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Aussie Player Exodus

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) I understand, he’s been around for a while, been a wallaby, Rennie understands his abilities.
But Frost? The bloke is barely an adult and yet to have a breakout season. He has so much potential that surely will never be seen in Japan. Even if he stayed here for one more year then jetted off, his price would be so much higher.
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) I understand, he’s been around for a while, been a wallaby, Rennie understands his abilities.
But Frost? The bloke is barely an adult and yet to have a breakout season. He has so much potential that surely will never be seen in Japan. Even if he stayed here for one more year then jetted off, his price would be so much higher.
Especially with 5 year residency now to qualify to play for them

I feel like to a certain degree the money in Japanese rugby is their undoing

It’s a bit like the French 10 years back when there were no limits on overseas players. Now they have that in place and the clubs are investing back into their pathways they have emerged as a power

It feels like every time I have watched a top league game the 4 locks on the pitch are either Aussie, South Africans or Kiwis. It’s a key area of weakness in their national team and when all the pro sides keep buying overseas locks how are local locks ever going to develop?
 

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
It was in the news the players agreed to a third straight reduced EBA due to covid.

I agree with the next post but world rugby needs a transfer system
Salaries were reduced for the 2020 season but not the 2021 or 2022 version. Wallaby test match bonuses have been reduced though, they have risen a bit this year again.
 

Bandar

Bob Loudon (25)
It feels like every time I have watched a top league game the 4 locks on the pitch are either Aussie, South Africans or Kiwis. It’s a key area of weakness in their national team and when all the pro sides keep buying overseas locks how are local locks ever going to develop?
They don't need to if they get the likes of Frost staying for 5 years. It's one area the Japanese team have always struggled with so for them their better off developing players in other positions and buying in the 200cm men.
 

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) off to Northampton Saints in England

Nick Frost off to Panasonic in Japan

Tupou looking a chance to leave also

Fuuuck.

If Tupou goes thats three potentially world XV players unavailable in MK, Tupou and Kerevi. Don't see how we can keep this up.

Edit: why aren't the Kiwis getting fucked like we are?
 
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PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) I understand, he’s been around for a while, been a wallaby, Rennie understands his abilities.
But Frost? The bloke is barely an adult and yet to have a breakout season. He has so much potential that surely will never be seen in Japan. Even if he stayed here for one more year then jetted off, his price would be so much higher.

Agree on LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) - to be honest, he's seemed a bit miserable on the field the last few years. Obviously had the family tragedy a while back and has never really kicked into the next gear in terms of ability. He will do well and get paid in the NH.

Is Frost the victim of what this new alleged overseas Wallaby selection policy might look like? He's clearly got potential to play international rugby. The Japanese comp might want to get their hands on him before he spends too much time in Gold and qualifies for selection whilst in Japan.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Is Frost the victim of what this new alleged overseas Wallaby selection policy might look like? He's clearly got potential to play international rugby. The Japanese comp might want to get their hands on him before he spends too much time in Gold and qualifies for selection whilst in Japan.

Could also be a timing thing. Have a couple of lucrative seasons in Japan and then come back a year after the 2023 RWC and have a proper push at making the Wallabies.

The door is pretty much closed to him for the next couple of years.
 

PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
It feels like every time I have watched a top league game the 4 locks on the pitch are either Aussie, South Africans or Kiwis. It’s a key area of weakness in their national team and when all the pro sides keep buying overseas locks how are local locks ever going to develop?
Is there an element of genetics behind this though? The average height of a Japanese man looks to be 170 according to a few sources, whereas the Australian average is closer to 178.
 

PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
Fuuuck.

If Tupou goes thats three potentially world XV players unavailable in MK, Tupou and Kerevi. Don't see how we can keep this up.

Edit: why aren't the Kiwis getting fucked like we are?

The kiwis have had their fair share of grief via poaching I think.

From memory Carl Hayman was signed to a NH team during the peak of his powers and went on to become the highest paid player in world rugby for a few years.
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
Is there an element of genetics behind this though? The average height of a Japanese man looks to be 170 according to a few sources, whereas the Australian average is closer to 178.
But there are statistical outliers and in a nation with a far greater population while the frequency of tall people maybe less the overall amount of tall people should be roughly similar. I mean Ireland and NZ both with populations of 4 mil have no issue in this regard
 

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
Go have a kid with you
The kiwis have had their fair share of grief via poaching I think.

From memory Carl Hayman was signed to a NH team during the peak of his powers and went on to become the highest paid player in world rugby for a few years.
Yeah they just have greater depth. They’ve lost Fekitoa, Piuatau, McKenzie, Laumape, boat loads of wingers etc
 

footy1>31

Ted Thorn (20)
i'm on the side of letting the free market decide what our wallabies earn and letting rennie pick whoever he wants from wherever. let the players cash in. super rugby au cant compete but my dream for it is aussie teams being able to recruit all blacks stars and vice versa.
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
i'm on the side of letting the free market decide what our wallabies earn and letting rennie pick whoever he wants from wherever. let the players cash in. super rugby au cant compete but my dream for it is aussie teams being able to recruit all blacks stars and vice versa.
I don’t want all blacks at the Rebels haha. Would rather do it the hard way and try and grow off the back of community engagement then buy players in
 

Rebel man

Jim Lenehan (48)
unfortunately never going to happen imo, rugby league afl and soccer all so far ahead.
In what way? League is watched here in Melbourne but there isn’t a strong participation sport. With a growing Pacific Islander population in the south east the potential is there to grow, the ambitions of that growth should be in no way limited to just attracting islanders. But that said how many islanders kids play in the AFL or Aleague in Melbourne, there are 3 in the AFL from Melbourne clubs from memory and I doubt there is one in the A League
 

Marce

Greg Davis (50)
It feels like every time I have watched a top league game the 4 locks on the pitch are either Aussie, South Africans or Kiwis. It’s a key area of weakness in their national team and when all the pro sides keep buying overseas locks how are local locks ever going to develop?
It makes sense to me. There are not many Japanese of that height
 

Marce

Greg Davis (50)
In what way? League is watched here in Melbourne but there isn’t a strong participation sport. With a growing Pacific Islander population in the south east the potential is there to grow, the ambitions of that growth should be in no way limited to just attracting islanders. But that said how many islanders kids play in the AFL or Aleague in Melbourne, there are 3 in the AFL from Melbourne clubs from memory and I doubt there is one in the A League
The Pacific Islanders are mad for rugby. The real challenger for that community is NRL, is a quite similar sport. Probably is more similar to Rugby 7s than Rugby XV and 7s is the king in Fiji.

Most of Pacific Islanders would pick rugby over League but unfortunately, there are more opportunities in League. More clubs, more money, more adverts on TV. If you live in Western Sydney there are more League clubs to join it, I have not idea in Victoria. Probably Aussie Rules is not a sport violent enought to attract the attention of Pacific Islanders
 
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