ARU to axe Force or Rebels this week

[Newtown]

ARU to axe Force or Rebels this week

By AAP
an hour ago

The ARU insists scrapping the Melbourne Rebels or Western Force is in Australian rugby's best interests because it's bleeding money and simply can't sustain five teams.

CEO Bill Pulver revealed on Monday the national governing body had spent $28 million in "unbudgeted funding" on Super Rugby since 2013 and had to stop the financial haemorrhaging.

Players from the Force and Rebels will learn within the next two to three days which of their teams will be axed by the ARU after the governing body has consulted with both to better understand their position and prospects.

But players and fans are no wiser as to which team will get the chop, with both Pulver and ARU chairman Cameron Clyne saying the Rebels had no edge over the Force because they were privately owned.

Read more at http://wwos.nine.com.au/2017/04/10/10/51/aru-to-axe-force-or-rebels-in-2-3-days#a1QWDv3c2QeFzibl.99

Some rugby players to be available for new signing?

 

[jirskyr]

WHO CARES?

No offence, I just like to stomp on Rugby and AFL any chance I get.

WHO CARES?

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Rona and Korobeite would be worth a sniff around. We need another winger to partner Nofo.

 

[phil1986]

Rona and Korobeite would be worth a sniff around. We need another winger to partner Nofo.

Would be happy with either or both of those.

 

[happy_tiger]

Great some more players that Cleary has to teach to tackle

 

[Newtown]

WHO CARES?

No offence, I just like to stomp on Rugby and AFL any chance I get.

WHO CARES?

You certainly are adamant that you don't care for Rugby but I certainly have to disagree on this one. Here is a list of just some former Rugby players who made a very successful transition to Rugby League;

Dally Messenger, Michael Cleary, Russell Fairfax, Wally Lewis, Cooper Cronk, Rex Mossop, Michael O'Connor, Ray Price, Kevin Ryan, Ricky Stuart, Sonny Bill Williams, Brad Thorn, Wendell Sailor, Ben Kennedy, Darryl Halligan.

Having quality Rugby players transition to Rugby League would increase the quality of Rugby League and stamp the standing of Rugby League against Rugby.

Also Jirsky you have now have no hope of stamping AFL out of NSW.

Yes, Happy, some if not all the players I have highlighted above could actually tackle.

 

[happy_tiger]

WHO CARES?

No offence, I just like to stomp on Rugby and AFL any chance I get.

WHO CARES?

You certainly are adamant that you don't care for Rugby but I certainly have to disagree on this one. Here is a list of just some former Rugby players who made a very successful transition to Rugby League;

Dally Messenger, Michael Cleary, Russell Fairfax, Wally Lewis, Cooper Cronk, Rex Mossop, Michael O'Connor, Ray Price, Kevin Ryan, Ricky Stuart, Sonny Bill Williams, Brad Thorn, Wendell Sailor, Ben Kennedy, Darryl Halligan.

Having quality Rugby players transition to Rugby League would increase the quality of Rugby League and stamp the standing of Rugby League against Rugby.

Also Jirsky you have now have no hope of stamping AFL out of NSW.

Yes, Happy, some if not all the players I have highlighted above could actually tackle.

I haven't seen one player on either list of the Rebels or Force who could wipe the behinds of the players on your list Newtown

Big difference

 

[851]

Rona and Korobeite would be worth a sniff around. We need another winger to partner Nofo.

Rona is at the Western Force, and Koro at the Rebels, so one will be available, and yes it would be a good pick up.

 

[Geo]

WHO CARES?

No offence, I just like to stomp on Rugby and AFL any chance I get.

WHO CARES?

:laughing: :laughing: I don't both games are garbage..

 

[Newtown]

Happy, other than Tedesco who is a chance to leave the Tigers, I certainly can't find a player from a Wests Tigers team of the past three or four years who could wipe the backside of those players either. However either Rona or Korobeite would certainly be an improvement on winger/centres such as Milone and Naquima who have played a fair amount in first grade for Wests Tigers over the past few years.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Great some more players that Cleary has to teach to tackle

Most wingers don't know how to tackle so it wouldnt be much difference.
Can't remember Rona being known as a huge defensive liability TBH.

 

[Red_Rugby]

If you could get hold of Reece Hodge he would be an absolute sensation.

