With Russell Crowe looking to flick-pass his share in the South Sydney Rabbitohs to another Master and Commander at the end of 2013, is the NRL facing a war on big-name apathy?
Even for a lazy, tied cricket Test kind of off-season, the last few weeks have seen a number of big names in the rugby league universe give a big shrug and half sigh ‘whatever’ to the game.
First, it was Sonny Bill Williams fronting the press after signing on with the Roosters, where he managed to muster up all the excitement as a teenager mowing his parents’ lawn after some hard core PlayStation banning bribery.
“Yeah sure I’d rather be playing for the All Blacks, boxing, skiing, suit shopping, but y’know, a handshake deal after a dozen Smirnoff Ice’s is a deal in my books.”
What about playing in the Rugby League World Cup for the Kiwis at the end of 2013, Sonny to become a dual World Cup winning rugby athlete?
“I dunno bru, maybe eh… there’s usually nothing good on telly that time of year is there?”
SBW then handed the unenthused baton to Israel Folau who, feeling he didn’t have the commitment to honour his deal with AFL’s GWS, decided to not commit himself to a return to the NRL.
“Yeah I’ll probably end up in the NRL, but maybe I’ll look at rugby union as well. Or the NFL, EPL, NBA… tennis, golf – that pays pretty well doesn’t it?”
Now granted, we are living in the age of the superstar, where individual athletes can dwarf teams, and entire competitions in some sports. But fellas, let me give you the tip, this is the part where you’re supposed to say “thank you”.
Thank you to the NRL for willing to give you another go, so you can get paid your squillions despite having given the game the finger on the way out last time. To tell us how happy you are to be back in the game, how you’re going to give it everything you’ve got and work hard to win over the fans.
Maybe if you’re really committed to the cause you’ll even promise to be too busy training the house down with your club, and well, being a professional rugby league player, to go and coach teams in other winter sports, investigate options from made up Japanese rugby clubs or wax lyrical about all the other sports who want a piece of you.
Maybe I’m just being over-sensitive as a fan who is already counting down the days to round one 2013 and getting into heated arguments about shades of blue on the Titans away jerseys.
But it just struck me the other day sitting in a cafe, watching a highly paid recruit who battles the bulge, throwing down his third Corona… at 10:45 in the morning, that the NRL may benefit from a player group that was a little more dedicated to the cause.
After all, rugby league is a game that cannot be played at anything other than total intensity, and fans can spot a half-arsed effort from the back row of ANZ Stadium.
So why can’t the sort of resolve and commitment players show on the field be extended to the game at large?
Therefore I propose if the players’ hearts aren’t it and are just chasing the cash while making fools of the paying customer, then maybe they’re better off being honest with themselves and, like Rusty Crowe, pulling up stumps and making a name for themselves elsewhere.
Who knows, he might even give you a ride there in his boat.
Follow Chris on Twitter @Vic_Arious
rae1
Guest
Doesnt the other sports mentioned pay more squllions than NRL through endorsements and so on?Professional sportsman these days appear to be more into royalties than loyalties unfortunately.
Tony Baulch
Guest
Tony Baulch
Guest
LOL SBW and the Nikon Wild Rabbits. Comedy gold. Except he might turn them into the worlds biggest boxing troupe and call it the Sonny`s Boxing Wild Rabbits.
Damien
Roar Guru
LOL. Tebow and his preachings. Good for him but I prefer freedom from religion. I'm not an athiest or anything, just sometimes Tebow's constant praising of the big man gets alittle much IMO. Isn't that meant to be private ? Also I think Tebow's contract would be looking after him well enough that he didn't need to moonlight in the offseason. Maybe as a preacher though. As for the free time I suppose it depends on the player. Some get asked to attend every event (club or personal sponsors) some have extra studies (engineering, boxing..LOL).
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Thinkl about it for a sec you league guys. Russel Crowe is in the middle of a break-up and facing a divorce where his assets will be divided up and may well be fought over. It makes sense for him to exit the Rabbitohs scene to prevent the club and the players from getting caught up in a potential cat-fight. Maybe Russel is thinking of the best interests of the players and the club.
Chris Chard
Expert
Hmmm Interesting point Damien, I've always wondered how much free time players actually have. I guess every club is different with training times etc but I would have assumed training of some form would take up the bulk of their day, but then you here stories like the one early this year about Srama from the Titans pulling shifts as a forklift driver because he was still on a rookie salary. And as for charity, well it works for Tebow... Cheers CC
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Oikee's point has some merit Redback,he is basing some of it, on historical facts. In fact it was pretty hard to beat the ru and the French govt for 50 odd years.They certainly had a different meaning for the description, amateur. The game finally got the Ok to be allowed in the British Armed services in 1994 after not be allowed for 100 years.Thanks be to ru going professional.Well openly professional that is,there was plenty of under the table stuff in certain countries. League will never have??? Which league? A league,J league,National Football League.I assume you are referring to rugby league,and one suggests never say never. It is always a good idea to have a very strong grassroots for long term growth,stability and continuity,and not be top heavy.
steve b
Roar Guru
If your lucky you get ten years in this game to make some cash , and only the top 20 % walk out with a bucket load if their smart , and if you can make a bit extra giving advice Im all for it , as for Rusty he pulled them out the crap now he wants to move on so be it . No doubt their is someone out their with big pockets rubbing their hands together . To many bloody rules and negativity going around at the moment can't wait for the kick off ..
