The NRL will consider bending the rules in order to keep teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii in rugby league.
With Rugby Australia said to have offered Suaalii $1 million a season for three years to leave South Sydney, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys says the NRL must be prepared to fight for his signature.
And if that means allowing the 16-year-old to make his first-grade debut before his 18th birthday, which currently isn’t permitted, that’s something V’landys is “absolutely” prepared to do.
“One thing I’ve noticed with rugby league is the rules are too restrictive,” V’landys said on Monday.
“In any good corporate governance model, you’ve got to have discretion because you’re going to face challenges like COVID and if you don’t have discretion and you don’t have agility, you will fail.
“So we’ll look at all of this to give the commission the power to make decisions on their merits and that’s one rule that we will look at.”
The Suaalii case does have complications with the league needing work around the players’ CBA.
But asked specifically if he would have the commission consider allowing Suaalii make his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs next season if that was enough to keep the teenager in the code, V’landys said “absolutely”.
“We will look at anything that’s to the benefit of the game,” he said.
“That’s what the commission’s there for, is to look at the benefit of the game, the promotion of the game and what’s the best outcomes for the game.
“So we should look at every case on its merits. We should not have blanket rules that stop you from doing things that are for the benefit of the game.”
While denying they had tabled a $3-million offer to Suaalii, Rugby Australia late last week had been confident of securing his signature.
But it’s now being reported the Rabbitohs have called in Russell Crowe to try to change Suaalii’s mind.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Parasite. Mate ,I still respond with firm views, regardless of how it is presented to me.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
25 years ago are the people that changed to professionalism. Note those that were against it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
25 years ago is hardly 50 or 75 years bud. Really .I could name a few a couple of who are journos with that prevailing attitude.One who wears a red hanky on his noggin. And the fact rugby league still remains taboo in GPS and Assoc schools in Sydney ,whilst other pro codes are permitted, is a touch of the Old School tie brigade. Spent 5 years playing Rugby at one of these . That is current ,so with your line of thought ,that is outstanding hypocrisy Denying one ,yet including others. Yet we get so many excuses as to why.Yet Brisbane is able to do it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Agree TWAS they need less ,money, that doesn't stop them paying big ones to players like Folau, and then payouts via the court. They do in fact for each club have bigger playing rosters but you are correct less teams. But seriously as Rugby has many business types involved in the game,Qantas as a major sponsor, they still stuff up their books. They in fact secured the backing of $250m UK Loan if needed ,and they didn't ATM use one iota of it. It was used as a backstop because of the unpredictable times ahead and the strong chance the comp would not continue, (which it has) under a persistent V'Landys.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Most rugby fans would totally agree RA is a basket case. Can't change the past, the present is a joke and, if Fox and Kearns get their way the future will be non existent. Just got to enjoy the matches while I can.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Jezdexter.Fair points from you mate. Yep correct,I played RU for 5 years at an Associated school ,so don't hold hatred toward the code, just doesn't grab me anymore. TBH have little time for RU officialdom, based on the historical aspects towards Rugby league.That is the part that gets me going off the deep ends some of my posts here would indicate.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah prior. That was 25 years ago bud. Most of those people that perpetrated that attitude aren’t even retired, they’re mostly dead now.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Nothing wrong with change to anything TWAS.It is the prevailing attitude prior.Played RU at school when that code was amateur. Didn’t realise there was some statute of limitations on any classic examples of hypocrisy. You did say RL’s hypocrisy was outstanding, well I gave you an outstanding example of RU’s. Neither Rugby League nor Rugby Union can hold their collective heads high, when it comes to flashing the cash.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
RA needs less money. It doesn’t have to pay 16 teams. Compare the financial state needs to consider obligations. Which for NRL is over $200M a year just to clubs. And if they had money why did they secure a $50M loan?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That they did TWAS ,as just about every working person and company in this country has, but the difference was they(the NRL) weren't broke and had money in the Bank, nor were in anywhere near the perilous state the ARU found itself in. And has a decent TV contract( though reduced) in hand.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
And for some reason I couldn't edit that to fix "we agree" to "I agree" and At George to St George.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Crosscoder, sorry for the long reply. Basically we agree with you. I have never said rugby is better because you get to travel more, I have worked in an industry that required frequent travel and long periods away from my family, it sucks. That is a negative not a positive. Players swapping codes is no different to changing teams, it's just the tragics who hate league because they love rugby and vice versa that throw the poaching and stealing comments. Often in League it's Phil Gould. In Rugby it's Phil Kearns. Must be in the name (sorry to any decent Phil out there, these two are idiots) League doesn't float my boat, that doesn't mean I hate it. It's a professional sport, it's highly competitive, it's just not my thing. I also love MotoGP and enjoy AFL while not going on cricket or golf. Doesn't mean I need to bag out cricket to prove how much I like GP. Both Rugby and League fans need to stop ragging each other for existing. Maybe watch a game from the other side, I checked out the Bunnies v At George game last night, it was entertaining but I wouldn't watch it if there was a rugby match on. I figure with a handle like crosscoder you probably do check out a bit from both sides, but a lot of people on here don't and are just trying to start fights.
Parasite
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't bother with the arrogant ...........
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
He knew he was first grade footballer and wasn't going back to the juniors. A great player who came to a sad end. It was bad for his fans and terrible for his family.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Having to get Parliamentarians in England ,to push for Rugby league's inclusion as a sport in the Armed Services in the 90s, says a lot about sporting discrimination influenced by a competing sport. It was hardly isolated to the "old dart".
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Jezdexter. Just one point.When I have watched NRL games and Ray Warren commentates ,he has on many occasions over the many years ,noted player X was a RU convert or played it at school.Acknowledging the fact. Yet Rugby people had no trouble in suggesting W Lewis and R Stuart were poached from Rugby, when in fact both players were heavily involved in junior rugby league, before picking up a "Gilbert" at ru high schools. I agree this poaching description is a lazy, code useful one and wears rather thin. The other thing that wears rather thin, is the oft stated by Rugby people (mainly officials)"play Rugby and see the world" and RL playing 'In the restricted environment of Campbelltown or Wollongong ." Yep the world is nice viewing, but NRL players do have the finances to go a tad further than Norfolk Island, and can play in England and France if they so desire and see Europe. Olympics is a major plus that I concede. Whichever sport he plays, that code's media will play it up.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Yes my bad Tim Buck 3 and I should have known better.He in fact played 1st Grade with the Gold Coast Tigers at 17, before arriving at the Good Guys' Club :stoked: and playing in the G/F
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
In Brief agree.The love of money is the issue ,always has been in my view.Does do good things ,it's how it's used.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Honest max.Thanks your response.Unfortunately I know a fair number of former Rugby league players prior to full time professionalism, who have fallen on hard times. Conversely know of former(prior NRL ) players who became doctors Nathan Gibbs ex Souths( doctor) ,Martin Raftery ex Cronulla(now World rugby doctor),and lawyers and accountants and teachers . Yes sir ,the property market in NSW has no doubt fuelled assets for cashed up NRL players, and indeed cashed up players of all the football codes.The old adage of use it or lose it apples more so in these dangerous and troubling times.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Glad you clarified that point Paulo :laughing: .I can therefore deduce Rugby was played by Roman centurions just prior ,to their unleash hell , against the Barbarians of the X111 variety.