League Targets

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I could never see how the the other NRL sides weren't going to do their best to scuttle it.

Even in the US where state by state it's different the major sports pay tax rates on the location of your game that week. Whilst an athlete still keeps more being based in Florida, Texas, Tennessee etc they pay California and NY rates on fixtures played in those states. An attempt to somewhat equal it out.

 

[young gun]

Apparently the grand plan to stop Haas from defecting is to offer him tax free dollars to move to Papua New Guinea.....

Spain or Miami might offer more appeal.

You may scoff, but if he went to Papua New Guinea he'd get to live in a compound, with razor wire and everything. Rugby can't offer that sort of luxury and experience. I hear the French coastal clubs offer a great life style, but surely nothing to compare to Port Moresby

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Roosters superstar’s three-way contract decision as shock switch looms: Nov 1 LIVE

Roosters superstar’s three-way contract decision as shock switch looms: Nov 1 LIVE

www.foxsports.com.au

A Fox Sports article that actually makes sense. Must have come straight from the Manager then...

 

[Strewthcobber]

Roosters superstar’s three-way contract decision as shock switch looms: Nov 1 LIVE

Roosters superstar’s three-way contract decision as shock switch looms: Nov 1 LIVE

www.foxsports.com.au

A Fox Sports article that actually makes sense. Must have come straight from the Manager then...

I think I've read this exact article every year over the last 10 years

 

[Giulia]

NRL PNG club will fold or be rebranded and move to AUS-NZ the moment governments stop fronting the money. No fucking way it ever makes a profit.

 

[Wilson]

Hard to see him making the Wallabies in time for the '27 world cup, particularly coming over at his age. Feels like Japan is probably the best bet if is to make the jump, as he can get started on his transition earlier in the season and still make his case, while also earning the big bucks. I can't really see him making sense to start on a EOYT the way Sua'ali'i did, at least not so close to a world cup with a new coach having just come in.

He could theoretically still be going come 2031 though, so it's not outside the realm of possibility he makes a world cup if he decides to make the jump.

 

[Major Tom]

What position would he play?

 

[Wilson]

What position would he play?

In the centers, almost certainly 12.

 

[Adam84]

"Australian Super Rugby clubs have also reportedly reached out to Crichton’s management, having previously been linked with the Western Froce."

Western Froce is a cool name

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

NRL PNG club will fold or be rebranded and move to AUS-NZ the moment governments stop fronting the money. No fucking way it ever makes a profit.

That side will be playing out of the new stadium in Christchurch by 2032. They want a 2nd NZ side so it'll either be PNG relocated/re branded or the eventual 20th side which could be a couple of years later.

 

[KOB1987]

What position would he play?

In the centers, almost certainly 12.

Nup, back row for sure. Possibly a like for like replacement for Gleeson.

I think I've read this exact article every year over the last 10 years

Maybe but I do know that pro rugby is on is pre-retirement bucket list.

Given he is expanding his barber shop interests and his wife is a physio in Sydney, I reckon it’s Tahs or nothing if he’s going to make the switch. Brumbies could be manageable also.

 

[Wilson]

Nup, back row for sure. Possibly a like for like replacement for Gleeson.

Look, with the caveat that listed weights are never perfect, Crichton (102kg, 187cm) is around 10kg lighter than Gleeson (110kg, 188cm) and size-wise about the same as Reimer (102kg, 187cm). It's possible he could bulk up after the switch but there's no way that's happening in time for the '27 world cup if he comes over at the end of 26 and needs to be playing as much as possible. That's before you get to the increased difficulty in adjusting to forward play and the breakdown in particular. It'd be a different story if he was in the first half of his twenties, but I don't think you can expect a 30 year old to put on that much mass while maintaining his dynamism, all while learning the game in less than a year.

Some of these problems do apply to a transition to centre, but they're not as pronounced there.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Having seen the bloke a few times in person if he's 102kg I'd be shocked. I know a lot of the League players carry less excess than the Rugby guys but he's a big unit.

He could play 12 but the speed is on the way down. He's a bulkier version of Sean McMahon who is listed as smaller than Angus.

