If the reports are true that Taniela Tupou has been offered a new contract worth close to $1 million per season, then Rugby Australia might be way too eager to win some favourable publicity.
It’s been a tough couple of months for Australian rugby. The Israel Folau saga, the below-par performances of Australia’s Super Rugby teams – with only the Brumbies through to the finals – a growing list of experienced players announcing their departures for overseas club and continued poor crowds; there’s not a heap to celebrate.
And only yesterday it was announced that the proposed Nations Championship, that was set to reap a good chunk of coin for cash-strapped RA, had been scrapped.
Plus there’s the ongoing uncertainty over the new broadcast deal that will come into effect from 2021.
Foxtel might pull back on their non-core sports which could significantly jeopardise rugby’s earnings, while Japan, the United States and Fiji might be added to a beefed-up Rugby Championship.
It hardly feels like the time to be throwing massive money at a 23-year-old prop who has made a dozen or so Test appearances, most of which have come off the bench.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that RA want to keep Tongan Thor in Australia until the end of 2023 on a stack of cash believed to be between $800,000 and $1 million per season.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Michael Hooper’s five-year $6 million contract signed last year was bagged by many as being too rich.
The criticism was unfair given Hooper is a tough, consistent and proven performer and the Wallabies captain. His quality on the field and standing off it means he deserves to be one of the best-paid players in Australia.
Who knows what Tupou’s fellow Wallabies front-rowers Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa are getting paid?
Sio last month re-signed with RA and the Brumbies through to 2022 while Alaalatoa last year re-signed until 2023.
Tupou’s potential is clear to see but he hasn’t even cemented his place as a Wallabies starter, while Sio has racked up 55 Tests and Alaalatoa about 30 Wallabies caps.
You could understand if Sio and Alaalatoa made a phone call to their managers yesterday wondering whether they negotiated hard enough given the Tupou figure.
There are a bunch of big names that are leaving Australian rugby after the World Cup, freeing up funds to direct towards re-signings.
David Pocock (Panasonic Wild Knights) was in the top-tier of earners, if not the No.1. Samu Kerevi (Suntory Sungoliath) was a massive loss.
Quade Cooper and Will Genia are reportedly both close to confirming moves to Japan with Kintetsu Liners and Bernard Foley is apparently close to linking with Kubota Spears.
Christian Leali’ifano (NTT Communications Shining Arcs), Rory Arnold (Toulouse), Nick Phipps, Adam Coleman, Sekope Kepu, Curtis Rona (all London Irish), Sefa Naivalu (Stade Francais), Caleb Timu (Montpellier), Scott Higginbotham (Bordeaux), Duncan Paia’aua (Toulon) and Sam Carter (Ulster) are also on the move.
Quade Cooper and Will Genia have been superb in 2019. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Folau’s axing has also meant there’s more money than expected in the accounts, although that could flip big-time if Folau wins his legal battle over his sacking. The dispute reportedly has the potential to cost RA as much as $10 million in damages.
A similar $800,000 a season deal was believed to be offered to Kerevi, which was trumped by a reported $1.2 million per season in Japan.
Tupou isn’t on the same tier as Kerevi when it comes to the influence he can have on a game, so giving him a similar offer seems ludicrous.
But even if the Rugby Australia budgets show there’s cash to splash, they shouldn’t be making Tupou the highest-paid prop in Australia rugby history, as well as one of the top-paid current Wallabies.
Tupou is yet to have that breakthrough season where he’s not just a reliable scrummager and getting through his work, but he’s making enough tackle-busting runs that would potentially justify a bumper contract.
It would take a standout prop to warrant the reported contract offer to Tupou. Could tough-as-teak Ireland props Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong demand that type of money? Owen Franks?
Given the large number of Aussie players departing Australia later this year, it seems RA are intent on taking a stance and stopping the haemorrhaging. Is it because they’re fearful of losing another player who like Kerevi is coming into his best years?
Tupou’s potential is undeniable, but that kind of money could be better used in trying times for the governing body.
One of the few rays of positivity for Australian rugby at the minute is from the ongoing under-20s World Championship in Argentina, where the Junior Wallabies take on France in the final this weekend.
They have been immense. It’s been written that nearly all of that squad have scored a Super Rugby deal for next season, but if not, they should be shored up.
What about having another go at getting Sean McMahon back from Japan? What about trying to get five-eighth Zack Holmes back to Australia after some fruitful seasons in French rugby, with Foley, Cooper and Leali’ifano leaving a big gap in the playmaking stakes?
Did RA make a big enough offer to Will Skelton before Saracens re-signed him? Kurtley Beale is also yet to re-sign with Australian rugby.
