The last time Australian rugby’s top brass had cash to splash, they went for the biggest names in the NRL game.
Some of the recruiting targets were a success, many of them were not.
In the lead-up to hosting the 2027 World Cup, Rugby Australia is again looking to roll the dice on recruiting rugby league stars to help not only improve the Wallabies’ chances but also create extra publicity for the marquee event so crucial to the sport’s future in this country.
More than a quarter of a century ago, as the then Australian Rugby Union geared up for the 2003 World Cup on home soil, it was a much different ball game.
Rugby was riding the crest of a wave that had been building since the 1991 World Cup victory, gathered momentum throughout the decade as Rod Macqueen and John Eales led a golden generation to the ‘99 trophy and the expectation that they’d be very strong chances of defending their crown four years later.
Australian captain John Eales (C) and his teammates celebrate after winning the 1999 Rugby Union World Cup final against France. Australia won the final 35 to 12. (Photo by Franck Seguin/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
The ARU wanted to not only poach the NRL’s best and brightest talent, it wanted to supplant the rival rugby code as the dominant winter sport in the northern states before conquering the rest of the nation.
Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers and Andrew Walker made the switch and rugby league’s most dominant player Andrew Johns in 2004 went within a whisker of following them.
Mark Gasnier ummed and ahhed about trying rugby, Timana Tahu eventually did, poor old Nathan Blacklock gave it a try but was a fish out of water at the Waratahs.
Apart from Johns, who didn’t jump ship, all these NRL stars have one thing in common – they didn’t stay for the rest of their career, they all returned to the league of second/third/countless chances.
Knights Immortal Andrew Johns. (AAP Image/Action Photographics/Grant Trouville)
RA chairman Hamish McLennan has been bullish recently about a hit list of NRL players they want to target with the likes of Matt Burton and Joseph Suaalii among the prominent names that have been mentioned.
With the lure of potentially competing against the British & Irish Lions on their 2025 tour also in rugby’s favour, McLennan has every right to puff his chest out and be confident his code can make a dent in the NRL ranks.
But they need to be judicious with their spending. Rugby’s rusted-on fan base will not want to see another repeat of the early 2000s where league players, more specifically their managers, used union as little more than a bargaining chip to drive up their client’s asking price.
Rogers, Sailor and Tuqiri, in particular, gave the Wallabies strong service over several years but rugby should be looking to sign players who they are confident will stay the course and retire in the 15-player code rather than use it as a mid-career earnings booster without having any particular affinity for the sport.
It’s hard to read much into the Israel Folau situation in more recent times. He was a mercenary wherever he went. At a time when the Storm were not yet caught for rorting the salary cap, they couldn’t convince him to stay and he left Melbourne for a better deal at the Broncos.
They in turn were blindsided when he accepted the publicity stunt mega deal to go to the GWS Giants, who were then not displeased to let him go play rugby. Folau undoubtedly gave the Wallabies much-needed firepower in 73 Tests over six years from 2013 until it all came crashing down but his career trajectory is unlikely to ever be repeated.
Suaalii should be RA’s top target – he’s not yet an established star but he has the athletic gifts to potentially become the most damaging player in either code over the next decade.
He’s got rugby pedigree as well after starring for The Kings School’s first XV and representing NSW and Australia at schoolboy and under-18 level in sevens. He also was among the best in his age-group in Aussie Rules, athletics and basketball so he wasn’t short of options.
Suaalii is also not short of options when it comes to his contract. He has a player option for the next two years at the Roosters so, in theory, he could sign elsewhere at the end of this NRL season.
However, the Roosters and the NRL have done everything they can to set him on the path to stardom without overburdening him.
Joseph Suaalii. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Rules were relaxed so he could make his first-grade debut last year even though he had not turned 18 and Blues coach Brad Fittler brought him into Origin camp this season as an unused reserve to soak up the experience with a view to him representing NSW as early as next year.
Burton also played rugby as well as league during his junior years but the Dubbo product always had the 13-player code as his preference. He’s already won a premiership with Penrith and made his Origin debut this season during his first season at Canterbury but is only at the start of the prime years of his career at 22.
He’s contracted to the Dogs until the end of 2024 but has an option to opt out of the final season of his deal, which he’d be mad not to use, as his value has risen immensely since he signed the deal as a Panther with potential early last year.
His booming left boot would be a monumental asset in rugby, but would he be able to adapt to the technical skills required in the backs? Fullback would probably be his best position if he were to switch, which coincidentally where Suaalii found success in rugby and wants to shine in league.
