It’s not often you see the best player in Australia leave for foreign shores, only to nod your head and think – without a shred of sarcasm – “Yeah, that seems like a fairly good development”.
Things would be different if Michael Hooper’s overseas departure was permanent, but it is, of course, merely a six-month breather entirely sanctioned and supported by Rugby Australia before he returns for the second half of 2021.
If there’s a player in Australian rugby who deserves the opportunity to take a short release from his current contract to bolster his hip pocket, it’s Hooper.
Even if you take out the $15,000 a week he lost out on due to the COVID-enforced pay cuts, the former and possibly future Wallabies captain has been remarkably durable whether he’s been wearing sky blue or gold, notching 150 Super Rugby appearances (easily the youngest Australian to do so) and 99 Test caps in just over a decade.
(Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
And despite what his legion of blinkered critics would have you believe, Hooper has consistently been in the top handful of performers for the Tahs and national side. There’s every chance the stint with Toyota Verblitz will improve him even further, too.
In Kieran Read and Steve Hansen, Hooper has two of modern rugby’s best leaders and thinkers learn from. Playing in the same line-up as Read, one of the premier back-rowers to take to the field in the past decade, isn’t exactly going to hurt, either. (As an aside, it says something about the Australian’s quality that the two All Blacks greats reportedly sounded him out about the move several times before it was finally confirmed.)
So for the player, it’s a no-brainer: an outstanding brainstrust to help further his development, and a nice little earner too. That the Japanese Top League, already a less physically demanding competition than Super Rugby, will have a later start than usual in 2021 (mid-January rather than the previous August) means Hooper won’t come back to Australia worn out.
For Rugby Australia, it’s a means of keeping one of the Wallabies’ most important players content despite the pay cuts which have been necessary this year, and the timing means he won’t miss any Tests, although admittedly banking on fixturing certainties these days is a fraught exercise.
It’ll give other opensides a chance to shine in Super Rugby in his absence – looking your way, Fraser McReight – and will take the heftiest contract in Australian off Rugby AU’s books for half a year. Again, there’s no downside there.
For the Waratahs, the financial aspect is key. It’s already emerged the team are looking to cut their player wage bill by $1 million for next year. By offloading their highest-paid player for the season, they’ll make roughly half of those savings in a single move.
Unlike the Wallabies, though, the Tahs will have to deal with the painfully obvious drawback to this savvy bit of accounting: Michael Hooper won’t play for them next season.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
More accurately, he probably won’t play for them. Without yet knowing what the 2021 rugby calendar looks like, it’s impossible to say with 100 per cent certainty exactly how much of Super Rugby Hooper will be available for. However it’s safe enough to assume a July return won’t get him much more than finals – which NSW are unlikely to qualify for without their former captain, particularly with current skipper Rob Simmons leaving at the end of the year.
They haven’t needed great depth at openside in recent years because of Hooper, and with last year’s back-up, Will Miller, heading down the highway to Canberra at the end of 2019, young Carlo Tizzano looks set to have the no.7 on his back for much of next season.
It’s a great opportunity for the 20-year-old to develop his game, all the while making next season another rebuilding one for the Waratahs. It also puts them in the unlikely position of being a better chance to qualify for the finals in 2020 than 2021.
Even with Hooper on the field tomorrow night, it would be a remarkable effort for Rob Penney’s side to seal a post-season spot.
A bonus-point win while denying the Rebels a bonus point of their own is the only result which would guarantee the top-three finish required for a semi-final berth. Against an opponent which has outclassed them twice already this year and has the added advantage of coming off the bye, and without midfield lynchpin Karmichael Hunt, it’s hard to see it happening.
That said, there’d be something fitting about Hooper, in what could well be his last game in sky blue until 2022, dragging his time to an unlikely, famous victory.
Ad-O
Guest
I've been watching Hooper for his whole career and still don't know what he does. Must play well in all those NSW games I don't watch.
jeznez
Roar Guru
And now Hansen has gone and repeated the error for Toyota Verblitz. It’s amazing how all these coaches fall for it.
