It was a depressing weekend for rugby league fans, with news that footballing superstars Benji Marshall, Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau may all be lost to the code next year, with the trio playing Super Rugby instead.
Marshall is currently in negotiations with his club, the Wests Tigers. Despite being signed through until 2015, the 28-year-old has a clause in his contract that allows him to renegotiate if there are increases to the NRL salary cap.
As such, the club and Marshall have been locked into talks for some period now.
It hasn’t been the happiest of times in rugby league recently for the Kiwi five-eighth. The Tigers and he have struggled on the field, which even saw him dropped to the bench at one stage, he lost the captaincy of the national team, and rumours persist about he and coach Mick Potter failing to work well together.
All these factors have seen John Kirwan, the coach of the Blues Super Rugby franchise, pounce. Kirwan met Marshall’s manager, Martin Tauber, last week to discuss the possibility of Marshall playing in Auckland next season.
It’s not the first time that Marshall has been sounded out for a code switch, but it is the first time that circumstances in his life have dictated that it may well be a genuine, and appealing, option for him.
As arguably the most famous rugby league player in the NRL, his loss would be devastating for the code. Apart from his skill level and talent, he’s one of the most popular players in the game, especially among young fans. Make no mistake about it, Benji is an extremely valuable recruiting tool at grassroots level, and his exodus would be shattering for rugby league.
Unfortunately, Benji might not be the only player in the NRL departures lounge.
Sonny Bill Williams signed a one year contract with the Sydney Roosters, yet there were suggestions that he would play for the club for two seasons. However, those reports may be well off the mark with the news that his old Super Rugby club, the Chiefs, have a left a mid-field spot open for Williams’ possible return next season.
Sonny Bill is a unique type of creature, who likes to put pressure on himself by signing short term contracts in order to keep his options open and present himself with new challenges to overcome.
He has made a triumphant return to league, when many foolishly believed he couldn’t excel again in the sport so quickly. He’s been one of the best players in the competition this season, and though he’d love to win the premiership, he very well may consider his rugby league objective achieved, and that it’s time for his next challenge.
Though he previously made a successful switch to rugby union, he was only a bench player for the All Blacks during their successful World Cup campaign, and he may have a burning desire to play a much larger role in New Zealand’s Cup defence in 2015.
The Chiefs leaving a position on their playing roster for Williams is a worrying sign for league fans, for Sonny Bill has been sensational for the Roosters this year, along with being a real drawcard for the NRL.
Sadly for rugby league, this potential horror movie isn’t over just yet.
Israel Folau is technically not even rugby league’s to lose, considering he’s currently a Wallaby. However, much like Williams, Folau only signed a one year contract with the ARU, with all the talk being that he would return to rugby league next season.
Yet few could predict how quickly Izzy would adapt to rugby union. After just handful of games for the Waratahs, his sensational form saw him selected for Australia in the British and Irish Lions series.
Though there remains one game to go in the series – the decider in Sydney on Saturday – Folau has been the best player in the first two games, with daylight second. He’s been a constant threat in attack, and his rare combination of size, speed, skill and jumping ability have given the Lions nightmares.
His performances, along with the spectacle of a Lions series, have ensured that Izzy has constantly had a smile on his face and thoroughly enjoyed his rugby.
Just two weeks ago many were questioning why someone who may leave the code next year was given a Wallaby jersey. Now rugby is at very short odds to retain his services, leaving rugby league once again the loser in the ‘Izzy Sweepstakes’.
Folau’s dominant displays, along with William’s thirst for challenges, and Marshall’s potential need for a fresh start could all add up to a triple whammy for the NRL.
The code is already going though a torrid time thanks to the off-field antics of some players, and the overreaction to some punches in the opening game of the State of Origin series.
The game can’t afford further blows – pardon the pun – and the possibility of seeing Benji, Sonny Bill and Izzy all playing Super Rugby next year would, in an understatement for the ages, certainly be classified as a ‘blow’.
An urgent meeting of NRL powerbrokers is required instantly, for the game needs to do everything humanly possible to ensure that three of the biggest names in rugby league are playing in the NRL in 2014.
david anderson
Guest
benji marshall is a tigers player he will play for them and he stay at west tigers forever
you idiot
Guest
Funny that three out of the four names you mentioned weren't even born in new Zealand! funny what money does.
Conor Hickey
Roar Pro
They are all good players but I don't mind if they leave. There are plenty of other superstars in the league, why should the NRL go out of its way to keep these guys when there are so many other players who want to play NRL? Plus if these guys go their roster spots will open up and the superstars of the future will step up sooner or later. I was devastated as a Manly fan when Trent Hodkinson left for the Doggies, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because we decided to play Cherry-Evans who took us on to win the premiership. Cherry-Evans is already being groomed as the next QLD half whenever Cronk or Thurston decide they've had enough, and is presumably the next in line for the Aussie half too given his selection to the bench last year. Someone will always step up, and they could be even better than SBW or Benji or Israel.
henry
Guest
those defectors didn't go back to league by choice. Teqiri got sacked for some hotel incident, Sailor for drugs, Tahu lost his place and form and went back to league where he walked straight to 1st grade.
simmo green
Guest
What a pity I don't have some footage of RL forwards playing RU. Hang on, no RL forwards have gone to RU. I wonder why? Something to do with no insurance companies being prepared to offer injury/total and permanent incapacity cover I suspect
Football_illiterate
Guest
so u actually do care.. youre a particularly confused individual Davey..
simmo green
Guest
Very happy with the Tongans at our Rugby Club Ra, great fellas, good players, could not do without them
Emric
Guest
so what your saying crosscoder is that you don't have a problem with league being banned you only have a problem when rugby are the ones doing the banning. So Rugby bans players who switch to league and this is a problem for you The French Rugby Union according to you somehow replaced the law making government body of France and banned rugby league completely
Davey
Guest
We don't just that some facts has to be corrected.
