Former Australian winger Semi Radradra is reportedly willing to take a $2 million pay cut to join South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Radradra, who starred for Fiji at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, is homesick in France and wants to return to the NRL, according to The Daily Telegraph.
France’s cold weather and family reasons are cited as other reasons for the 27-year-old’s willingness to take a major pay cut in order to switch codes once again.
Radradra scored 82 tries in 94 matches for Parramatta between 2013 and 2017, before joining Toulon in 2017.
Last year, he signed for Bordeaux.
The Fiji union international has been linked with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and his former club the Eels, but reportedly prefers a move to the Rabbitohs.
“Apparently Souths are looking at every player, but first we’ve got to sort out what the go is with Sam (Burgess),” Souths hooker Damien Cook told Sporting News.
“But Semi Radradra is a quality player and he did a great job when he was in the NRL. He’d be a great asset to most clubs.
“Who knows? We will see how it plays out.”
Radradra made history at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, becoming the first Tier 2 player to be involved in five tries in a single World Cup match in Fiji’s 45-10 win over Georgia.
He has scored five tries in 10 international Tests since making his Fiji debut last year.
Pete
Guest
Aussie league clubs are dreaming he has signed a three year deal with Bristol Rugby club in the UK
steveng
Roar Rookie
:happy: :happy: lol well what about the Raiders signing all the international poms and their best players? Look, Semi is just one of the cogs that will get us the premiership in 2020, there is allot more talent within our boys! But, Semi will be much more successful with the Bunnies than he ever was with the Eels. Lets see what happens? As its not a 'fait accompli' that Semi will sign with us or will be at the Bunnies in 2020 but, I hope so.
Paul
Roar Guru
which comment do you have difficulty understanding?
Pete
Guest
He orginally came to league via Fiji rugby so not sure what you're on about
Larry1950
Guest
C'mon guys, Bennett's a past master at getting players on the books at unders while Rusty is probably channelling the roosters uncle nick. I reckon Gagai goes to the cowboys with a bit of a subsidy from souths for 2020. Cows need speed & gags has plenty plus him & marsters would give them bite on both sides.
Larry1950
Guest
Discounting the rabbitoh fever in steveng's & Papi Smurf's comments, surely Dane Gagai is on the way out of redfern given Bennett loves big wingers, he's on a big contract & not favoured as a fullback.
The Donald
Roar Rookie
I agree with Steve that the Burgess situation will provide an important Test Case for Greenberg and the NRL Medicos. If Souths get their dispensation - then I see a dangerous precedent being set. But if Souths claim of a "new injury" is eventually rejected - who's going to then pay Burgess the $3.6 million dollars in Contract money he's been promised??
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"Your story started wrong and got worse from there..." :laughing:
Tom G
Roar Rookie
They similarly knocked back Brett Stewart for the same reason... the next year however they allowed the Eels to retire Watmough who they signed crocked. I guess the message is that it depends who asks Toddles.. he makes it up as he goes
Paulie
Guest
Really so what's the difference between a league winger and a rugby winger they both get the ball and run like hell...I can tell you there is some pretty incredible rugby wingers that can do what any league winger can do
Steve
Guest
Its a bit of a grey area really. It all depends on what the NRL or Medico's say constitutes a new injury I guess. I assume if it hadn't been for the infection the procedure would have been resulted in a good outcome for Sam. By all accounts it was this complication that caused extensive damage to the bone resulting extremely reduced movement. Does this constitute a new injury? As I say...thats for the NRL to decide....but it will serve as a good test case going forward.
The Donald
Roar Rookie
I understand Souths are also interested in signing Latrell Mitchell - but as Damien Cooke says - it all depends on whether Souths are granted a Salary Cap dispensation for Burgess. In order to be granted any sort of dispensation & subsequent Salary Cap relief - Souths have to prove Burgess's early retirement was brought on by a "new injury" - and not just a reoccurrence of his Shoulder injury. Burgess suffered an infection after yet another Operation on the Shoulder - and this infection forms the basis of Souths "new injury" claim. I'm no Medical expert - but it all sounds a bit "dodgy" to me - for surely any complication arising out of an Operation to fix an existing medical problem doesn't qualify as a "new injury".????? I remember Manly tried unsuccessfully to claim something similar when Steve Mattai's Shoulder forced him into retirement.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, Jacks beat me to it They signed older, chronically injured players to long term, big money deals How is fair that they get bailed out by the NRL when teams like Manly didn’t. Now, apparently the NRL is looking the other way while they sign a massive name player to a deal 50% of what other clubs are offering. How does that work? Maybe Rusty is offering Semi a role in Gladiator 2 like he did to Asotasi :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don’t know why you keep bringing that up...I don’t really remember it that well but I’m not defending what the NRL did then in the slightest Surely you can see if a player is accepting an offer 50% of what other clubs are offering there is something that needs to be looked at. Maybe it’s all above board and there’s a reasonable explanation but it should be looked at
Nat
Roar Guru
Your story started wrong and got worse from there. He left because the Titans voided his contract by signing his name, pretty common knowledge that event. Never was there a mention of "MORE MONEY". If he was chasing "MORE MONEY" why would he choose Brisbane over Souths for over $200k less like you suggest? Or perhaps he didn't... "Both the Broncos and Rabbitohs have reportedly offered two year contracts worth up to $275,000 a season." https://www.sbs.com.au/news/roberts-knocks-back-dragons-in-nrl
Jacks
Roar Guru
He may stay but the Broncos shouldn't IMO be bidding against Souths after Souths stuffed up.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I'll answer it. Zero! However there was a wooden spoon.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Jack, David Fifita will stay with the Broncs, if they get rid of Siebs!
Jacks
Roar Guru
Yes it is. Souths are the ones who signed both of them to long term contracts they took the risk they lost the reward. How is it fair that Souths bad management and being saved by the NRL is fair on the Broncos who now have to fight another big club to keep David Fifita?
steveng
Roar Rookie
Come on TB, we're not as bad as the Rotters, that is an insult to compare us to them! The Rotters have been winning comps for many decades with OTP's and juniors and its about time that we get a go also, we never ever asked for any favours, until we were forced with GI and now SamB! Our side has been decimated with GI and SamB permanent injuries, surely we are allowed to get a break or two, as we have never ever rotted the cap, not like allot of sides (which I wont mention here). If we are not allowed or given the 'medically retired' option for SamB's $1.2 million he is owed in each of the next three seasons and it wont be counted against the salary cap them 'we are in big trouble(s)' as two of our major players have been taken from us (due to injury) and it will just devastate the Bunnies, is that fair?