Damien
Roar Guru
True. How dare he try and earn money in the off season outside the NRL. Forget the U.20's. What he should really be doing is volunteering at a charity instead if he has all this free time. Players are so greedy these days..
Chris Chard
Expert
Yeah you're probably right Bush, and if Bennett gives Buderus the ok to work with the Brumbies that's good enough for me. It's just that as a professional rugby league player couldn't Buderus be working on his own game during the off-season, or working with the Knights Under 20s, rather than helping coach another team some distance away?
db swannie
Guest
So we are havin a quiet off season & people still find things to complain about. Let players have a drink or three ,its no crime ,most cant drink in the playing season ,so let them enjoy themselves. Things could be far worse ,just look at the troubles another code is having at the moment (integrity wise),& just be happy our problems are minor( & hope they stay that way.
roarr
Guest
I blame player managers. Under qualified and motivated by money.
oikee
Guest
Another well written article Chris. Boredom. That is the problem at the moment. Thank goodness things are going to change. Another is getting the contract's extended to yearly. That will stop this code hopping hopefully. With more money coming into rugby league, players wont need to worry about this problem. So, how do we fix the boredom, more internationals and the World Cup next year plugs a huge hole. We cant stop their either. Even more needs to be done. Hold-on, i can see some light at the tunnels end. Improving our second tier comp has already begun. NSW cup and Qld cup are becoming more important, as they should if you want a healthy comp. The indigenous NSW knockout comp is still strong, and now has a alley with Tony Currie starting up the QLD Murri carnival. This has inspired a QLD indigenous tour for under 15 to PNG, and the senior players best from this comp toured Hawaii this year. Little fish are sweet. The big fish which has been let out of the bag weekend last is the annoucement of a NZ nines international comp. This is the big fish. This can become the great white for rugby league. Nines is a perfect platform for expanding our game and inviting teams from around the world to compete and even go on to a playing career. I can see this become huge. Plus it is around a good time, just after the new year, in NZ. This is the game changer for me. Along with the indigenous all-stars and World Club Challenge, our boys wont have time to get bored. Throw in some nic prize money and a big shiney trophy, all will be good. Also with cities now bidding for the rightsa to hold the third Origin match, this is also a chance for Origin to become the pinnacle in world sport. All the proceeds of the extra cash revenue made from the winner to hold the thrird game should go towards extra wages. Paying our players 100 thousand for each game should be the norm. We want to become world class, we need to think and be world class. China is building whole cities for crying out loud. Brisbane is also building whole cities. (Springfield and Ripley Valley). Sitting on your hands no longer cuts grass, if you want world best practise, you have to make it happen. Nice report Chris. p.s,,, rugby league is doing things, we had our hands tied with little money, but now we have cash our wings need to be spread. We are the only code to really have fought code wars, and survived. We are battle hardened from Super League, battling union for 100 years and now afl attempts to rattle us.. Last time i looked our game was thriving.
dean
Guest
My guess is rusty will sell the rabbits to SBW, who will then move the franchise to Japan & turn it into the greatest rugby team that country has ever known...They will be called the nikon wild rabbits.
Johnno
Guest
Interesting how much Rusty sells it for.
JazzyJase
Roar Pro
Spot on article, nailed it.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Bit rough comparing Buderus to the other clowns isn't it? Hasn't the bloke down enough for the sport after fifteen (15) years of loyal service, including coming back to the NRL to provide mentoring and leadership to the next generation before he throws up the boots. All he is doing, with the blessing of a man who lives and breaths Rugby League more than anyone I've heard of (his coach, if you need the hint), is planning for his life after professional Rugby League...
Derryn
Guest
Great players but will never be held in the same esteem as some of the loyal one club players we have seen in recent times. How can fans cheer for $BW when he'll be gone next year? Give me Hindy, Beaver or Haz every day of the week.
Tommy
Guest
Dedication to the cause was broken by the salary cap that has meant club & player loyalty is now the exception. It taught players that loyalty will get you nowhere in your career & that you owe nothing in terms of loyalty to RL or your first club. Most of the RL media treat the game with the same little care that the players do. The only people that truly care about the game are the junior volunteers, the fans & Men of League.