Aussie Pro Rugby

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

More media noise about Cleary possibly moving to rugby with a column in The Australian from league journalist and his biographer, Andrew Webster. I wasn't ware that it was time for contract negotiations, nor do I understand why Tim Horan and Meltdown Turinui are banging on about it. First he's not going to move. Second he's bang average. Third he's made of glass.

Definitely just a contract boosting tactic, didn't Cleary do the same thing last time his contract was up?

Nathan Cleary is contracted until the end of 2027 for $1.3m a season. Absolutely none of this is coming from him or his camp. This is australian rugby trying to get some form of cut-through in the media. It's a retarded story from any angle you want to look at it.

@mariner4life said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Nathan Cleary is contracted until the end of 2027 for $1.3m a season. Absolutely none of this is coming from him or his camp. This is australian rugby trying to get some form of cut-through in the media. It's a retarded story from any angle you want to look at it.

Thanks, I didn't realise that he was already contracted for that long. Definitely not going to happen then, just another case of Aussie Rugby having egg on their face while trying to remain relevant with bogus headlines.

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

More media noise about Cleary possibly moving to rugby with a column in The Australian from league journalist and his biographer, Andrew Webster. I wasn't ware that it was time for contract negotiations, nor do I understand why Tim Horan and Meltdown Turinui are banging on about it. First he's not going to move. Second he's bang average. Third he's made of glass.

Cleary is "bang average"???

That's an odd take

Cleary is really fucking good but nowhere near as good as the media like to make out.

For instance, i firmly believe Mitch Moses to be a better player. But Mitch plays for the Eels, while Nathan got to come up with a generational Penrith side.

The only thing that would have me thinking about changing my mind was the 15 minutes of football Cleary produced to win a lost GF all by himself. That was fucking special and will be talked about for a long time.

@mariner4life said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Cleary is really fucking good but nowhere near as good as the media like to make out.

For instance, i firmly believe Mitch Moses to be a better player. But Mitch plays for the Eels, while Nathan got to come up with a generational Penrith side.

The only thing that would have me thinking about changing my mind was the 15 minutes of football Cleary produced to win a lost GF all by himself. That was fucking special and will be talked about for a long time.

I don't watch nearly as much league as you guys - but I'll never forget that. Those 15mins were as special as anything I've seen on a rugby field in either code.

Kicking goals this year (Origin aside) at 93% ain't to be sneezed at either

Cleary does nearly everything to an incredibly high standard. An incredibly accurate kicking game, whether short or long, high or low, it almost always lands exactly where it needs to. It's a huge reason for Penrith's 4-peat. He passes accurately off both hands, and his running must be better than it looks for how often that right foot step of his pokes his nose through a hole. He's also a robust defender (he's a pretty big halfback). But he's not alone in having all of that among the elite NRL halves.

He has, until this year, also had a dream job. Penrith over their dominant period average a points-against of like 13. Imagine being an NRL half and knowing you only need to turn up an lay on 3 tries to win? And you are going to be getting an armchair ride behind the most aggressive and accurate pack in the comp? Through in Yeo playing first receiver to a ridiculously high level and Nathan has had advantages most halves can only dream of.

@voodoo said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

More media noise about Cleary possibly moving to rugby with a column in The Australian from league journalist and his biographer, Andrew Webster. I wasn't ware that it was time for contract negotiations, nor do I understand why Tim Horan and Meltdown Turinui are banging on about it. First he's not going to move. Second he's bang average. Third he's made of glass.

Cleary is "bang average"???

That's an odd take

I think in comparison to his peers it's a reasonable take. A generational squad, injured half the time so Penrith had to make finals with him in rehab.

To look at it another way; could the Panthers have achieved GF success by swapping him out for another player? I say yes.

I was going to weigh in on the Cleary debate but then I remembered that I never believed Metcalf would amount to anything other than a good runner at five eighth.

I don't think the speculation is that outrageous

There's a home Rugby World Cup in 2027

What else does he have left to achieve in League?

People get out of contracts all the time

@KiwiMurph said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

I don't think the speculation is that outrageous

There's a home Rugby World Cup in 2027

What else does he have left to achieve in League?

People get out of contracts all the time

Not long to get his head around that level of change - needs a lot of time at pro level if he's going to be a playmaker.

Did Cleary even play at school? Suali'i did which would have helped, but IMHO he still looks a little hesitant to position around rucks etc

Interesting I didn't realise the World Cup was in Manchester? Could he potentially go maybe for the World Cup with an eye on relocation second? Maybe just very unlikely

@NTA said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@KiwiMurph said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

I don't think the speculation is that outrageous

There's a home Rugby World Cup in 2027

What else does he have left to achieve in League?

People get out of contracts all the time

Not long to get his head around that level of change - needs a lot of time at pro level if he's going to be a playmaker.

Did Cleary even play at school? Suali'i did which would have helped, but IMHO he still looks a little hesitant to position around rucks etc

Yes he would need to make the switch very soon. I guess the flip side is he'd probably back himself to make the squad - 10 isn't exactly a position of strength.

That's a move that can only help his career.

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

That's a move that can only help his career.

It worked for Lolesio and then he fell off.

@NTA said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

That's a move that can only help his career.

It worked for Lolesio and then he fell off.

A system that gave more front ball and structure for Lolesio will make Edmed first choice #10 for the Wallabies at the RWC.

RA seems to be trying to provide more opportunities for players above club level.

Disappointing they didn;t go one step further and have a Vic or SA state team...but i guess you know....money

state players v full time professionals? Yeah nah

Bloody good start for what they need in Aus.

@mariner4life said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

state players v full time professionals? Yeah nah

i expect the best pros will be trying to get gigs elsewhere, not knocking around a new short domestic comp, mostly i would guess it will be development and squad players

and we need to give players in these other states some sort of pathway

@Dan54 said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Bloody good start for what they need in Aus.

Feels suspiciously like we've gone back in time to 2014

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@Dan54 said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Bloody good start for what they need in Aus.

Feels suspiciously like we've gone back in time to 2014

Sydney clubs scuttled every other attempt at a competition without their specific representation.

This is what we have left...

The first Wallaby squad for the Fiji test.

No real surprises there. Salakia-Loto might be the most notable omission, he was good last year.

No Canham surprises me

Harry Potter heading to the Tahs.

A luxury signing considering their big needs in the tight 5 and at 10.

Wow, so quick

Excellent work by the Wallabies here

Have released a cheap range of merchandise through Best & Less

$40 for a long sleeve supporter's jersey. Beanies, scarf, t shirts etc

@antipodean Pasitoa doesn't have a contract - is going to play NPC - I believe for Northland

Tom Donnelly to become the Wallabies' new lineout coach. Heck of a bounce back from big Sas. Unwanted by Otago and the Landers, to having an international gig.

Ioane Moananu signed by the Tahs.

@NTA

Tahs could not get his position correct in the image

@Duluth said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@NTA

Tahs could not get his position right in the image

Keep in mind that a lot of the Tahs operations have been centralised under RA, as a first point.

I'll tell you - for free - that the corporates who run our game nationally have Fuck All Idea about rugby

A few have chipped in the hooker thing in the comments.