NRL or else?

It’s ironic that at the same time the Rugby Football League in the UK are putting their necks on the line to develop the sport, their Australian counterparts are apparently doing the opposite.
Kangaroos Head Coach Ricky Stuart has called for a two year ban from the NRL for all players that either defect to rugby union or to Super League.
Isn’t it about time that Australia got off their high horse? Yes they are the greatest rugby league playing nation. Yes they host the greatest rugby league competition in the world. But they must stop treating everybody else with disrespect.
I totally agree that those defecting to union should be hung, drawn and quartered, but the question has to be asked as to why these players are leaving, similar to those who move to Super League. Long gone are the days where the only Australians in the UK (and now France) are those who are past their peak. We’re now seeing world class players in their prime moving to the northern hemisphere to ply their trade. Matt King, Jamie Lyon, Trent Barrett to name but three.
Is it money? You often hear of clubs having to get rid of sometimes their best players, simply to fit a couple more players on the cap. As an outsider, this would suggest problems with the salary cap. But what or who is holding an increase back? Are the league too cautious, fearing that the poorer clubs will become less competitive? Are the clubs fearful of an increase in player demands?
Who knows. It might not even be money. No one can argue that the competitiveness of Super League has increased dramatically in recent years, and hopefully it will continue to do so. And maybe players are coming over for a new challenge, rather than the extra dollars in their pay packet.
Either way, to ban a player from the NRL simply because he plied his trade in the UK for a couple of years is an insult, not only to the player himself and Super League, but to the sport.
Similarly is the tradition of not selecting players for international honours if they don’t play in the NRL. The international game is about the best players from each nation competing to be the world’s best team, and that includes everyone, not just those competing in one competition.
Gareth Ellis’ forthcoming move to Wests Tigers could be the catalyst to big changes in Australia’s outlook. If Ellis impresses, maybe NRL clubs will have another look at taking English players over. Adrian Morley aside, there has been no English influence in the NRL for decades. But have those that have tried it been given a fair crack at the whip?
Some may argue that Richie Mathers could have made it with Gold Coast, had he not been struck with injury, whilst Chris Thorman never really got a consistent run with Parramatta.
Who’s to say that English players aren’t getting offers? They might be, but are more comfortable at home. Ellis is the one that has put his hand up and said he’ll have a go, and hopefully he’ll make the Australians a lot more trusting of English players, which may lead to a bit more English influence down under.
You must be logged in to leave a commentKangaroos Head Coach Ricky Stuart has called for a two year ban from the NRL for all players that either defect to rugby union or to Super League.
Isn’t it about time that Australia got off their high horse? Yes they are the greatest rugby league playing nation. Yes they host the greatest rugby league competition in the world. But they must stop treating everybody else with disrespect.
I totally agree that those defecting to union should be hung, drawn and quartered, but the question has to be asked as to why these players are leaving, similar to those who move to Super League. Long gone are the days where the only Australians in the UK (and now France) are those who are past their peak. We’re now seeing world class players in their prime moving to the northern hemisphere to ply their trade. Matt King, Jamie Lyon, Trent Barrett to name but three.
Is it money? You often hear of clubs having to get rid of sometimes their best players, simply to fit a couple more players on the cap. As an outsider, this would suggest problems with the salary cap. But what or who is holding an increase back? Are the league too cautious, fearing that the poorer clubs will become less competitive? Are the clubs fearful of an increase in player demands?
Who knows. It might not even be money. No one can argue that the competitiveness of Super League has increased dramatically in recent years, and hopefully it will continue to do so. And maybe players are coming over for a new challenge, rather than the extra dollars in their pay packet.
Either way, to ban a player from the NRL simply because he plied his trade in the UK for a couple of years is an insult, not only to the player himself and Super League, but to the sport.
Similarly is the tradition of not selecting players for international honours if they don’t play in the NRL. The international game is about the best players from each nation competing to be the world’s best team, and that includes everyone, not just those competing in one competition.
Gareth Ellis’ forthcoming move to Wests Tigers could be the catalyst to big changes in Australia’s outlook. If Ellis impresses, maybe NRL clubs will have another look at taking English players over. Adrian Morley aside, there has been no English influence in the NRL for decades. But have those that have tried it been given a fair crack at the whip?
