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.

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 😁 and playing in the G/F

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.

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.

Glad you clarified that point Paulo 😂 .I can therefore deduce Rugby was played by Roman centurions just prior ,to their unleash hell , against the Barbarians of the X111 variety.

No TWAS in fact doubled down on the point.
The media has a habit of exaggerating offers(maybe also fed by agents).Regardless, he was offered a substantial sum by a code who claims it has no money, and cut Rugby players’ wages, yet has the ability to get business people to provide funding for special players, who have not touched a 1st grade ball. That’s a touch of irony.
Again the figure of $1.7m to $2m for the NRL,who knows for sure that is correct.Souths who actually would be the employer are not bleating about lack of funds.
I suggest you read Rugby media types ,in the Australian/SMH who bagged Souths for their offer.
Please, describing hypocrisy!!!.For nearly 100 years Rugby officials ,fans looked down their noses on RL players(some in fact discriminated against)for daring to earn money to play.In 1995 ,it was suddenly OK to partake of the green stuff.That sir ,is hypocrisy of Richter scale magnitude

Like a Kurtley Beale who want to St Josephs.

It takes two codes to tango.

*XV English please 😂

Judging by the numbers who have property investments and the likes of Adam Mac worth now $200m with Man Shakes,Bowden with a pub empire, Zivanovic worth a fortune Sean Garlick pies, Norm Provan I believe more than a few have money in the Bank.Even Bubbler Carney had investment units.
The old school rugby league players ,many struggled financially post playing.
There are Olympic Athletes who are not exactly in the wealthy class ,post games.

Which he did and played in a 73 Grand Final at tender 17 years of age.

It’s not hard to detect tinges of anti race in commentary .I’ve been around long enough to experience it.You say it doesn’t concern you ,yet paint him as some sort of mafia type.
PVL whether you like it or not has achieved getting the comp up and running and described as being deluded any some AFL types (a description you use often).He has also tried to make the game a little more entertaining.
The NRL has been too lay back in the past, they need people who can actually leadoff it treads on toes that’s business.
He is also one who is prepared to take alleged assault matters involved in the game seriously, that’s a sign of concern not only for the alleged victims but for the law.
Having a CEO who stated paying out claimants financially is in order,is a sign of someone who is out of touch with reality.Too much time with the polo pony set methinks.
Anyone who takes offence when PVL says something tongue in cheek, shows the maturity of a 12 year old.Kennett came in spinner style. No sport including AFL is untouchable from criticism.
Even Tony Shepherd admires his (PVL’s)efforts in getting things done.
It’s obvious you are completely ignorant of PVL’s background, suffering racism as a kid,havifg parents work multiple jobs to get him to uni and becoming a chartered accountant.Nothing handed to him(hello Gil) like your so called man babies.Perhaps he’ s a bit of Demetriou.
If he gets the code to where it should be, he will have earned his keep.Leaders in business and politics are not there for popularity, but to progress their organisations.
To compare him to Trump is insulting and plain immature on your behalf.

Oh dear.Coming from a poster with the alias GoGWS ,no bias here, no agenda,no venting of spleen but puts down someone of Greek descent who happens to wear ill fitting clothes.Who makes out he is the defender of the public purse ,but accepts this purse money when it is granted to his code.Who detests a code and is only interested in casting arrows in that code’s thread, when the opportunity arises, not interested in the code otherwise.
The same gent (PVL)who got his code up and running early (and was castigated by people including AFL tragics,who hypocritically got their code up and running a mere two weeks later.
When it comes to embarrassment of late:-
He hasn’t given tacit approval for payments to claimants for allegations of assault by players as your CEO has.Nor had he headed a code where players involved in allegations of major assault continue to play, rather than be stood down.

