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Seeing as how wunderkind James O’Connor can’t seem to find a home at any of the five Aussie rugby Franchises, I reckon he’d be a great buy for an NRL team, especially the Broncos.
This deal could be a win-win for both parties. James gets to play top-level rugby without all the pressure. Sure, he’d be under scrutiny as a high profile union convert, but in a league boasting Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Adam Reynolds, etc., the big headlines would diminish after a few rounds.
This would give him time to mature as a person and a player. What’s more, he’d also have a chance to learn from some league greats.
A secondary benefit might be the effect upon his ego. He’d be out of his depth and would have to recognise the need to learn fast. That would have to be a humbling experience. If not, playing against the great halves in the NRL must certainly be.
In union O’Connor is hyped as a ball player, and league is just the place to hone such talents given that it is a simpler game.
Absolutely no offence is meant here by any stretch.
League is a subtle game which demands consummate skill, timing and vision.
With the six tackle rule which encourages riskier use of the ball and guarantees possession after a tackle and the absence of line-outs, rucks and mauls, ball players are ensured a bigger role in the outcome of games.
This is the obvious function of the six-tackle rule anyway.
The luxury of guaranteed possession in league, if you can survive being hit by an Andrew Fifita or Josh Papalii, would be a boon for O’Connor.
For the Rebels and Wallabies, if he does not see an opportunity right away, the percentage play is to look for contact or kick downfield.
In league he can take a risk without worrying about a turnover. In fact, when I watch him in carry the ball on a rugby pitch he runs more like a league player, in that his first instinct is to take the line on.
In 2013, the Broncos have excellent set completion, metres gained and field position. What they lack is a magic man to throw the last pass or place that deft kick to generate tries.
James O’Connorcould be just that player.
Okay, sure, he has no league experience, but Test match rugby would have given him greater polish than several first grade halves I could think of.
I mentioned above, the inherent nature of league means that ball players get their hands on the ball much more often than their union cousins.
As a union fly-half with league experience in my youth I can vouch for that personally. Again, definitely no slight on either code, they are different and are meant to be so.
That means that James O’Connor could squeeze a great deal of development and experience into just one or two seasons.
Finally on a purely cynical note, two seasons down the track James O’Connor may well return to union twice the player he left it.
Though the growing trend to cut back and forth is not something I generally applaud, I think the trend will only grow.
If the great players can make it both codes and give their all, well maybe that is for the greater good.
After all, for every code crossing flop, there is a Sonny Bill Williams or a Brad Thorn.
So come on Broncos, get the cheque book out and bring a Brissie boy home.
He might only stay 24 months, but then so will Scott Prince and James O’Connor might just prove the better investment.
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