Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, Jason Taumalolo, Valentine Holmes and Marika Koroibete. The list is certainly growing.
With the recent news that Cowboys backrower Jason Taumalolo and Sharks try-scoring extraordinaire Valentine Holmes are heading over to America to trial with some NFL teams, questions have been raised as to why so many players are leaving the NRL.
The league is still competitive despite the recent dominance of Melbourne, Brisbane and North Queensland.
The resurgence of the Cronulla Sharks really got the crowds going and no one really ever saw Canberra competing the way they did this season under Ricky Stuart.
And let’s not forget that it was only three seasons ago that South Sydney completed their fairytale NRL comeback by winning the 2014 title against the Bulldogs in a dominant display.
So with competition still ripe and the salary cap still increasing with the new TV rights deal; why are players still determined to leave the NRL?
The first answer is simple and probably the most convincing: money.
While the salary cap will increase to roughly $7 million next season, many players will look at their potential earnings in the NFL and rugby competitions in Europe.
Especially when they could come back and land a sweet $1.2 million contract if things don’t work out, much like Jarryd Hayne with the Gold Coast Titans this year.
While the minimum guaranteed salary in the NFL this year is only (“only”) $450,000; the earning potential for players like Taumalolo and Holmes is exponentially greater than the NRL.
According to MoneyNation, the average salary this year is $860,000. That’s about half a million Kit Kats or alternatively a 20 per cent deposit on a one-bedroom apartment in Sydney.
While we don’t know yet if Taumalolo and Holmes will even make it into the NFL, there is that possibility that they turn into the next American football sensation.
We don’t know if they’ll make it big, but the fact that they could is all the more exciting.
Which essentially sums up why Jarryd Hayne went over to the US for those who missed it and/or still despise him for leaving in the first place.
If either player can secure a spot in the rotation or even on a speciality team, they could be in for a huge pay cheque.
While they would be foregoing a few years of being the alpha dog in the NRL, it would be worth it if they can perform under the pressure of the NFL regular season.
Heck, if Hayne continued his pre-season season form into the regular season, some might argue he would still be with the San Francisco 49ers.
It wasn’t outstanding by any means, but it was serviceable. Good enough for the NFL? Maybe.
The second answer to this $1.2 million question? International appeal.
Obviously not so much with the NFL, but the draw to play rugby at the highest level has got to be one of the biggest reasons for players to pursue a rugby career, whether that might be abroad or even still here in Australia.
Playing for the Wallabies against the All Blacks at Eden Park. Clashing with England at Twickenham. These are games that kids dream about competing in.
Games and stadiums that are revered around the world, even by writers like me who know next to nothing about rugby.
Stepping up and playing in those games are the ultimate reward for years of hard work but also the biggest challenge Australian players will face.
Compare this to the New Zealand side that the Kangaroos just put to the sword in the Four Nations final and it’s like comparing chalk and cheese.
Just ask Marika Koroibete, who will soon make his Wallabies 15s debut against the French Barbarians.
There’s certainly more money to be made in Europe but playing in Super Rugby certainly offers plenty of competition for domestic players.
The international appeal of rugby will almost always trump rugby league, and there’s still a lot of work to be done by the NRL if clubs are to become seriously competitive with Super Rugby sides in terms of draw and attraction.
And don’t even get me start on AFL. Looking at you Karmichael Hunt.
So what can the NRL do to prevent players from leaving?
Unfortunately, not much is in their control.
Australia has a well-established AFL and cricket culture, so the NRL was almost always going to be the third wheel.
And now with the A-League bursting onto the scene with some eye-catching crowd numbers, the NRL might be doomed to be the breeding ground for athletes to move on to other codes.
Who knows how many other players will try their hand at becoming a dual-international.
Greg Inglis anyone?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
In Brief that is a load of.....The likes of Ray Warren mention players either from a union background or going back to ru. To say League commentators never mention their union backgrounds is akin to suggesting you are not a non fan. The Storm and Canterbury wingers going to play S15 with the Rebels and Force was mentioned as was their union backgrounds. Hardly insecurity ,I don't know what NRL games you have watched ,appears to be few.
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
I admire your optimism mate, but I don't think you really address many of the concerns I've raised to be completely honest. Super Rugby is a massive problem for us and WA and Victoria are expensive and ultimately ill-conceived and premature expansion options born of an error in thinking from when Super Rugby was conceived. You mention that our crowds stack up ok with the NRL, but you ignore that Sydney has 8 NRL teams, whilst Super Rugby has 1. 10 years ago the Waratahs had the highest average crowd of any football team in Sydney, but now we're about on par with the Roosters and Manly whilst the Swans seem to have taken a lot of our old supporters who have long become disillusioned with our game. Moving on though, in terms of a restructure, I think you've got a bit of a point with the Pacific in terms of protecting the islands, but ultimately from a revenue standpoint we'd be dead in the water. Australian FTA broadcasters have close to zero interest in our product and so as I wrote above we've only survived on the good luck of a bidding war breaking out in Europe for rights to games - the one benefit of the South African conference. Ultimately, the NRL have much better potential for a presence in our immediate region than Super Rugby does because they have PNG - a country with rapid growth, 8 million people and an absolute obsession with Rugby League. As their economy develops they'll become a significant force both on the field and as a revenue generator. As a long term solution for Union though, I'd be keen to foster Japan - their ratings for the Sakura shot up from around 800k to 20 million following their win over the boks during the 2015RWC and if Super Rugby rivalries could be established there by putting another team in Osaka and a third potentially in Yokohama or Nagoya then you'd have a pretty viable conference with lots of great internal rivalries and one that would generate strong TV revenue (whilst the PI will actually just cost money - sad, but there's just no economy of scale to support it). The only problem with it is that the JRFU are utterly incompetent and would have to be dragged kicking and screaming, so you'd need a brash force within the country with a lot of money happy to upset the apple cart - a Japanese Kerry Packer of sorts. Trouble is, I'm not sure one exists...
