Sign Thurston now: Ella

[chook]

Hard to see how Del and Lote are money wasters.

THurston could be good, Inglis and/or Folau definitely would be.

But then again, Josh Holmes or Luke Burgess or Beale or Lukas or Turner are just as valuable. Those few names I mention have the potential to be great over the next few years.

Beale is also interested in moving to League at some point to, I suppose I should mention.

[Jehna]

Hard to see how Del and Lote are money wasters.

Yeah i think Del's performance in the 2003 world cup was just awesome...except that i have no recollection of him doing anything useful...at all. But of course, that's beside the point. His greatest contribution to the game was clearly his two year suspension for drug use...wicked...glad we recruited him

Lote of course is equally as brilliant..i'm really glad we recruited him judging by his performance in the wallabies season this year...oh no wait...he's only played a couple of games hasn't he? I think....can't really remember him actually achieving anything...and why's that again? Oh yeah he was suspended for not turning up to training because he was still smashed...not to mention he loves to hang around with people who assault taxi drivers at 5am, loves to shove fellow teammates in the back, and he's best mates with Del....totally worth that $6million...thank you league..

[chook]

Yeah i think Del's performance in the 2003 world cup was just awesome...except that i have no recollection of him doing anything useful...at all. But of course, that's beside the point. His greatest contribution to the game was clearly his two year suspension for drug use...wicked...glad we recruited him

Lote of course is equally as brilliant..i'm really glad we recruited him judging by his performance in the wallabies season this year...oh no wait...he's only played a couple of games hasn't he? I think....can't really remember him actually achieving anything...and why's that again? Oh yeah he was suspended for not turning up to training because he was still smashed...not to mention he loves to hang around with people who assault taxi drivers at 5am, loves to shove fellow teammates in the back, and he's best mates with Del....totally worth that $6million...thank you league..

You make it sound like these things are bad. Crazy girl.

Del and Lote are football legends and deserve much more respect and appreciation from us all.

Del went great guns for the Tahs most of the time. Lote gave us much joy when he speared McCaw and terrorised Varndell, amongst other things.

Ah the memories...

[Jehna]

"WARNING: CONTENT POSTED BY THIS USER SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AT FACE VALUE. ITS MOSTLY FACETIOUS DRIVEL"

I'm choosing this point to take you seriously on this comment instead

[chook]

Finally, you are learning , young grasshopper

[KenyaQuin]

My problem with Leaguies is not that they don't perform (though I would say they are over-rated in a Union context) but the fact that their presence is a distraction..are the players good enough; is union good enough; is it about money; how long they will last; which butt cheek should we kiss first - left or right?

In Lote's case, I see no reason why the ARU pay millions other than pride (not wanting to give the Mungos more ammunition in the century-old "war" of which is the better code) and commerce (Lote as a product/marketing tool). The same can probably be said of other experiments such as Rogers, Sailor.

No doubt these players have done a somewhat good service to Rugby but I doubt their performances would be classed as "legendary" or even "special" and would probably only get a small print mention in the Australian rugby annals.

What Australian rugby needs is to focus its resources on developing its grassroots program and as importantly, needs to allow those coming through these programs the opportunity to dream of wearing the green and gold. Recruiting and paying vast sums of money on untested League players simply because they are good in their code is simply myopic.

I read with interest an interview of Berrick Barnes sometime last week regarding his move to Rugby. To paraphrase, he said that the Broncos supported his move "to get Rugby out of his system" and when the time was right would welcome him back into the Broncos fold.

To a good number of Leaguies crossing over, rugby is simply a novelty that would wear off at some point. I hope that, in Barnes' case, Rugby will become blood and not simply remain a virus.

[shasta]

To a good number of Leaguies crossing over, rugby is simply a novelty that would wear off at some point. I hope that, in Barnes' case, Rugby will become blood and not simply remain a virus.

What do you base that opinion on? From what the players say it's partly for the challenge. ......can I make it in the other code?. Partly for the international experience, especially RWC, and partly for the money.

They need to weigh that against missing the high intensity week-in-week-out nature of the NRL and the possibility of playing in the still more intense Origin series. That may be closer to the mark than Rugby being simply a novelty that wears off.

After playing NRL, S14 and probably 2 RWC's by the age of 26, it would be understandable for Barnes to wonder about also achieving Origin status and winning an NRL premiership. The other high profile Mungos who have switched recently had achieved most or all those NRL goals before joining the ARU.

[KenyaQuin]

Shasta..I think you've simply supported my argument (which, to answer your question, is simply based on my own observations).

Having grown up in a "neutral" country you don't really get an inkling on the rationale behind these crossovers and you tend to develop a distinctly mild curiosity on the subject. Having been in Australia for sometime now, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in not only the discourse and diatribe in the various media by "experts" and fans alike regarding the subject but also observe the players themselves.

In Kenya, its quite simple, there is only one Rugby and because it is purely an amateur sport, you play because you love the game (there can be no other reason to put yourself through such physical abuse).

Forgive me for being, 7 years on removed from Kenya, still a tad naive and idealistic but I still do believe that "for the love of the game" still has a place in our game. My argument and concern is that, for alot of the crossovers, its not "for the love of the game" but for the love of money or fame or the challenge and the ARU seems to support this shift in idealogy. I appreciate that the nature of professionalism is commercialistic but grassroots is where the love is and that should be our focus (not the other side of the fence). Recruiting leaguies is often a distraction and does little to encourage those coming through the ranks.

[shasta]

Shasta..I think you've simply supported my argument

you play because you love the game

My argument and concern is that, for alot of the crossovers, its not "for the love of the game" but for the love of money or fame or the challenge and the ARU seems to support this shift in idealogy.

I don't think you're naive. I just think you and others are a bit off the mark in saying these blokes don't also play for the love of the game. If they didn't they'd be no bloody good at either.

You've also lumped the challenge and lure of fame with the money. I disagree. I might be the naive one but I believe most really do look to the challenge of a new code first and foremost. The top players are the ultimate competitors. It's what separates them from the rest of us, along with a bit of ability. However, if people are willing to give you a heap of money for something you'd likely still do for free, why wouldn't you look for the best deal?

I think Berrick Barnes may eventually go back because, even though I think he'll be an outstanding success at Rugby, he, unlike the Tuquiris etc., still has much to achieve as a Rugby League player.

[KenyaQuin]

I don't think you're naive. I just think you and others are a bit off the mark in saying these blokes don't also play for the love of the game. If they didn't they'd be no bloody good at either.

They do love the game..just the wrong one (from my perspective).

I have noted your views and infact you've given a different perspective (as below) on which I shall mull over..

The other high profile Mungos who have switched recently had achieved most or all those NRL goals before joining the ARU.