I am fully aware of the Stadium( formerly Spotless) and the money outlaid from whence GWS was set up, from Blacktown to Homebush/Breakfast Point.Well publicised.Not peddling of anything but what is well known, so cut the deflection.
Homebush and surrounds not a suburb, surely you jest.It “ain’t a metropolis like Parramatta (which you infer is a suburb) with your NRL’s suburban comments.
I am also fully aware of the fact the Olympic Stadium was supposed to be reconfigured rectangular as soon as the OPs were concluded, your mob butted in and it has remained as is.
The contract for future Grand Finals was for it to remain at ANZ as the State Govt stated it would been redevelop;oped,then just reconfigured.Due to COVID-19 it cannot happen, that is understood.PVL has asked for assistance to redevelop suburban grounds (council owned),thus community benefits and other rectangular codes.
He has asked ,just like the AFL and other codes also came out whilst COVID was on stating they look like needing Fed and State Govt assistance ,he is unable to insist upon anything, and it most likely won’t happen.
All you have shown displayed in your shot at PVL is the same arrogance ,childish dislike for a guy who is a go to guy that gets under your skin and has the audacity to promote and try to grow his code.
“Lying” the irony , I’ve never said the NSW Govt built the Giants a home ground.The ground was in situ in the first place, before your mob came along.They have provided money for improvements not only there but at Blacktown ,a hell of a difference.If you are going to tell porkies,get your facts right.
Just like NRL(council owned) suburban grounds are in situ.But according to the defender of the public purse PVL must not try to get them up to scratch
Incredible, you know everybody called nobody, seriously mate your fan boy mentality is shining brightly.
Should I ever find the need to spend so much time on an AFL thread laying it on, pushing an NRL agenda, then I know insecurity has taken over.It’s not going to happen.

No mate just stating facts which you are a tad sensitive over, that are public knowledge .Re Blacktown ,re promises for that area, re getting a stadium upgraded, re monetary grants for 10 years from ACT Govt,re State Govt ATT was hardly flush with funds.
Your stadium is a suburban ground FFS, as is if you like Geelong.
Regardless of the minimal amount put in, the State Govt,Council allocated funds.

You don’t like PVL which is obvious, you sound like Kennett.It’s OK for your code to lobby and get huge amounts for stadiums ,but how dare PVL lobby to get funding for suburban grounds that are multi use capable.And whose to say the NRL won’t be putting some money in.
Are you kidding ,these suburban grounds used for NRL will be multipurpose, all except the Shark’s council owned.
He may not get it full stop, so be it ,you show exactly the arrogance that AFL admin shows at times.

If you are calling his comments a disgrace,I suggest you look at Gil’s comments last year when he stated he saw no problem in clubs( referring to a WA one) settling with assault claims by women with money. That melad is a disgrace.

If anyone needs to get over ones self, it’s one who keeps banging on about PVL, because he has had the temerity to get things done and had a passing shot at the AFL in response to a dumb journo.Be thankful you have a decent stadium for your home ground ,and let fans of other codes (including the NRL)have their opportunities to get something similar, instead of showing the usual arrogance whenever the RL dares try to get better facilities, for its taxpaying for many decades’ fans.
And you continue to show ignorance by assuming only the RL will benefit.Who do you think uses the new Parra stadium? NRL,Super Rugby and A league.Concerts.

You are are peddling porkies by intimating it’s only the NRL who benefits ,by your comment “I don’t think we have seen that in Australia for any code”.If it was only for one code,AAMI Park in Melbourne would never have got off the ground for the Storm.
Try Cairns,Grounds for AFL in Ipswich.Ballymore.

Carrying on LOL. PVL mentioned it once or twice.Just like other codes’ fans were shocked because the V’Landys got off the mark in getting his comp started on 28th May.They all expressed horror as though he did this ignoring Govts and medical advice ,which was rubbish, and it was apparently too early. Yet the AFL got off the mark a couple of weeks later.Seriously, people need to check their own backyards.

And the monetary abuse in Blacktown for GWS was an actual disgrace, for a club here for a few years.
The AFL has a deal to have the G/F in Melbourne til when the 2040s.?The NRL had a long term deal based on a reconfiguration of ANZ ,which won’t happen.But Tony Shepherd more than happy it won’t ,one of the reasons people suggest he pushed as a SCG Trust member to have SFS built first.
The ANZ deal has thus been voided, all codes are suffering financially under the virus, if another State Govt offers a large amount to stage the G/F, they’ll seriously look at it.
The AFL are well known for influence in Vic Govt circles.

