalu is a wallaby

At this point it's almost like they chucked him a cap to prevent any possibility of a Fijian defection for the RWC

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

At this point it's almost like they chucked him a cap to prevent any possibility of a Fijian defection for the RWC

I sadly agree. I can imagine the conversation that we didn't pay him all this money to run out for Fiji at the World Cup.

Not the first time this has happened in World Rugby

 

[Derpus]

Naiyaravoro springs to mind.

 

[Adam84]

It didn't require a lot of training or involvement to keep him game ready in the NRL.

Sorry but that’s just speculation. I’ve worked with NRL teams before, and I don’t believe the Reds or any Super Rugby team would train more than any of them. even for the outside backs.

Perhaps the training requirements differed and that’s what you meant to say, maybe less sprint work or explosive work, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t require a lot of work or training to keep him game ready.

 

[Marce]

Through Vunivalu's own admissions publicly and privately, he's had issues during his time in the NRL and the Storm simply kept him on a low impact training program to combat this. The Reds didn't do that. To use a basketball analogy, he was much more of a 'role player' in the NRL than in rugby. It didn't require a lot of training or involvement to keep him game ready in the NRL.

The difference is that he was a superstar in Storm at that time. He earned the right to be a special player with difference treatment. In rugby he has to prove that he's capable to play at high level

The best decision would be Reds medical staff putting in contact with Storm medical staff in order to get information of how treat Vunivalu's health. This is not common for any organization cause that information is secret but in this case is the only way to solve it

 

[Marce]

I think the difference is though is that, to my understanding (may be wrong) Koroibete didn’t play much rugby growing up.

It doesnt matter. NZRU used to sign some League players too

 

[Derpus]

Rugby seems pretty demonstrably less strenuous than league for an outside back. Less games and less contact.

Dude just had a bad run with injury and now seems, i guess, hesitant? I remember when he first started at the Reds he looked deadly every time he touched the ball. For Aus A he looked scared. Shit happens.

 

[Marce]

Yep, it’s often presumed that because he’s Fijian he had a rugby background (I’m sure there was some exposure) but actually came through the non traditional Fijian rugby league pathway instead of Union.

As far as I know ALL the Fijians play 7s. So for a winger the skill-set is pretty the same for 7s, Union or League. If he was a tight-five would have been a big difference

 

[Marce]

Rugby seems pretty demonstrably less strenuous than league for an outside back. Less games and less contact.

Dude just had a bad run with injury and now seems, i guess, hesitant? I remember when he first started at the Reds he looked deadly every time he touched the ball. For Aus A he looked scared. Shit happens.

We know there are some top rugby head coaches obssesed with NRL players as Cheika and Eddie Jones but... Didnt RA/Reds do a thorough study on Vunivalu's body? Like any sports organization

There are hundreds of physical NRL wingers to spend the little money you have. If u gonna ignore all the rugby wingers, signed someone who is 100% healthy. Maika Sivo is older but he looks healthier than him

 

[Derpus]

We know there are some top rugby head coaches obssesed with NRL players as Cheika and Eddie Jones but... Didnt Rugby Australia/Reds do a thorough study on Vunivalu's body? Like any sports organization

There are hundreds of physical NRL wingers to spend the little money you have. If u gonna ignore all the rugby wingers, signed someone who is 100% healthy. Maika Sivo is older but he looks healthier than him

I don't think it really works like that man. You can't predict injuries.

 

[Marce]

I don't think it really works like that man. You can't predict injuries.

No, but if the boy had a special low-impact training in Melbourne (according by some users), it is cause he has been carrying several injuries for some time

 

[TSR]

As far as I know ALL the Fijians play 7s. So for a winger the skill-set is pretty the same for 7s, Union or League. If he was a tight-five would have been a big difference

Well, I guess Koroibete missed the memo. Apparently he didn’t.

I don’t know the guy personally, but that was what was reported. I’m sure he found himself on the field occasionally but he didn’t play much.

There are some key differences in skills sets and it showed early in Koroibete’s career.