Well supply and demand dictated that contract size.
Waratahs 2025
- Thread starter RugbyReg
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JRugby2
Vay Wilson (31)
Not an argument many will accept if his form continues to slide.
You budget 40-50 minutes for any THP at best
THPs and TH locks are the two most important, most under appreciated spots on the field
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Tight head props as a unit are the most important, not as individuals. That's why you can't over spend on them if they're not going to be playing bulk minutes, because the backup is close to your most valuable reserve.
As far as time on the field goes, most top flight tight heads are averaging 50-60 minutes across the season (often at the higher end for club), not 40-50. I'm pretty sure median minutes lands on the higher end of that scale too, with occasional injury returns, bench stints, early game HIA's, and cards bringing the average down.
As far as time on the field goes, most top flight tight heads are averaging 50-60 minutes across the season (often at the higher end for club), not 40-50. I'm pretty sure median minutes lands on the higher end of that scale too, with occasional injury returns, bench stints, early game HIA's, and cards bringing the average down.
JRugby2
Vay Wilson (31)
TBH I don't expect his next contract will be in Aus at all
This circles back to when he signed that contract at the Reds. He was living up to it and playing big minutes before the calf and then Achillies injury. I'm very happy with him focusing mainly on scrum time these days while the rest of his game can improve slowly. I think the Tahs (and wallabies) are managing his minutes with the aim to get him regularly going for 55mins.
Maybe. I think that his injury history and penchant for eating will have scared a few clubs off. He's got a young family now and I can see him wanting to settle in Syndey after the Rebels fiasco. Time will tell.
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
I hope he stays in Aus Rugby. He is in the match day 23 if fit regardless of some recent form.
Do I expect him to stay? No. There will be enough Clubs willing to throw a contract at him around the world I find it hard to imagine RA can match the higher ones or justify it. He'll get a deal that we may have to look at and see positives of the money we have for others. Even if it allows RA to offer that extra 100k to 3-4 guys that can swing them to staying onshore.
Do I expect him to stay? No. There will be enough Clubs willing to throw a contract at him around the world I find it hard to imagine RA can match the higher ones or justify it. He'll get a deal that we may have to look at and see positives of the money we have for others. Even if it allows RA to offer that extra 100k to 3-4 guys that can swing them to staying onshore.
Agent
Ted Thorn (20)
Tupou for all his 'faults' is still one of the best scrummagers in world rugby. He may not be as explosive around the field as people would like but it wasn't that many years ago Aussie front rowers were being criticised for not being strong enough at scrum time. Maybe we can't expect the modern day prop to excel at both, with the VERY rare exception. One thing that is guaranteed is that there would be a massive outcry from the Aussie rugby community if TT was to head overseas because he wasn't valued highly enough here.
People also need to remember that a component of his Rugby Australia contract was the fact that he is a big personality and a well known face that could be used in ads and promotional material.
When it comes to the Wallabies in particular, what players are paid doesn't solely relate to what they do on the field.
That is probably quite different if they do take up an overseas contract where there is very little expectation that part of the reason they've been signed is for off field activities. For some players that's probably a tough pill to swallow in terms of what Rugby Australia will offer. Personally I'd guess that part of the gulf between Rugby Australia's offer to Fraser McReight and what he's being offered overseas is on the basis that he's never really put himself into the position as a potential "face of the game."
When it comes to the Wallabies in particular, what players are paid doesn't solely relate to what they do on the field.
That is probably quite different if they do take up an overseas contract where there is very little expectation that part of the reason they've been signed is for off field activities. For some players that's probably a tough pill to swallow in terms of what Rugby Australia will offer. Personally I'd guess that part of the gulf between Rugby Australia's offer to Fraser McReight and what he's being offered overseas is on the basis that he's never really put himself into the position as a potential "face of the game."
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
Uini Atonio averages under 50 mins for club (Rochelle)and country, and so does Touluse's Dorian Aldegheri. There is a lot more load management going on in France and Europe for the best players with bigger squads etc
Of course, that's still a fair bit higher than TT is managing at the moment though
Of course, that's still a fair bit higher than TT is managing at the moment though
Wilson
John Eales (66)
I'm not as up on the French, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them working more like the South Africans given their prop depth, and levelling out the minutes. I don't think it's too relevant for us though, without bigger squads (and more importantly more money to fill them) we can't expect to operate that way. Even if we did it's still not an argument for bulk spending on the top tight head, you want a more even distribution of salary between the group as whole, somewhat in line with the way you'll distribute minutes.
On the other hand, players like Sinckler, Ala'alatoa, Lomax and Furlong (more for country then club, against the norm) have regularly averaged above 50 and approaching 60 a season, with the standard for them to be going beyond 50 minutes per game. It's definitely not every season, but it's pretty clear that their teams are targeting over 50 minutes from their prime tight head as standard.
On the other hand, players like Sinckler, Ala'alatoa, Lomax and Furlong (more for country then club, against the norm) have regularly averaged above 50 and approaching 60 a season, with the standard for them to be going beyond 50 minutes per game. It's definitely not every season, but it's pretty clear that their teams are targeting over 50 minutes from their prime tight head as standard.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
It's not that much of a difference, at a player level, because of the larger squads and load management. For eg, very few THPs up north would ever have put in Tupou's 1622 minutes in 19/20, when the Reds had him averaging 73 minutes over 17 games
HogansHeros
Alex Ross (28)
As a THP that gives me nightmares.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
It's rare but Kyle Sinckler was only 2 minutes short that season, totaling 1620, though it was over 2 more games.
Also probably worth noting that Ala'alatoa averaged 70 minutes per game, playing every game (15) for the Brumbies, and averaging more minutes per game across the combined test and super season. The difference comes from the Reds playing 2 extra games that year, a round 5 clash in regular super when the Brumbies had a bye, and a Super AU qualifying final. Tupou's season while unusual is not as much of an outlier as it looks on first glance.
Also probably worth noting that Ala'alatoa averaged 70 minutes per game, playing every game (15) for the Brumbies, and averaging more minutes per game across the combined test and super season. The difference comes from the Reds playing 2 extra games that year, a round 5 clash in regular super when the Brumbies had a bye, and a Super AU qualifying final. Tupou's season while unusual is not as much of an outlier as it looks on first glance.