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Aussie Player Exodus

Jimmy_Crouch

Ken Catchpole (46)
Been pushing this point for ages but RA need to sign a deal with a top club in each of the major overseas leagues. Agreements include places for players, coaching and HP staff. Players playing at those clubs could be selected for the Wallabies. Players would be able to do it for one season a world cup cycle but not the year of world cup.
 

PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
The Giltinis' team in the MLR are pretty much unbeatable, put 57 points on this weekend, after scoring 42 the week before I believe and winning both games easily. I wonder if that is going to hurt or help the competition as a whole.

Teams will either get sick of being pumped by this super team and lose interest, or other team owners will do the same thing and buy more players from overseas.

The team is pretty unfair, a bunch of guys who should be playing Super Rugby and a few ex-Wallaby greats, vs the local 8th grade team
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
I don’t get established players going to the top league. McMahon doesn’t play most weeks as they are only allowed two foreign test players on the field. Obviously there is the financial side but you don’t get the play. That would do my head in
 

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
I don’t get established players going to the top league. McMahon doesn’t play most weeks as they are only allowed two foreign test players on the field. Obviously there is the financial side but you don’t get the play. That would do my head in

Oh man i wish i got paid to only work 1/3 days.

Although, i would descend into complete degeneracy so i guess its a good thing.
 

hifflepiff

Charlie Fox (21)
I don’t get established players going to the top league. McMahon doesn’t play most weeks as they are only allowed two foreign test players on the field. Obviously there is the financial side but you don’t get the play. That would do my head in

I imagine it would suit some players. As I recall McMahon was concerned that his body wouldn't hold up at the rate he was playing in Aus.

Get paid way more to play less and probably have a longer career? Sounds like a sweet deal to me.
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
I imagine it would suit some players. As I recall McMahon was concerned that his body wouldn't hold up at the rate he was playing in Aus.

Get paid way more to play less and probably have a longer career? Sounds like a sweet deal to me.
He has played one game this year in 7 rounds. Because they wanted a stronger back row to combat Hooper. Next week Barrett and Kerevi will get 80 and he will be left out again
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
He was in QLD on personal matters for the start of the season.

I've always considered players going to Japan as just money grabbers but saw an instagram post of Will Genia that basically said the best thing about playing rugby in Japan is reconnecting with that childhood innocence of finding satisfaction with the game, purely through enjoyment. No external and no outside noise.

I commented that I thought that was a very enlightening comment (genuinely it has changed my perspective about it) and he responded that "it is the game at its basic level. Play and have fun. I've always enjoyed the game but being here makes me feel like a kid again".

Now, as I said, that has totally changed my opinion on why these older players like Genia, Foley, Cooper, etc etc go to play in Japan. What a change that must be after years of media scrutiny, fan scrutiny, intense professional pressure, coaches like Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika (not meant to be a dis, he was just intense).

I can even understand it with McMahan who has had to battle with injuries and, by all reports, been pressured to play often with those injuries.

I still can't fathom it for players like Hocking and Isaac Lucas mind you.
 

hifflepiff

Charlie Fox (21)
I still can't fathom it for players like Hocking and Isaac Lucas mind you.

I'd imagine for Lucas and Hockings, it gives you the chance to get plenty of game time and develop as a young player away from the media scrutiny that a player like Harrison would face. With a big pay check and an opportunity to go live as a young bloke overseas to boot.
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
He was in QLD on personal matters for the start of the season.

I've always considered players going to Japan as just money grabbers but saw an instagram post of Will Genia that basically said the best thing about playing rugby in Japan is reconnecting with that childhood innocence of finding satisfaction with the game, purely through enjoyment. No external and no outside noise.

I commented that I thought that was a very enlightening comment (genuinely it has changed my perspective about it) and he responded that "it is the game at its basic level. Play and have fun. I've always enjoyed the game but being here makes me feel like a kid again".

Now, as I said, that has totally changed my opinion on why these older players like Genia, Foley, Cooper, etc etc go to play in Japan. What a change that must be after years of media scrutiny, fan scrutiny, intense professional pressure, coaches like Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika (not meant to be a dis, he was just intense).

I can even understand it with McMahan who has had to battle with injuries and, by all reports, been pressured to play often with those injuries.

