Former Wallabies star Kurtley Beale could make a surprise NRL switch to finish his career with some clubs reportedly considering making an offer for the veteran playmaker.
Beale, who was recently cleared of sexual assault charges, is without a contract after the 95-Test Wallaby was stood down by Rugby Australia before last year’s World Cup due to his legal battle.
The 35-year-old has stated several times during his lengthy rugby career that he would be open to trying his hand at league and according to a NewsCorp report, Canterbury are one of a few clubs who have held discussions about whether they should offer Beale a short-term deal.
Although they have Matt Burton locked in at five-eighth, the Dogs could potentially use Beale as an option at halfback or fullback – former Roosters utility Drew Hutchison is set to start the season in the No.7 jersey ahead of ex-Titans playmaker Toby Sexton while Rabbitohs recruit Blake Taaffe will run out at fullback this weekend with Penrith marquee signing Stephen Crichton at centre.
Kurtley Beale. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Beale also has attracted interest from overseas rugby clubs and it would be more likely he ends up signing in France or Japan to see out the remaining years of his professional career.
When asked by Nine News last week about an NRL sojourn, Beale said: “It’s a possibility. I’ve always been a big admirer of league. Growing up in Mt Druitt, Sydney west, but also there’s been an admiration throughout my career.
“Always watching league over the weekends and taking little bits from different players to add to my game. There is interest there, for both codes.”
Gus shoots down Vegas hype
Amid all the hype and bluster about the double-header to open the new season in Las Vegas, Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has warned the NRL needs to be realistic about their chances of making any inroads into the US sporting market.
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have claimed rugby league can earn big dollars if it can attract viewers and even a small share of the gambling market in the US.
However, Gould, speaking on his podcast Six Tackles With Gus, said the NRL could only make headway if there was a commitment to playing matches on a regular basis.
“If they want to start and they are serious about it, they’ve got to keep going,” he said.
“Hopefully we can showcase the game, that’s the whole idea of it – take the game to that part of the world. It’s not a one-off, we can’t just go there and judge it on one year.
“Their markets and tastes are very much ingrained – it’s gonna be a very hard sell.”
South Sydney and Manly open the season at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas next Sunday followed by Brisbane up against the Roosters.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
Beale to League at 35... Never going to happen.. maybe trying to get some interest from a Rugby club
KenW
Roar Rookie
No it wouldn't work, but that's not what's happening. No-one is force feeding NRL to the USA, it will make a (small) splash this week and be gone again next week. Different circumstance but the NFL superbowl has a similar effect here. Gets a bit of attention in the media, a few people discussing it amongst their friends. A few people who would never have seen a game watch it. The next week it's forgotten by most, but it's familiarity has increased. Some decide they quite like it and keep an eye out in the future, some might get really into it.
Sportstragic
Roar Rookie
Yes this is an embarrassing article. I notice no one put their name as the writer
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
Let's think outside the rectangle, would the RL fans get on board with constant Gridiron ? Certainly not the Heartland League fans. The Yanks have enough Mainstream sport that keeps them in their dream [ AREN'T THEY THE WORLD CHAMPIONS OF ALL SPORTS ? ] Won't ever be of RL !!! This whole tirade to USA is an absolute joke and a crazy emotional suckup.
KenW
Roar Rookie
It comes down to when the NRL were negotiating the last rights deal and they had meetings with the big streamers (Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc). Basically they were told that they weren't currently interested at the market rates, Australia isn't a massive market and the tiny followings on backwater sports channels and invisible WatchNRL app internationally didn't add up for them - come talk to us when that changes. So they found some sponsors to cover the cost and have started with this 5 year plan in the US. They get on Fox Sports 1 for these games, direct promotion to the US and great publicity at home while they are at it. They don't need to capture massive amounts of the market, but a small increase gets them on better channels, better advertising. That then leads to more small increase, and then they've got a much better story to tell next time around when they are selling their value.
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Can't see it working
andrew
Roar Rookie
If Hook was still in charge he'd have rolled out the welcome mat.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
:silly: Wasn't voting for it, just suggesting that we might be in that hunt, we've done weirder things...
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
Benji in secret negotiations.
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
Dogs were looking a lot slicker tonight with Burton off the leash, but the forwards are going to be mauled all year I'd say. Apart from Preston that is, poor old Faamausili, if Wayne couldn't get him going I down know how Gusraldo thinks he's going to.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Albo, Eyeballs. Apart from or a part of the betting thing is the simple fact that broadcasters pay for eyeballs. Even 500k pairs of eyeballs (1.5% of US population) is possibly a 10% eyeball increase. If that's built on year the benefit is obvious. How many AU's tune into the EPL? We already know that people don't actually have to go to games any longer to contribute that sweet sweet cash to the game. I'll never knock anything that showcases AU sport to the world because, why?
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
KenW
Roar Rookie
While I'm sure some costs will be borne by the NRL and the clubs, my understanding is that the venture is heavily subsidised by sponsors (many in gambling) that have US facing business. Effectively a free kick.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Haven't done the maths but it would be costing a heck of a lot
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
I heard someone explain it recently that if they get just 0.1% of the gambling money yanks spend on sports in the USA and 1% of the pay tv subscription market of viewers in the USA… it will be more money than what they earn from their market share in Aus/rest of the world.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
he knows well;..
wilbas
Roar Rookie
They are there to promote another gambling market...that is all..They are not there to sell the game.
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
I think we all know that it will take a bit to overturn 12 years worth of rubbish and decline, but a bit of application, some luck, some teamwork, and off-field smart behaviour, might just create some September action. Did you see Tariq blindside Williams recently? That was the 2018 Tariq, the one who tortured the Broncs first week of finals.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
"It’s really not costing anything to give it ago" Four teams. Say 20 squad players, coaches, physios, doctors, water boys. Thirty per team ? Say 120, plus assorted hangers-on. For each, there will be flights, hotel bills, extra insurance, excess baggage charges, buses or cabs to be hired. Do they have to hire security staff, and practice grounds ? Have they been paying local spruikers to drum up interest ? I can't see much change from a couple of million.
Mactruck
Roar Rookie
No chance 1) Beale plays league (he did play as a junior BTW) and 2) league does well in US...