Ray
Guest
The Waratahs spent too much of their budget on a player with relatively low game influence. I have no doubt that his game starts look good, but line his games up with outcome, and he just isn't influential. Same with Isreal F. Waratah need to spend the big money on the core players.
soapit
Roar Guru
are we seriously believing viewing numbers and marketability is significantly affected if michael hooper isnt playing?
soapit
Roar Guru
dont get me wrong as well. he certainly hasnt done much else wrong. at least since he pulled that street sign out in byron. but definitely not a repeated pattern of poor behaviour
soapit
Roar Guru
there are plenty in other sports. oz rugby not so much perhaps
Birthday Suit
Roar Rookie
Not getting defensive at all. I suppose it just sounds like no one would fit your definition of special servants of the game based on how you define it – which is completely fine by the way – so it’s a fairly moot point. I just think that within the generally accepted bounds of how we talk about sportspeople, particularly when we are in a time that there hasn’t always been a lot to be positive about in Aus Rugby, he fits the bill for me. Good chat anyway mate. And to answer my own questions, from recent players I’d put Pocock in the same boat for similar reasons, but it’s been slim pickings recently.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Well given the number of ABs who are stood down the number of matches missed would dwarf those missed by Hooper. Also there are the “mysterious injury” breaks that a number of higher profile ABs have especially in the latter stages of their careers in the effort to get them through to another RWC.
Ex force fan
Guest
We used to have Izzy, Hooper and Pocock on the top 10 best paid players list however I do not think anyone will make a best World XV or even 23 list. Hooper may be the closest as he is consistently good. Tooly you are right that we are in a transition phase but not sure that the young players will move up the list in 3 years as it is difficult to stand out when you are ranked #7.
Fudge Mover
Guest
Yeah no doubt, Read is a class act. Only disappointment is fitting Le Roux, Read and Hoops on the team as current rules only allow two capped players (Japan exempt) on the field at the same time.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
“McRooper” is born! You heard it hear first, folks.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Hoopright?
soapit
Roar Guru
Ok so... I don't quibble he puts in on the field Putting in on the field shouldnt be anything special. That's more a sign of where Oz rugby is at that it's seen that way. Similar to toomuas description. That's shouldn't really be anything special for someone playing for and captaining his country. So is there anything other than the stuff he does related to matches (which he gets paid very well for) that makes him a special servant? Despite lots of words there's not anything specific you've given. No need to be defensive of him. I just would like to know (specifcally) what it is that we can say he's gone the extra mile with. Btw I don't know any examples from other players. I'm not going around saying they're special servants outside the norm to mind you
jeznez
Roar Guru
And current All Blacks never rest from SR do they? The broadcaster "knows they get" them all.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah, ofc it's not ideal, but I just can't imagine a broadcaster factoring Hooper playing here or o/s into their calculations. He's just not that big a deal for casual fans, and rusted-on fans like us are still going to buy the product. Guys like (dare I say it) Folau are the only types that broadcasters are specifically interested in (if at all), and its a pretty small number of those players. I don't think there are any of those players in Aus rugby atm. Otherwise broadcasters know they are buying an overall package, in the knowledge that a Hooper or AAA might do a season ending knee the day after the deal is inked.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Yeah agree, we undervalue coaches. Look at the Brumbies outfit. They have made a habit of making the rejects into potential Wallabies.
Jacko
Guest
Scrum missing 2 from 14-16 matches is very clearly DIFFERENT to missing the whole season so the point of the article is very valid
MitchO
Guest
Yeah Fudge. Hooper has never played with a number 8 of Read's class. Read has been a match winner for the ABs in the past which is good effort in a star team full of stars. Hanson may be in NZ but he is guaranteed to take a personal interest in playing rugby chess with Hooper. Every kid loves having a new toy to play with. Hansen will love the opportunity of having Hooper at his disposal rather than playing against him. Hooper is a fantastic toy. He is very top class but different from Cane, Richie, Todd, Ardie, Read and Kaino.
Olly
Roar Rookie
At a guess I would say or Hoopers management. RA need to start putting things to control this into the contracts for all parties. This should have been announced on RA terms only.
Jacko
Guest
“a broadcaster signing to get the NZ SR comp knows they get all the current All Blacks” Jez its a factual statement...If you are not in NZ you will not be selected for the ABs so its FACT whether you like it or not. Sure some ABs take sabaticals but if a Test side is announced and they are not playing in NZ they dont get selected. CURRENT...thats the key....Why do you think there was all the talk about the lack of locks in NZ rugby before the start of the season? Because some on the incumbants wernt going to be there as they were signed elsewhere...CURRENT!!!