I still can't fathom it for players like Hocking and Isaac Lucas mind you.
There is pressure to play through injuries at any level. I did see the thing about his personal leave I just forgot about that. He is one of my favourite players so I was happy to be able to follow his career on stan

Look for the older players I have always thought the move makes sense drop down a level and get paid more while getting to experience a different culture. I never thought so much about getting away from the pressure and just having that enjoyment back

Hockings and Lucas it’s money. They can be a regular starter their and get paid well for relatively young men it’s not as physically taxing as the long European seasons
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I commented that I thought that was a very enlightening comment (genuinely it has changed my perspective about it) and he responded that "it is the game at its basic level. Play and have fun. I've always enjoyed the game but being here makes me feel like a kid again".

Now, as I said, that has totally changed my opinion on why these older players like Genia, Foley, Cooper, etc etc go to play in Japan. What a change that must be after years of media scrutiny, fan scrutiny, intense professional pressure, coaches like Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika (not meant to be a dis, he was just intense).


Outside of the coaches, I reckon the change in public scrutiny would be massive.

I imagine the number of negative comments on Facebook posts and tagging them on twitter/instagram etc. for people like Foley and Cooper would be close to zero versus what they used to experience.
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
Outside of the coaches, I reckon the change in public scrutiny would be massive.

I imagine the number of negative comments on Facebook posts and tagging them on twitter/instagram etc. for people like Foley and Cooper would be close to zero versus what they used to experience.
I never get that just turn comments on and only allow those who you follow to message you it’s pretty easy
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I never get that just turn comments on and only allow those who you follow to message you it’s pretty easy


I think some players are better at ignoring and avoiding it than others, but I think human nature is such that most people don't just turn off social media.

It is difficult to use social media and participate in posting and reading/responding to genuine comments and not also get exposed to the rubbish.
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
I think some players are better at ignoring and avoiding it than others, but I think human nature is such that most people don't just turn off social media.

It is difficult to use social media and participate in posting and reading/responding to genuine comments and not also get exposed to the rubbish.
It really doesn’t seem that hard to me. Just have a private account for people you care about and a public account you put photos on and plug products on
 

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
It really doesn’t seem that hard to me. Just have a private account for people you care about and a public account you put photos on and plug products on

Think it’s easier said then done, you only have to look at how arguments drag on in this forum to see how hard it is for people not to read or respond..
 

Jimmy_Crouch

Ken Catchpole (46)
This is a worrying development - very hard to build depth when players don't get an opportunity here and are offered more money overseas.

I really don't like the residency rule even when expanded to 5 years.

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/Young...-for-Japan-Top-league-Super-Rugby-News-210406


Riley and many other players have two options either play professionally outside Australia or don't play professionally. Sure, you'd love to have these guys all stick around play in SS/QPR but who says that will actually develop them better than having them in a professional program in Japan or USA? If they do turn out to be very good then lets pay them what they are worth to get them back. This was always why I loved leaguies going to Japan or France. If they are any good pay them but let the other league/team pay for the development.

Most of all I see majority of these guys as realists. Early to mid 20s not in a Super Rugby or 7s program (basically outside of the top 180 odd players in Australia) the likelihood that they will play for the Wallabies is minimal. That is not saying it can'
t or doesn't happen (before you start @ me #fardy)
 

Dan54

Tim Horan (67)
Riley and many other players have two options either play professionally outside Australia or don't play professionally. Sure, you'd love to have these guys all stick around play in SS/QPR but who says that will actually develop them better than having them in a professional program in Japan or USA? If they do turn out to be very good then lets pay them what they are worth to get them back. This was always why I loved leaguies going to Japan or France. If they are any good pay them but let the other league/team pay for the development.

Most of all I see majority of these guys as realists. Early to mid 20s not in a Super Rugby or 7s program (basically outside of the top 180 odd players in Australia) the likelihood that they will play for the Wallabies is minimal. That is not saying it can'
t or doesn't happen (before you start @ me #fardy)

I think Riley etc have already closed door to return to Aus by declaring for Japan.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I really don't like the residency rule even when expanded to 5 years.


I think 5 years is better than 3 but the whole thing is just a reflection of migration being a part of life where people relocate for opportunities and sport is no different.

It seems to me like most people have issues with the residency rule where migration is viewed as non-traditional or to more monoethnic countries.
 
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