PVL would be well aware of monies expended prior ,during and after the current situation.He is simply doing what any other code leaders would do.The AFL is getting financial assistance for going to Qld, the RU for their Ballymore Ground ,GWS for Canberra appearances and infrastructure work around Marvel Stadium.All this whilst we have this COVID -19 crisis.
I agree ,if all codes abide by that decision and don’t take Govt monies during the crisis, but they do and therein lies the hypocrisy. GWS going to stop taking $2m pa from ACT Govt until a vaccine is found ?The Australian sports Commission is able to fund sports toward the 2021 Olympic whilst we have the crisis.
PVL is looking after his code just like Gil and Demetriou did ,he wins some loses some, and your comment typify those of other PVL critics.The NRL has seen for years the AFL lobby for money successfully also during recessions of the 90s,GFC 2008s and in between.The silence was deafening.Finally it’s getting off its backside and doing likewise.
Get over it, you have a decent stadium for a new club that’s been here 5 minutes, other NRL clubs have stadiums that have been around for decades, which PVL is trying to remedy. It’s not going to happen in the short term anyway. The State Govt has been made aware of the code’s needs, even it it’s takes another 5 -10 years.Involves infrastructure that creates JOBS.

Again your obvious dislike for the NRL is evident GOGWS.After all the money thrown at your club by State Govts and councils and at times wasted.How dare the NRL approach Governments.If they get knocked back ,so be it.
How can the ACT Govt afford to pa $2m pa for GWS appearances ,when money to improve a stadium used by 3 codes is person non grata?
The Qld Govt is in the throes together with the Federal Govt of allocating $30m toward Ballymore Ground in Brisbane, split 50/50.
The same Govt if they get the go ahead for an Olympics ,will spend a King’s ransom on infrastructure.
I understand ,(and yes the AFL is paying large sums setting up in Qld), but the Qld Govt is financially assisting AFL clubs to move to Qld during COVID-19.
The same Qld is prepared to financially back(with not chicken feed) an AFL Grand final in Brisbane.
Is the Vic govt going to stop putting money into work, that will go on around Marvel stadium?
Govt spend in times of crisis either for infrastructure .
Building infrastructure creates jobs with a multiplier effect.
Do as I say, not as I do is, OK then.

V’Landys using SBW for “the NRL to stay relevant”.One of the most laughable comments I’ve read here.The code getting the go ahead from Government and medical advice ,whilst other codes dithered on the matter, gives a fair indication of how relevant it is.
The NRL did not request SBW to break any contract with the Wolfpack, in fact COVID-19 and the withdrawal of Toronto from the competition as a result left the door well and truly open for him to play in the NRL, in a sport which he currently plays as a professional.
His wife and children are Australian passport holders, and 14 days in quarantine for him, is not a big deal.
Would I prefer he played for a club like the Titans or the Warriors to assist, that’s a no brainer, of course I would.However he returns to a club where he has close ties with administration and players, where he feels at”home”.
Whichever club he plays for, his appearance is a plus for that club and the code.He is known outside the shores of this country(thanks to his All Black appearances) another bonus.
His arrival doesn’t make the code relevant ,as TV contracts and interest already do that within Australasia and the Pacific Islands..
In fact it adds a touch of marketing spice, and engenders much unpaid publicity, to such an extent that a journalist student from La Trobe(with an AFL inclination) is stirred into print ,to serve it up to V’Landys and that irrelevant NRL.You know it makes sense.

I’m all for a Perth team, but a 2nd Brisbane comes beforehand.Plus the Perth team must not be a huge drain on NRL finances in setting it up.
TV ratings currently in Perth for the NRL are very ordinary TBH.
ATM the code has been drained of large sums of money by this damn virus.

Agree the Olympics etc are the tempters.
Then we get the likes of Tim Horan come out today with the Bill Pulver tired old NRL put down “Maybe Joseph values the opportunity to play a Wallaby Gold jersey and travel the world and play in a real world cup, rather than (wait for it)playing in Wollongong or Campbelltown week in week out.”
Yep Tim they(NRL players) are all stuck in outer Sydney, incapable of leaving the country or unable to play in England or France, nor represent the Kangaroos.You were going factually well about the opportunities, until you threw in the Campbelltown and Wollongong elitist snipe.