Some may argue that Richie Mathers could have made it with Gold Coast, had he not been struck with injury, whilst Chris Thorman never really got a consistent run with Parramatta.
Who’s to say that English players aren’t getting offers? They might be, but are more comfortable at home. Ellis is the one that has put his hand up and said he’ll have a go, and hopefully he’ll make the Australians a lot more trusting of English players, which may lead to a bit more English influence down under.
Don't have an account yet? Click here to register. Only takes a few seconds.
Author
More Blogs
To Toulouse and back
Stadium five must crack on
Welsh rugby union stars a must for Celtic
Shrewd Cumbrian deal for Leeds
Salford stadium saga rumbles on
Others
Under the Posts by Mark Fullilove
The Final Hooter by Alison Whitfield
Guest blogs
Championship View by Stewart McCullough
Common Sense by M Cheshire
Eye on Rugby League by Tony Williams
Rugby League Outlook by Kevin Finney
Verney's Voice by Joseph Verney
Keep the Game Great by Thomas Coates
40/20 blog by Matt Ireland
Interact
Stats
vs |
||
| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 6 Sat 13 Mar 17:30 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 6 Sat 13 Mar 18:30 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 6 Sun 14 Mar 14:00 | ||
28 - 24 |
||
| New Craven Park Sun 7th March | ||
46 - 12 |
||
| Halliwell Jones Stadium Sun 7th March | ||
0 - 52 |
||
| Belle Vue Sat 6th March | ||
42 - 22 |
||
| The KC Stadium Fri 5th March | ||
12 - 24 |
||
| The Willows Fri 5th March | ||
62 - 4 |
||
| Headingley Carnegie Fri 5th March | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wigan | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | Warrington | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Hull FC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | Huddersfield | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Leeds | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | St Helens | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 7 | Bradford | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Hull K R | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 9 | Wakefield | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 10 | Crusaders | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 11 | Castleford | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 12 | Catalans | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 13 | Harlequins | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 14 | Salford | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Thu 11 Mar 19:30 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Sat 13 Mar 18:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 3 Thu 18 Mar 19:30 | ||
20 - 20 |
||
| LSV Thu 25th February | ||
32 - 26 |
||
| The Shay Sun 28th February | ||
36 - 10 |
||
| Chris Moyles Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
72 - 10 |
||
| Stobart Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
26 - 22 |
||
| Sun 28th February | ||
24 - 34 |
||
| Mount Pleasant Thu 11th March | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halifax | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | Widnes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Featherstone | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Toulouse | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Barrow | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Leigh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Dewsbury | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Sheffield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Batley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | Whitehaven | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Keighley * | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -9 |
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 12 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 3 Sat 20 Mar 15:00 | ||
40 - 12 |
||
| South Leeds Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
20 - 38 |
||
| Sedgley Park Sun 28th February | ||
56 - 24 |
||
| Spotland Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
36 - 8 |
||
| Huntington Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
22 - 20 |
||
| Sun 28th February | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 4 Wed 10 Mar 18:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 4 Wed 10 Mar | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 4 Wed 17 Mar 19:30 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 4 Sun 21 Mar | ||
34 - 12 |
||
| Huntington Stadium Wed 10th March | ||
62 - 18 |
||
| Craven Park Wed 10th March | ||
0 - 68 |
||
| South Leeds Stadium Thu 4th March | ||
22 - 44 |
||
| Tetley's Stadium Wed 3rd March | ||
56 - 10 |
||
| Chris Moyles Stadium Tue 23rd February | ||
22 - 24 |
||
| Boundary Park Mon 22nd February | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Fri, 12 Mar 19:35 Suncorp Stadium | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Fri, 12 Mar 19:35 Parramatta Stadium | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 17:30 ANZ Stadium | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 19:30 CUA Stadium, Penrith | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 19:30 Toyota Stadium | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Sun, 14 Mar 13:00 Skilled Park | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Wests | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Roosters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Rabbitohs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Storm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Sea Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Eels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Warriors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Titans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
vs |
||
| Round 1 Mar 12 5:20pm Suncorp Stadium | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Mar 12 5:20pm Parramatta Stadium | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Mar 13 3:15pm ANZ Stadium | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Mar 13 5:15pm CUA Stadium, Penrith | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Mar 13 5:15pm Toyota Stadium | ||
vs |
||
| Round 1 Mar 14 10:45am Skilled Park | ||