With the Tupou figure – although speculative – being made public, there will probably be a few players pumping up their asking price in seasons to come if a prop who isn’t even a Wallabies starter can get anywhere near $1 million a season.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don’t know how he’s yet to be proven though. He’s excelled at Super Rugby and held his own at test rugby at a very young age. Until this year he showed real improvement year to year at all levels. He has aspects to work on but he’s awful close.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Pone Fa’amausili is not a beast. I played against him last year. He was towelled up by a 100kg 21 year old LH and a 150kg 21 year old LH in the 2 games. He’s nowhere near Tupou he dished up Tet Faulkner and a lot of others in the last 2 seasons of Super Rugby. Tupou has shown an ability to dominate scrums. I think it’s laughable to think that some reserve NZ prop, or Aus 20 is going to be close to what he has shown he can do already. All Tupou needs to do is improve consistency and reduce his error rate. You’re talking about players who can’t even show flashes near Tupou’s current upper level of performance.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
French clubs were paying $1M+ in 2010.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Your understanding is totally off. Firstly value is determined by market demand. Position is hugely important. Right forwards and 10s are worth more. The median Super Rugby salary in Aus is over $150k. Any regular starter, such as Tupou, would expect to receive that as a minimum. If they are a Wallaby contracted player, RA will pay that again as part of the package. Good players will get more. Top players are getting close to $2M AUD per year. This is only increasing. So paying a test 23 regular who only has improvement ahead of him $800k to $1M a year over 4 years is not anywhere near the top end of the market. Carl Hayman was getting more than this, but a decade ago. Nowhere are regular test 23 players getting $100k a year. Especially tighthead props which are rare.
Farren
Guest
It's a lot but the game is pretty much being emptied out after the end of WC here. They have to keep some people and see him as part of the future. Most of all, Tupou is marketable. So any offer would be taking the likes of this into account. We will have to allow internationally based players play for the Wallabies soon though.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
... and if we don’t pay him now he will get “there” with some other team.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
He has been with the Reds for four years, so they would have a pretty good idea of his character by now. He has to be a better bet than gambling on a league player who they haven’t worked with.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
You don't pay a million bucks a year for a player you need to work and mould to fix all their many flaws. You might pay 100,000. You a million for the top players going round who are as complete as they can be!
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
What publicity are they trying to attract, that they are fools easily parted from their money.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So basically what you’re saying is a player with a bucketload of natural ability, whose only flaws are the parts of the game that are the easiest to rectify in players, is not worth investing in?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I’ve heard Ruru is off to Bayonne which is not at all good.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Most importantly he’s not just a THP. He’s a dynamic modern player who adds a bit with ball in hand in addition to being a decent or better scrummager at test level. That is still rare in a prop. He has all the ability to be the full package in the front row.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Tupou is the most penalised player in all of super rugby with 27 penalties conceded in his 15 games. He dwarfs even Kepu who comes in second place with 18 penalties from 15 games! He ranks 32nd out of 35 with his ability to complete a tackle (only 75%) for players who have played tight head this year in super rugby. He easily has the most tackle busts for a tight head with 35 compared to second place with 11. But what is the point when that doesnt turn into a massive difference in metres ( he is 5th in tight heads with metres gained per run). Why would you throw money at a penalty machine who cant complete a tackle and has an overrated running game? We need less highlight players and more really footy players who can actually win us games. Highlights dont bring back the crowds winning does. Take that money and add it onto Kerevis offer or try a keep an inspirational figure like CLL in oz!
jameswm
Roar Guru
OK TWAS, above they suggested the tax rate in Japan would be only 20%. I certainly don't know.
Warrick Todd
Guest
Only if there's one of each on opposing sides.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Much the same top tax rate.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
I would say this has as much to do with shoring up Pacific Islander player support within the game as anything else. The risk of course is that his peers could feel disenfranchised given the pay disparity.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The reason they are doing it is because they cannot achieve the best results when their players aren’t available for every test. Let alone training camps, etc. It’s a season in its own right. How do you expect parachuting players in on a Monday to work against teams who are preparing in training camps in the lead up?
Rugby Geek
Roar Rookie
Yeah Actually I think they are different to us. I would like to think that we are strong enough to do that. But honestly, we are not like them. The code is struggling on multiple fronts and yet still popular in a few. But health check is poor. So let them go get and good overseas and pay them for their value when and if we need them.
Warrick Todd
Guest
Is he worth it? Depends on his character. Is he the kind of guy that will continue to work hard and develop once he has the big money contract? or will he reach for a giant drum of KFC? Could go either way!