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Wallabies 2023

qwerty51

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
LeCheese said:
If Tate isn't on some amount of Rugby AU top-up I'll eat my hat
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I think you will be eating.

Coaches would have a big impact on top-ups and Rennie never thought Tate was a surety in the 23 and Eddie hasn't picked him as his top 2 9s.

I can't imagine any player deemed 3rd in their position is on a top-up.
 
SouthernX

SouthernX

Jim Lenehan (48)
qwerty51 said:
I think you will be eating.

Coaches would have a big impact on top-ups and Rennie never thought Tate was a surety in the 23 and Eddie hasn't picked him as his top 2 9s.

I can't imagine any player deemed 3rd in their position is on a top-up.
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my logic about top ups is if the wallabies account is tweeting out the extension - then there’s a Rugby Australia contribution
 
Wilson

Wilson

Michael Lynagh (62)
qwerty51 said:
I think that's naive. They tweet every capped player's signing.
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The language used in articles is significantly different for top up vs none.

For Tate:
McDermott inks long-term extension with Reds, Australian Rugby
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For Blyth/Uru (capped):
Angus Blyth and Seru Uru have re-signed with the Queensland Reds, bolstering the Queensland forward pack through 2025
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I'd imagine it's a sliding scale over the course of the contract, but given the length of it it's incredibly naive to think he wouldn't be getting a top up.
 
PhilClinton

PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
This is definitely an area of confusion that RA could easily clear up with some wording on the re-signings.

The fans shouldn't be arguing about who they 'think' has a top up and who doesn't.

It's not like the top Wallaby top-up concept is a secret, all the players themselves know who is given top ups and who isn't.

Don't see why the Wallabies marketing department can't clarify that if a player has 'signed a contract with (state based franchise) and the Wallabies' it means they have a top up. But change the language to say something like 'Rugby Australia is thrilled that (player) has re-signed with (state based team)' and not mention anything about a Wallabies contract.

EDIT: Per Wilson's post above I think they're trying to use that wording, but it's not really clear because too many people have opinions about who should and shouldn't get a top up.
 
qwerty51

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
You could be right but Uru and Blyth aren't capped but anyway then I'm curious what the number of top-ups are. To include Wilson and McDermott would mean 30+
 
SouthernX

SouthernX

Jim Lenehan (48)
It would be nice if Rugby Australia had a super rugby “salary cap” in terms of top up.

it’s disgraceful how it always seems that the money flows to the warratah players… now I know there’s argument you pay your best players no matter where they are - but it could be a idea worth considering so that some Tahs players have to consider a place like the force or the rebels because NSW has overspent their RA top up money
 
qwerty51

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
SouthernX said:
It would be nice if Rugby Australia had a super rugby “salary cap” in terms of top up.

it’s disgraceful how it always seems that the money flows to the warratah players… now I know there’s argument you pay your best players no matter where they are - but it could be a idea worth considering so that some Tahs players have to consider a place like the force or the rebels because NSW has overspent their Rugby Australia top up money
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Get Reece Walsh keen on joining the Reds and they might.
 
Sword of Justice

Sword of Justice

Bill McLean (32)
Regardless of a top up I would sign until 2027 given the calendars if I was Tate. As a starting Super player that is already capped he's never more than 2 injuries away from the Wallabies realistically.

I'm not seeing anything to suggest that there is a top up and I do worry for him that he doesn't fit the Jones mold of a 9.
 
Wilson

Wilson

Michael Lynagh (62)
Sword of Justice said:
Regardless of a top up I would sign until 2027 given the calendars if I was Tate. As a starting Super player that is already capped he's never more than 2 injuries away from the Wallabies realistically.

I'm not seeing anything to suggest that there is a top up and I do worry for him that he doesn't fit the Jones mold of a 9.
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At this stage there will likely be no other current wallaby halfbacks available by 2027 with White and Gordon likely having moved on/retired. Lonergan is emerging but is still entirely unproven at test level. There's no reason for Tate to sign beyond 2025 if there isn't a top up component to his contract, he would only be limiting his earnings and giving up the opportunity to be in a prime negotiation position in 2 years time.
 
PhilClinton

PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
LeCheese said:
It's probably the case that many of the top-ups aren't huge money, and are sweeteners more than anything.
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Agreed, a top up could simply be an extra $50k a season, that's probably enough to keep someone happy if they're on decent coin at their club.
 
Sword of Justice

Sword of Justice

Bill McLean (32)
Wilson said:
There's no reason for Tate to sign beyond 2025 if there isn't a top up component to his contract, he would only be limiting his earnings and giving up the opportunity to be in a prime negotiation position in 2 years time.
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That is a good point, there is a sabbatical as part of his deal though that may have required the 4 year commitment.
 
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