Davey
Guest
Tuivasa-Sheck playing a few games in one season of rugby league for Otahuhu College after his 1st XV and school reps commitment isn't really the same as playing rugby union for Otahuhu RFC club from the age of 5 years right through as a 18 year old at Otahhu College 1st XV. That's like saying Wally Lewis is a rugby union junior because of his two years playing at Brisbane State High 1st XV. LOL
Davey
Guest
Common bro, now your just playing silly games. Wellington College, St pat's Town and Silverstream in Wellington, New Plymouth Boys, Napier Boys, Hastings Boys, Palmerston Norths, Te Aute College and many many more schools across the country are known as rugby schools,
Davey
Guest
Ra, once again your passing on information that was feed to you by some league person. Yes there are many league fans in NZ who use this victim mentality as well and I'm not surprised. Many Kiwis played both codes at club levels during the 70's, 80's and 90's. Hell even George Nepia played Pro league in England and came back and played another couple of season for Hawkes Bay NPC in a very successful era for the Magpies.
Davey
Guest
Kiora Ra, Talofa lava Uso O a mai oe? Mate, all I asked was what school did you and brothers went to in NZ as you mention and what I got was a very different usual BS answers. I was also part of those layers who played league at schools in Auckland in the 80's and 90's winning heaps of trophys along the way. The roadblock we face in Auckland wasn't from rugby union or principals it was from local RL clubs and Auckland rugby league. You do realize the principals and schools don't just say yeah sure knock yourself out. Who runs schools rugby union comps? Who coach school ruby union rugby teams? Who funds the school reps and trips to traditional games? Provincial unions runs the school comps and volunteers (teachers, dad's, old boys) help out with coachings and teams fund raised to pay their own expenses. You know dam well that rugby union in NZ at the age of 15-19 have Sacrifice club competitions so those age groups can only play for schools where as rugby league Sacrifice school competitions to have the best junior comps for those age groups. You can't have your cake and eat it too mate its doesn't matter whether 15-19 year olds in rugby union played club rugby only and no school comps. It will never change the fabric of NZ culture where rugby is a big part of it. Me and a couple of teaches tried to start up a league comps in Auckland but no the local RL clubs wouldn't have any of it. You must know that if your a league fan that club league was very strong and they didn't want you playing school sport during the league season. So we moved our league season to the end of the 1st xv and club junior comps which made a different but still Auckland RL wouldn't support it and we had to organize it ourselves. And as some parents leave because their kids no longer at school the game just died away because of lack of interest from students and volunteers. You sound very bitter towards rugby union and I can understand that your a league fan. I played league as a junior for Richmond, Mt Albert and Glenora and attended a rugby union school in Auckland where we had many rugby league students who were happy to play rugby union for the schools as it was the be all of school sports and still to this day. It is the same school that Mattew Ridge attended as well and yes we played 1st XV and club rugby for Ponsonby together and became good mates of it. This is why I personally know that there was no ban on Mattew Ridge by the NZRU there were many league and rugby players playing both codes they didn't need a letter or anything from the NZRU to play either sport. You got to stop listen to others and just enjoy both sports. So you do know what I'm talking about when it comes to Wellington and Auckland RL not giving a toss about school rugby league? I am a very staunch rugby man who have played and coach in both codes but I won't stand by and have some idiots from Australia coming here talking about NZ school rugby and school RL when they know nothing about it. Its because its guys like you that feeds them false information and BS propaganda. Its not my fault that rugby play such a big part in NZ culture and sorry if that bothers you and other league fans. I lived in Western Australia and in cities where rugby union is a minority sport but I got use to it. I played in those iwi league games as well, representing Kees Meews iwi was some of his rugby union mates like myself. They were fun and always a good weekend away. Did I see any rugby union roadblocks while playing in those iwi games? No, a matter of fact is games were mainly played on rugby union grounds and many union players were involved.
Davey
Guest
At 31 he fail in rugby but walk straight back into the NRL. Enough of this nonsense that league players are super human athletes which are certainly not. Plenty of rugby forwards in the past have switch to league in England and Australia and made it.
Emric
Guest
RA - IF you say is true what would the NZRU have used to stop the NRL and Super League buying up all our top rugby players? What would your solution to the problem have been - obviously you calm the NZRU used bans as their weapon of choice. So what would you have done if you were in the NZRU's position. I'm curious now to see what League supporters believe would have been the best solution to a problem where one system was amateur and the other was offering millions of dollars
Emric
Guest
I remember the arguments over Ridge Switching and if he was banned I can't find anything about it on any website or interview that Matt has held since. Why do league supporters go on about the rugby banning people from playing an amateur game because they chose the money, where was the issue really? The All Blacks won't select any player who does not play his rugby in New Zealand. The idea of course is simple - stop the landslide from the bigger richer nations and clubs pillaging New Zealand Rugby of its talent. In the amatuer days for Rugby Union the threat was the Rugby League payrolls and today its other bigger richer rugby nations. New Zealand has to protect its resources and that is our players.
Renegade
Guest
That's a much more objective post Davey....unfortunately after having read your other 75 posts on here I couldn't really tell whether you were being serious or not.
Renegade
Guest
"Rugby and its supporters normally don’t care what League does" Emric, You must have missed the 100 posts from Rugby supporters above....
peeeko
Roar Guru
great example- willie mason who at 31 turned to rugby after 20 years as a league player. how man rugby forwards could switch to league as a newby at 31 and make it
peeeko
Roar Guru
full of lower grade union players - an absurd comment