He’s stuck on the wing at the Roosters with James Tedesco filling the fullback jersey ahead of him at club, state and national level now and for at least a few more years into the future. At 29, Tedesco – who is contracted to the Roosters for two more years – is showing no signs of slowing down and has never played any other position so his presence could prompt Suaalii to consider his options.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Rugby would perhaps be better served and get better results by targeting some other league prospects who have yet to establish themselves in first grade and could be signed long term and stay even longer in their code.
Players like young Dragons trio Jayden Sullivan, Junior Amone and Tyrell Sloan, or Raiders whizz-kid Xavier Savage, Sea Eagles speedster Tolu Koula, Eels centre Will Penisini (another player with schoolboy pedigree) or Cowboys rake Reece Robson – creative NRL hookers could make great rugby scrum-halves.
Even though Angus Crichton and Cameron Murray are enticing options, rugby officials should pretty much put a red line through any NRL forward making a successful switch, unless they believe they can make one of them a Sonny Bill Williams-style second-rower who could make a fist of centre.
The lineout and scrum are as foreign to NRL forwards as bocce and synchronised swimming.
One of the other problems Rugby Australia will run into is that NRL players will see switching codes as a backward step as far as exposure, notwithstanding the fact that their sport is played in very few countries by comparison.
When Rogers, Tuqiri and Sailor became Wallabies, it was an era when the Wallabies were filled with household names like Eales, George Gregan, Matt Burke and Stephen Larkham. Even the lesser-known Wallabies were doing Bundaberg ads that received mainstream airplay.
Rugby was on free-to-air TV and ratings were booming.
George Gregan passes for the Wallabies during the famous Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Sydney back in 2000. (AAP photo Dean Lewins)
Nowadays, a player’s brand is paramount in their careers and rugby is the poor cousin when it comes to national exposure. Only really Michael Hooper could claim to have what the marketing types call “cut through” beyond rugby’s traditional fan base.
It’s a delicate balancing act for McLennan and co to attract the right type of talent, that has star potential, that won’t just be in for the short term.
There is of course an alternative which won’t give rugby the quick sugar hit it craves but is probably going to be more beneficial – invest in junior pathways, identify and retain the best young talent, and reap the rewards when those players become Test stars.
That sounds like such a crazy plan that it just might work.
MickDonovan
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure he's that smart just good at getting himself in the paper
piru
Roar Rookie
Sailor was a clear attempt by ARU to "find" their own Jonah Lomu.
Guess
Roar Rookie
What’s the point in salary cap if it’s constantly gets shifted. Greedy Pe can’t help but turn it into salary race..
Guess
Roar Rookie
Hopefully McLennan is as smart as you think
ajhreds
There were players like Chris Latham that were better than Matt Rogers but were not picked becuase it was all about getting bums on seats. Sailor had to be the worst to come over when there players like Ben Tune. It should always be about developing you Juniors and pathways and stop the NRL raids where ever possible. Make it easier for Kids to get into Rugby - Promotionally and Financially. If RA had a descent Marketing Department, they would need to entice Top NRL players for a Temporary period just to build interest. If League players have a genuine interest they need to show they have a genuine interest and they have to work for it - Contracts should be tiered based on their success in transitioning. There can be no automatic selections.
piru
Roar Rookie
Dusty I know this model has worked for NSWRL and VFL, but the fact is, even in these comps, the other states end up being second rate citizens 'added on' to the original state's competition. Just ask a WA AFL fan about it. There's a huge amount of resentment towards the pampered Vic teams who get to play in Melbourne and sleep in their own beds for nearly the entire season. Decisions are always made based on what's good for the 'home' state and everyone else just has to grin and bear it.
piru
Roar Rookie
Yep, then tell everyone the NRC "doesn't work"
AndyS
Guest
Although you can see exactly how that would play out Piru. That is exactly what would happen, it would devastate the SS, so the obvious solution would be to cancel the NRC again...
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
I hear you both, and I know the politics will always be difficult. There is no easy solution to this. I guess all I'd say is that a new competition needs to be (relatively) successful from the start, and I think the only way to do this is to bring existing 'rusted on' fans with you. Love them or hate them, the 'Wicks have fans and a famous jersey. Uni is a powerhouse and the Woodies are right up there. Certain Brisbane clubs bring their 'good will' (to steal a business term) as well. I don't really know what the best formula is for a comp, but we need it, we need it sooner rather than later, and it must be successful.
piru
Roar Rookie
I just don't see it as sustainable Rob Players will all flock to those few clubs who get to play in the provincial comp, what does that do to everyone else? And how do you decide fairly which clubs get to be in that tier?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
If NSW decides they are best to elevate some of their existing clubs to this comp, then so be it – it seems a fraught idea to me, and creates a divide that isn’t necessary but that’s their circus so to speak Agree piru. Admittedly I have very little to do with Brisbane club rugby, but I can't see that any of them is particularly more worthy to be Qld's entrants. Something like SEQld North, SEQld South, SEQld West and Qld Country makes more sense to me and gives fans a region-specific team to support. Club teams within those regions are feeders, which also then ties in their supporters. (No doubt someone like jeznez has already suggested this ...)