 

[Wilson]

Having seen the bloke a few times in person if he's 102kg I'd be shocked. I know a lot of the League players carry less excess than the Rugby guys but he's a big unit.

He could play 12 but the speed is on the way down. He's a bulkier version of Sean McMahon who is listed as smaller than Angus.

This is kind of the problem overall, he's passed his peak physically and doesn't have a lot of the nuance and game smarts (for union) built over a decade long career that other 30 year olds would have. I can't see RA taking that punt on a backrower given the relative quality and depth we have there, where as centre (particularly 12) has been pretty shallow for us and could theoretically benefit from a quick fix. I don't really think he'd be good enough in either position to warrant it at this stage though.

 

[Major Tom]

Let him go to Japan and pick him if he brains it in that comp.
Prefer we invest in the young centers we have coming through.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I'm a fan of his play and his recent footy of the last 2.5 years has been the best of his career but I don't see the value at the age as you say. He wouldn't come cheap and the return would be short in time. For Rugby as a long term thing I don't see the gain.

Having said that if you put him at 12 amongst the current Super Rugby lot he'd be a starting calibre guy. The Wallabies have shown little interest in a guy like Kerevi recently who has a track record. Would make little sense to go after Gus now.

I think it's most likely he goes overseas for the cash and body preservation or get a good deal in the NRL either with the Chooks or Perth who would love to sign a current Kangaroo in the foundation side.

 

[KOB1987]

Look, with the caveat that listed weights are never perfect, Crichton (102kg, 187cm) is around 10kg lighter than Gleeson (110kg, 188cm) and size-wise about the same as Reimer (102kg, 187cm). It's possible he could bulk up after the switch but there's no way that's happening in time for the '27 world cup if he comes over at the end of 26 and needs to be playing as much as possible. That's before you get to the increased difficulty in adjusting to forward play and the breakdown in particular. It'd be a different story if he was in the first half of his twenties, but I don't think you can expect a 30 year old to put on that much mass while maintaining his dynamism, all while learning the game in less than a year.

Some of these problems do apply to a transition to centre, but they're not as pronounced there.

I'm actually not suggesting he'll make the Wallabies, maybe he will but I think super rugby might be his calling at the end of his career

 

[Wilson]

I'm actually not suggesting he'll make the Wallabies, maybe he will but I think super rugby might be his calling at the end of his career

I don't think the money is there for him in Super unless the Wallabies are chipping in and I can't see that as being for anything but a 12 where Crichton is concerned. If RA were willing to spend that on a back rower beyond what they've already got there's a lot of better options out there (Hooper, Kemeny, Gleeson, holding onto Hemoto, etc.). Not as many 12s at that price though.

If he did manage to get the 500-600k in super that the article mentions without a wallabies top up, it'd still be significantly less than what he could get in Japan while also signalling the wallabies aren't that interested. Even then the only team I can see stumping that up on their own is the Force (Reds could but won't), and they need centres a lot more than they need backrowers. The tahs and Brumbies don't have the money to be spending big like that outside of top ups. But who knows, the capacity for stupidity in Australian Rugby is almost unparalleled so it could still happen.

 

[KOB1987]

I don't think the money is there for him in Super unless the Wallabies are chipping in and I can't see that as being for anything but a 12 where Crichton is concerned. If RA were willing to spend that on a back rower beyond what they've already got there's a lot of better options out there (Hooper, Kemeny, Gleeson, holding onto Hemoto, etc.). Not as many 12s at that price though.

If he did manage to get the 500-600k in super that the article mentions without a wallabies top up, it'd still be significantly less than what he could get in Japan while also signalling the wallabies aren't that interested. Even then the only team I can see stumping that up on their own is the Force (Reds could but won't), and they need centres a lot more than they need backrowers. The tahs and Brumbies don't have the money to be spending big like that outside of top ups. But who knows, the capacity for stupidity in Australian Rugby is almost unparalleled so it could still happen.

I wasn’t suggesting RA wouldn’t be chipping in, only that he might not make the Wallabies. Sure, if they are chipping in he will be in all the squads initially and maybe he will make the grade, be that in the centres or the back row. He is a tremendous athlete with an only slightly flawed CV, good luck to him if he comes across.