Modern athletes owe nothing to their code

Well I couldn't care less about CVs, corporate reputation, or career building. Sounds like a great waste of the very precious time we have on this wonderful planet. But in terms of footballers, changing codes doesn't worry me. We are talking about individuals, not sheep. You don't 'breed' footballers, there is no such thing as a football 'nursery', no sport has a God given right to force a child or man to play that particular sport. And as others have pointed out, your time at the top is short. Clubs will happily kick you out of the roost when it suits them.

thats a good story mania???

Our great hope at the 2000 olympics, you bet I did!! Mind you I was an avid cross country cyclist back then.

I Praise God everyday for a human being like Israel Folau, as a proud Polynesian girl, Israel Folau makes me so proud for the role model he portrays to the young Australian generation as an elite professional footballer he has shown young Polynesian kids that you can try something new other then rugby league/union. For this country that we migrated to has its own footy (AFL) and although I was associated with an elite AFL family for many years, never did I go and watch this game until Israel played football, it's the exposure that he gave to our community that made me so proud to even consider this game. With him and negotiating his future that goes to show how important he is that everyone wants to place judgement on his decision and in the cooperate world I come from no one judges you, if you manage to climb the corporate ladder so whilst Isreal and the rest of professional sports players are given a very limited time in their short term careers allow them the opportunities to consider their own well being, their families and their loved ones. The press and media feed on the negativity how about congratulating Isreal Folau on being an awesome role model, no drug abuse, no violence abuse and clean as whistle for a young Australian-Tongan young man. We have the highest teenage suicide in the world and lucky for the Australian public Isreal has a gift which higher than his professional football career and that's his FAITH and him being with God and having his family, with all this negative press he is able to focus on his ability/giving back and going to jails, visiting schools and bringing hope to the next generations, Israel is one humble human being and money is everyone's income, does that mean we are all just after money? Not for this awesome individual he stands for something far beyond this because to him God is his foundation and no against him will prosper because God is with him!!! Never change Israel as for your days are always going to prosper, with all the days of your life for your humility, poise,gratitude, and faith you display! No manual book is written for the position, your in and they will never know what's its like to walk a mile in Israel Folau's shoes so keep it real like you have always do and just being true to your character, as there is only one God that can judge us!!! Your character is real and humble and people would be blessed to meet you!!!!#supportofteamFolaunomatterwhat!!!!

agreed. Would have been good to watch though...

I certainly would, but then again my salary and reputation isn't dependent on the goodwill and support of fans who pay to watch me represent them and their club or country. Even without that fact, switching industries every year seems like a pretty poor way to build your C.V. Or would employers be impressed by you saying you wanted to switch from banking to law because you fancied a challenge (but you'll leave the door open to go back to banking when you decide your hearts not in it)? There's loyalty, and then there's also staying power and commitment. I take your point about the former, but openly demonstrating a lack of the latter won't impress in any field of work.

If a true contract (i.e. with consideration) is in place and broken, you can always take the legal route for compensation... this obviously wasn't in place in this instance.

Michael Jordan playing baseball....?

Well, strictly speaking, it shouldn't be possible unless there is an out clause. In which case, people need to either stop putting in out clauses or stop complaining about people using them...

That issue goes both ways. Clubs love talking about disloyalty in players, but lets not forget that once a players value drops enough in the eye of the club the player gets the sack. It is not unreasonable for a player whose stock has risen to seek greener pastures.

Any truth in the rumour that the Waratahs are chasing Beckham?

The thing that gets up my nose is the reneging on contracts. IMO, that's not right, and there should be a BIG financial penalty for doing that. So what is a contract really worth and what is the persons word worth? Nothing if the person breaks the contract. Can they really be trusted to keep their word in a signed contract?

The only sad thing about this is the way it highlights how much the professional codes have become about athletes rather than skills. Big enough, strong enough and fast enough you're in, as the skills and tactics have been reduced to the sort of robotics that minimise risk. You know the stuff; rigorous defense, clinging onto the ball rather than risking the pass, go to the breakdown rather than look for the gap, kick it away if there is any pressure applied, etc. Doesn't take skill or art, just mass and an ability to run all day...

Of course not but it does wonders for my point.

Be honest; you never watched Cadel when he was a mountain biker...

I think the reason that (some) RL supporters take code changes so hard is because historically in their code the "converts" were always heading their way. From 1908 to 1995 RL in Australia took top rugby players every year. VFL/AFL was not a code that at that time was interested in their players and rugby was amateur and "converts" could not return and of course as professionals RL players were unable to play rugby. So once that changed and not only rugby but AFL showed they could tempt RL players to switch codes this seems to be a major shock to RL supporters who seem to believe that all RL players played for "the love of the game" rather than money being a major (if not only ) factor. The reality is that the number of players switching from RL is imo insignificant and RL supporters should just take a deep breath and get on with it. Welcome to the new world of professional sport where you have competition for players...

Nice little article and some great posts from roarers. 100% agree: let the players do what they want and enjoy watching if you like the sport and or the guy. Otherwise, move on and continue to do what you like without bagging the bloke who just want to have a go at something different. Journos, lawyers, etc end up in politics or other fields. What's wrong with league guys wanting to play rugby?

I'm right with the concept of this post. If they want to have a crack, why not.

Remember Michael Jordan? Often recognised as one of the Top 10 athletes of all time.. He too left basketball to try his hand at baseball and was a failure.. Does that mean he is a money-hungry sellout? I don't think so. I would argue that he is just a supremely competitive and talented athlete who was given the opportunity to prove himself in another sport. Of course he would take it and he is more than entitled to.

Couldn't agree more with this sentiment.. I have no issue with a player taking the opportunity to challenge himself in a different pursuit. They earn that right by excelling at what they are currently doing and showing a willingness to train until they're the best. If Jarred Hayne was approached by Nike and offered millions to become a 100m sprinter and train for the Olympics would we begrudge him in the same way? I don't think so. The root of the problem is the petty cross-coding fighting that is driven largely by the pathetic tabloid journalism at The Daily Telegraph