He's a centre or winger who can kick goals from anywhere in the opposition's half.

I'm pretty sure he would end up at the Waratahs though.

 

[Chainlink]

Rona would be great replacement Kev on left wing if Kev leaves.

 

[Tigertigertiger]

Rona would be great replacement Kev on left wing if Kev leaves.

Mate of mine who knows Rona said Rona was on $180k while at the Dogs and left because the Force payed him 400k a season

He would be a good buy but not at that price because that's what he would be asking

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

WHO CARES?

No offence, I just like to stomp on Rugby and AFL any chance I get.

WHO CARES?

You certainly are adamant that you don't care for Rugby but I certainly have to disagree on this one. Here is a list of just some former Rugby players who made a very successful transition to Rugby League;

Dally Messenger, Michael Cleary, Russell Fairfax, Wally Lewis, Cooper Cronk, Rex Mossop, Michael O'Connor, Ray Price, Kevin Ryan, Ricky Stuart, Sonny Bill Williams, Brad Thorn, Wendell Sailor, Ben Kennedy, Darryl Halligan.

Having quality Rugby players transition to Rugby League would increase the quality of Rugby League and stamp the standing of Rugby League against Rugby.

Also Jirsky you have now have no hope of stamping AFL out of NSW.

Yes, Happy, some if not all the players I have highlighted above could actually tackle.

I echo Jirskyr's sentiments.

Anything that gets up that toff Peter Fitzsimmons given he has laid the boot into League for years.

 

[jirskyr]

WHO CARES?

No offence, I just like to stomp on Rugby and AFL any chance I get.

WHO CARES?

You certainly are adamant that you don't care for Rugby but I certainly have to disagree on this one. Here is a list of just some former Rugby players who made a very successful transition to Rugby League;

Dally Messenger, Michael Cleary, Russell Fairfax, Wally Lewis, Cooper Cronk, Rex Mossop, Michael O'Connor, Ray Price, Kevin Ryan, Ricky Stuart, Sonny Bill Williams, Brad Thorn, Wendell Sailor, Ben Kennedy, Darryl Halligan.

Having quality Rugby players transition to Rugby League would increase the quality of Rugby League and stamp the standing of Rugby League against Rugby.

Also Jirsky you have now have no hope of stamping AFL out of NSW.

Yes, Happy, some if not all the players I have highlighted above could actually tackle.

I echo Jirskyr's sentiments.

Anything that gets up that toff Peter Fitzsimmons given he has laid the boot into League for years.

Newtown is right in one respect, that some quality players have come from rugby to league. The thing he's not stated is that most of these top-flight conversions happened before Rugby became professional.

When you go to list the Rugby converts since the game went professional, it's a fairly small and usually sorry list.

It is my expectation that most free agents from an eliminated side would be absorbed by the existing franchises, especially the players of calibre, I doubt the best Rebel or Force players are going to pull up stumps and move to league.

Let them cut their teams, let the players in those teams spin in limbo for a while, let Rugby devour itself and get torn between the conflicts of national, Super and local rugby tournaments. Smart kids these days try their hands at rugby and league both, because there are more professional opportunities in League, better grass-roots opportunities and mid-tier development. I only want to see that divide between League and Union grow.

 

[jirskyr]

Dally Messenger, Michael Cleary, Russell Fairfax, Wally Lewis, Cooper Cronk, Rex Mossop, Michael O'Connor, Ray Price, Kevin Ryan, Ricky Stuart, Sonny Bill Williams, Brad Thorn, Wendell Sailor, Ben Kennedy, Darryl Halligan.

Wait one thing about these footballers, a number of them player League first. No big deal to bring back a kid to League, if any of those exist at the Rebels or Force right now? SBW started in League, so did Wendell. Cronk played schoolboy Rugby because he went to a rugby school, but he was selected for QLD and Australian Schoolboys League.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Only Rona and Chance Peni at the Force and Koro at Rebels I think jirskyr, pretty sure they are the only 3 "League-1st" players in both squads.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

If the Rebels get axed, it might be time for Koro to come home.

 

[jirskyr]

Only Rona and Chance Peni at the Force and Koro at Rebels I think jirskyr, pretty sure they are the only 3 "League-1st" players in both squads.

Oh I meant in response to Newtown, who listed a number of successful union "converts". Some of them were originally leaguies.