The Swans nearly went broke on at least 3 occasions.They received a huge lift with the SL war, and the Swan’s admin actually have acknowledged that fact.
Large sums have been spent on promotion and development, that code had the money, the NRL doesn’t ATM.Same apples for the Lions.
The Sharks are not in the financial hell holes those two clubs were in prior to relocation.
Despite all all the money poured in ,they struggle to garner the TV ratings you’d expect in the Nthn states.
Also the AFL are hardly likely to relocate or rationalise further.

You keep going on about a small area in the Shire.It is in fact growing, and the State govt requires 10K dwellings duplexes/units within 10 years, as from a couple of years ago.If it was not growing I’d agree.
If you want a small area, try the Roosters.

Pro rata it(Sharks)has more fans than some other clubs I could name, including interstate.
The Sharks provide a local derby with the Dragons, which is well supported, remove one and you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The ground received a Fed. Govt grant of $10m ,to build the Monty Porter Stand.Costello a Victorian responsible.
No taxpayer rioted.
In addition the Sharks have received a NSW Grant of $8m for a Centre of Excellence to be built on the ground’s Western side.
The club has $18m in the Bank and a new League club being built with hotel and commercial next door.I think they will do a lot of self funding projects in the future.
Govts provide grants to sports or clubs that have very little public following.

I’m sure the NRL realises Union can offer the Olympics 7s (once in 4 years)and International competition, which already exists, hardly a scoop.Money talks ,people walk.
It’s when he is playing for the Tahs taking up most of the time ,and he is only seen on Pay Tv watched by smaller numbers that is the other side of the coin.
A talent no doubt and Rugby here needs a star, because there is little else in RA that falls into” “star” category. I wish him all the best, he sounds like a quality person and obviously a top sportsman.
RA doesn’t have the loot(thank Raelene for the non TV deal),IMO it has to be a consortium of old school business types with the financial resources to do the deal.
NB I do feel sorry though for RA staff chopped and had salary cuts and players taking decent pay cuts looking at this from the sidelines.

Hardly worth responding to that comment ,except of course the Dragons have fans in NSW and Qld that’s hardly a scoop.
Another non scoop, the Sharks have many fans on the GC and Sunshine Coast,and Coastal Nthn NSWform a suburban team.They helped fill the ANZ on 2016 G/F with majority support there.
Please that comment ‘just Sydney suburban teams” is laughable.They draw crowds at times bigger or equal to the Dragons.
A Perth team would be sustainable if the NRL had the cash to start up,ATM they have to priortise Brisbane 2 which is not going to be easy.It will happen regardless of V’Landys off the cuff comments.
Adelaide?? SFA juniors, little interest, little commercial sponsorship opportunities.The NRL would have to pour large sums into Adelaide just to keep them afloat.Tasmania forget it.
And you want to get rid of Sydney teams ! The AFL would back you to the hilt on that.

“I show why the Sydney clubs big note themselves”.
Thanks for the put down? Perhaps if your mob did a tad more development work in the St George area, you may have more juniors.Perhaps if they had some foresight ,and with the Taj Mahal money they may have ownership of a ground.

And perhaps if you checked history removing or merging teams in Sydney, loses fans and gives competing codes breathing space and a vacuum in which to work.The Sharks being relocated ,is not going to provide the Dragons with additional fans, and provide the area fertile ground for juniors to other codes.

It’s obvious V’Landys is in tune with that reality, pity others are out of the loop with that understanding.

V’Landys has firstly stated Brisbane needs a 2nd team, which most rl fans is a necessity.
He is only one voice on the ARLC, if it comes to a vote on expansion he can easily be out voted.
In any case whilst all this money situation on TV deals and COVID was being thrown around, he was asked twice by reporters on WA expansion.He made an off the cuff remark about rusted on states because ATM it is irrelevant ,with so many issues for the Commission to confront.As if the code is currently in a strong financial position to make any comment on WA.
It’s also history there was only one code of Rugby, there are two now, move on.
The 2016 G/F showed there are many Sharks fans in existence.
Re the Storm, judging by the Tv ratings for them in NSW and Qld ,I’d suggest he’s more than happy they exist.