Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray has left the door ajar for a huge cross-code move, saying he will “think about” moving to rugby union ahead of the 2027 World Cup – but only when he comes off contract in 2025.
Murray, 25, has been name-dropped by Eddie Jones on a few occasions since being announced as Wallabies coach in January.
The league-loving rugby coach, who grew up watching the Rabbitohs at the Sydney Cricket Ground, told SEN last month that Murray would be a “fantastic 12” after being asked if there was one player from the NRL he would like to coach.
Murray, of course, grew up playing rugby. He was the Newington First XV captain and was highly thought of as an inside centre with his hole running a feature of his game.
But the NRL pounced on Murray and the schoolboy prodigy joined the club he grew up supporting and went on to become the Rabbitohs’ rookie of the year in his maiden season in 2017.
Cameron Murray has left the door ajar for a huge cross-code switch. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Murray considered a cross-code switch when former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika went hard at signing the rising star.
The talented back-rower, who has gone on to become a regular in the NSW State of Origin side, even penned a letter to Rugby Australia thanking them for their interest.
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, the back-rower said his focus was on entirely on representing South Sydney but he would consider his future when he comes off contract in 2025 – the same year the Wallabies host the British and Irish Lions.
“I’m contracted for three years, that’s where my focus is, and beyond that, the time will come to think about my future,” Murray told the Herald.
“I haven’t heard anything from Eddie. I haven’t heard from anyone, really.
“I’m not someone who will say, ‘I’m happy to win a few comps and then go somewhere else’. This club means too much to me to just tick off a few comps and then leave.
“If the time comes and I’m off contract, and I’m negotiating my future, I’ll think about it then. I loved school rugby. I’ll still watch the big internationals, but I don’t want much sport at all.”
Murray’s teammate Lachlan Ilias – a former Australian Schoolboys representative – said he was not surprised Jones was interested in luring the star forward across to rugby.
“Eddie is trying to target the best players in league, Cam is one of those players, and he could play any position in rugby, except prop,” Ilias said.
“But Cam is also one of the faces of this organisation, and I couldn’t see him going anywhere. Whatever sport he plays he’s good at.”
Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan (L) says Cameron Murray would be a “zinger” for rugby union. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
Last week, Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan backed the pursuit of the talented league star.
“Cameron Murray could be a zinger for the World Cup in Australia, which would be incomparable to anything he has done,” McLennan told The Roar.
The Roar previously revealed that RA was only prepared to offer current Wallabies star Samu Kerevi a short-term deal. The decision adds weight to the idea the governing body could be preparing to go after Murray.
While Joseph Suaalii is set to stay on at the Roosters for 2024, the teenage sensation is still firmly in RA’s sights.
Both players are considered key pursuits ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Wallabies star French bound
Weeks after Reece Hodge’s departure to Bayonne was confirmed, his national teammate Pete Samu is set to join him in France.
French publication RugbyRama reports Bordeaux-Begles have signed the star back-rower on a two-year deal.
Brumbies star Pete Samu is set to head to the French Top 14. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
The 31-year-old joined the Brumbies following the 2018 season after making his name at the Crusaders, where he won consecutive Super Rugby titles.
He has since gone on to become a key cog for the Brumbies and Wallabies, where his versatility and ball-playing ability have been a feature of his game.
His move was expected, and the Brumbies have the depth to manage the international back-rower’s departure.
TonyH
Roar Rookie
Rugby Loig's "international game" is a joke!
Dionysus
Guest
The other important thing is this. It may be that all this talk about poaching NRL stars really is just bluff designed to create extra media interest, column inches and interview minutes but whether it is fact or fiction, the impact on both our established and emerging players is exactly the same.
Dionysus
Guest
Well said. The thing about chasing NRL stars is not only the high cost (and it cannot be anything other than high cost) and where we could use that money more productively but it is also the message that it sends to the rest of our players. Not only does it disenfranchise our very best rugby players but it also says to our emerging schoolboy talent "Look what RA does when a world cup comes around, the best way to play in one might be to play league first anyway" And then we will sit and wonder why all the best kids sign contracts with the NRL.
Dionysus
Guest
But is that a bona fide international game with no domestic comp and no grass roots ? RL does have an international game it is just that different countries are at different stages of development. AFL has nothing no matter how much their fans try to argue otherwise.
Chufortah
Guest
I personally think this is Eddie and true ARU deliberately generating interest in the game. The obvious most sensitive link are our junior rugby players who go to the NRL… what better way to fire a shot into the heart of rugby and get some free marketing by ruffling-up some cross-code rivalry ahead of the World Cup in 2027! I wish I was correct but I fear they are genuinely going to pursue the NRL players. Nothing against league players (I’m a rabid Bear supporter) or the game, but the money isn’t worth it (considering where it could be spent) when we disincentivise the blokes who chose rugby - with new pathways in place now via NRC/Club/Aus A etc I thought we would see an end to this obsession with the ‘ones who got away’? Let’s hope it’s just a smokescreen marketing ploy….
Mactruck
Roar Rookie
My thinking too. 5/8 maybe but very hard to learn
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
As I mentioned, the only Aussie as far as I recall, that was pretty good was Sexy Rexy Mossop, who was a member of the successful Wallabies team in Aotearoa back in 49, where they won the two test series.
peterj
Roar Rookie
Fair enough. For what it’s worth I agree with you regarding forward play and moving to league. Sam Burgess when he moved to RU was playing in the back row for his club Bath and doing very well there but obviously national set up saw him more as a centre. Who knows why? But I can’t think of too many other fwds from RL that have made it in the pack. Peter Ryan from the Brumbies was pretty good but never player internationally
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH I was referring to forwards that have a known rugby background. As with Thorn, his father was a very handy player for the Taieri club, & always wanted his son, to play for the AB's if he was good enough, in which he was.
peterj
Roar Rookie
By that argument you could say that Cam Murray has more of a background as he played it as young adult
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Also where did I say RL didn’t do anything for his skill set? Don’t you realise there is far more skills required in rugby than league, especially in the forwards!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
That’s right, but he still came to Australia with a rugby background. As I said he played age group, before he & his Whanau emigrated. So therefore he had a rugby background!
peterj
Roar Rookie
Whilst I understand what you’re saying, he moved to Australia when he was 8 then played League. I would hardly say that he learned everything he knew from rugby as a kid. In my view he’s easily the best code switcher with daylight second but to say RL didn’t do anything for his skill set is not true.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Ummm he actually came from rugby! He played age group & his father played for the Taieri club in Mosgiel before emigrating to Qld!
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Probably the most successful and well known convert in the game.
Paul Heath
Guest
Mark Gasnier & Timana Tahu were equally unimpressive, despite being the pin up centres in the NRL.
peterj
Roar Rookie
Ummm Brad Thorn?? He was “modestly” successful :silly:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Maybe more promotion & quality sponsorship might help!!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
True as we also saw what a flop Benji Marshall was when he was aligned to Auckland & the Blues. Rugby wasn't his go.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH the only players worth bringing over from League would be backs. As most know League forwards coming over to play, in the forwards would be hopeless as they don't have the necessary skill sets, unless they've had a Rugby background. The only one of note, that has done this, successfully in the past, would possibly be 'Sexy' Rex Mossop, as many others have been failures.