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
I hear you. I love the game and I'm tired of being starved of accessible high quality club rugby, and of the -ve flow-on effects for our super rugby teams and the Wallabies. I am envious of the provincial comp in NZ, and we just don't need to be in this situation.
Terry Polious
Roar Rookie
Rugby let Suaalii go to the NRL and now his brand and value have grown so if they want him they'll have to pay massive overs. Yes it will generate headlines but it's just bad business trying to sign NRL players after they have let their Value sky rocket. I actually don't think McLennan is in a hurry to sign any big name league players he just likes that it gets RU talked about in the media. Saying you are going to "raid" the NRL makes Fox and the News Corp papers take notice every time. It's basically free advertising for Rugby Australia which has very little cut through with the general sports watching public.
piru
Roar Rookie
I think we agree, yes and sorry for being cranky above, this is a pet hate of mine. I think RA should step back a bit and say, each state union to supply x number of clubs for a national comp (x being different for each state as required), how they do it is up to them. If NSW decides they are best to elevate some of their existing clubs to this comp, then so be it - it seems a fraught idea to me, and creates a divide that isn't necessary but that's their circus so to speak. What frustrates me is that this issue is made a national one because no one will move forward without their blessing
Terry Polious
Roar Rookie
Latrell would be devastating in RU Mick, but unfortunately he doesn't come from a wealthy part of Sydney or Brisbane. Which means he's off Rugby's radar
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Piru, I think we're on the same page. The club rugby situation and feeder pathways in Oz are extremely problematic. My view is that we need to make some concessions to the more powerful clubs, or at least those with a strong history of success and a large supporter base (both in Sydney and Brisbane) and start building a comp around them, NRL style. Then expand nationally.
piru
Roar Rookie
I don't know why people think this is any kind of point. If you live in a state where NRL is blasted on TV constantly, names leak into your consciousness. Living in WA I could name a few AFL players but that doesn't mean I know or care anything about them.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
IMO this is a destructive strategy. If I take it down to club level, there are examples off once great local clubs that have virtually died because they used money to win games and allowed their juniors to wither. I reckon RA should be putting game health first, promoting community rugby (kids, families) and healthy clubs that attract support and loyalty. It requires regular support - education, guidance for local unions, refs, school support - rather than big sugar hits. Parents are becoming wary of where their kids go for leisure and you need clubs to be strong and attractive. This is route to the base case: strong junior wallabies. Note what Hansen has pointed to in NZ; a rising record of failure at elite junior competition. I also fear McLennan's thinking about private equity. He makes it sound like an investment designed to win a home RWC rather than some sort of truly strategic play. Might as well take the RA cash to a casino. Not that I object to wining a home RWC! :stoked:
piru
Roar Rookie
Fair points for the most part, and I agree wholeheartedly on the leadership. The ARC was not bereft of support across the country, only in NSW was this such an issue, and no surprise with the way it was undermined. These clubs need to realise they are not bigger than the game and the leaders at RA need to put them in their place. Hard to do when they all exist within the same NSW centric sphere. This is why I think the headquarters needs to be moved.
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
No, not that ARC, the one that people struggled to get behind because they had no idea who the teams were, what the connection of the players to the teams was, how the rule changes worked, and why an entirely new set of teams was created in the first place. I agree with your comment about self-interested clubs, I absolutely recognise that they've prevented the game from developing and becoming truly national. But, I would argue that we were let down by poor leadership and the inability or unwillingness of administrators to sort that s@*t out. Remember how tribal and geographically limited Australian soccer used to be? Clubs were ethnocentric (Marconi, Sydney Olympic!!), unwilling to change and become more inclusive, and more focused on themselves than developing the game for the good of all Australian soccer supporters. Then, David Hill stepped in and forced upon them a whole raft of reforms that led (eventually) to a truly national, more inclusive, more relatable competition; the A League. The clubs didn't all disappear, some formed a core that the competition was built around. This is very similar to the NSW rugby league and existing clubs forming the basis of the Australian Rugby League, which was later rebranded to become the NRL. We absolutely need a national club competition to sit below super rugby, but it needs to be built out of (at least some of) the existing clubs with other clubs from other areas added over time. I don't have all the solutions, and I know that leaving certain clubs out of a national comp in the name of expansion would NOT go down well, but it has to be done.