In Brief
Guest
Having said that I do this article is rubbish - there are more players going from rugby union to league than vice versa anyway.
In Brief
Guest
I completely disagree, I think rugby union is sitting pretty in Australia and about to experience a 'boom' period. All the foundations are in place. A lot of your views are shared by rugby supporters, but they aren't necessarily correct. As you know with league, Australian supporters love to whinge. As stated above player numbers are actually growing in Australia, and some great talent is coming out of non traditional states like WA and Vic. The force isn't failing they are fighting hard and will do well in 2017. The game has a fully fledged pathway which we've never had before. And although the number of teams is less, the average crowds stack up very well against the NRL games. The participation figures are also neck and neck (if you ignore the powder puff touch footy numbers). One thing I do agree is that the super rugby structure may need a radical overhaul. Eventually we may see a Australia/ NZ/ Pacific comp which would be more popular to Aust. audiences, but may lose some revenue from SA .
In Brief
Guest
This is very true, but rarely acknowledged. League commentators will never mention a players rugby background. Now that's insecurity for you.
In Brief
Guest
Similar comments have been made of league in recent years and should be taken with a fair dose of salt. There is a lot of hubris in a statement like that. I actually think rugby union is sitting pretty - the game has a footprint in WA and Vic and that is where a lot of the growth in playing numbers is coming. Rugby union also has the 7s which like it or not is attracting new audiences and players from non traditional rugby backgrounds. Rugby union also, for the first time ever in this country, has a fully integrated pathway for juniors. Although the crowds for the NRC were poor, the amount of talent coming through was outstanding. When you look at participation, the number of senior players in league is only 10 thousand more than union in Australia. That's an interesting figure 'cause its harder to fudge. There is a big risk with including touch players in participation numbers as it could lead to complacency. I"m not saying league is dying, but neither is rugby union.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Folau went to AFL because they were offering him a truckload of money. Koroibete went to Union because they offered him way more money than what he could get at NRL Hayne followed his dream of playing NFL...and was hoping for more money if he made it. Taumalolo and Holmes haven't gone anywhere yet...but if they choose the NFL it will be because they will get way more money. Moral of the story - its all about the money or as they said in Jerry McGuire..."show me the money!!" No great mystery...happens all the time everywhere in all occupations, people get better offers and off they go.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Izzy went to AFL then rugby only because the NRL dragged the chain on his returning. Hayne went to try his hand at something different. Jason Taumalolo and Valentine Holmes are only trialling. They haven't gone yet. Koroibete went back to rugby where originally started in Fiji. Most go because of problems here or there is better money on offer elsewhere.
Jacko
Guest
Brad thorn, SBW both left to play non test rugby. SBW played top 14 rugby and Thorn super rugby. They later proved to be good enough to play international rugby
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Really steve. Hate to be a pedant but QLD and NSW and the ACT and the N.Taccording to my match make up 4 of the 8 you mentioned in toto.Representing 60% of the country's population. But hey! close enough is good enough these days.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Villagers worried that their village is no good.
RLOLO
Guest
So what if they go for the money...The Roos don't have a problem attracting players with better packages to play for them...And I don't see no one complaining about that....
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
@Rakavi Fan, Mate - note disputing the PI stats at all and I agree the League-Union divide isn't a big deal for them, but it's been less of a big deal for a lot of players more generally for a while now anyway - I played and watch both myself. That said, with 16 professional teams versus 5 in Super Rugby, the NRL just has far better developmental infrastructure than Union when it comes to providing pro-pathways for players. So in terms of guys coming through there's just always going to be more options for them in the NRL - a fact which is reflected in how increasingly competitive the PI tests have been in league over the last 10 years.
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
Pfft - more people live in Country NSW than in SA, WA, Tas and the NT combined, and the NRL has a team with a strong following in Melbourne - a city with more people than those areas and also a team in NZ.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Well it shoots down the "player managers are to blame for players leaving" argument.
woodart
Guest
quite right steve, league couldnt keep teams going in perth or adelaide . makes a mockery of many claims about how popular it is around aus. is league played at all in tas? v8 supercars have a bigger spread around aus than league !
woodart
Guest
good post tripod. league is a good game but has been harmed by inward looking club competitions in aus and england. joke teams like scotland and italy make league look silly. many aussies ask why players like sonny bill wanted to play rugby instead of league . its not money, its the challenge ,and reward of playing in front of huge crowds in places like tokyo ,milan, chicago, johannesburg ,dublin ,paris, etc. playing meaningless club games in newcastle, canberra and campbelltown will never have the same attraction. if the nrl really wants to grow the game ,it HAS to look beyond sydney and move some clubs out of the city into other areas . otherwise ,as the author says, league will continue to lose many of the big name, big picture athletes to proper international sports.
Phill L
Guest
craigo your 100% right RU is dead in Aus , numbers are down , the wobblies are losers , Super rugby is dead. Players are deserting the code , sponsors are pulling out. What ever assets is left over will all be transferred to ARL. Wow
Phill L
Guest
there wasn't much media hype for the 4 nations compared to the Union test , infact this has been a let down compared to other years the 4 nations have been played. They also didn't sell out. However they are trying to develop the game outside of traditional RL area's.
Phill L
Guest
Go easy on the Mongolian team half of them are former NRL players!!!