What is it with Union taking league players?

Question

is it there is not a enough player in devlopement type comps becuse you have the money but players like rogers have come bace to the nrl but i dont understand why theywould want to play it, even thought i like to watch the world cup i dont see what it is they are there for, who is the higest paid player and what dose he get paid

Answer 1

agreed but then again if they want to pay for the players from the nrl who is going to stop them...

sounds to me like a bit of a reverse of fortunes from the early 90s when it happened the other way around union lost players to leauge.... i.e ricky stuart

Answer 2

New South Wales is a Rugby League State, always will be ! In Sydney Rugby is largely restricted to the North Shore and Eastern Suburbs, as well as mostly private schools. Although its very much a cultural difference, Union has a much smaller junior base and far less developement. All the money from their powerfully rich GPS and Private Schools with their "old boys" can't make up for that. Dally Messenger was referred to as the Grandfather of Rugby League, he was Unions golden boy who defected to League to play for pay thus leading to the NSWRL.

These day star backs will go to Union for the corporate dollar and vast salaries, forwards wouldn't really make it. Either way they always come back, its the mentality as well as the upbringing that sets League players aside as the toughest footballers in the World, especially from Sydney.

Answer 3

more to the point.....how can a winger , who touches the ball on average 3 times a game , possibly be worth more than a forward , who bashes it up all day ????

where's the logic in that ?

I have heard it said at many a junior rugby game, that if you want your son to play for the wallabies ,  you should sign him up for a junior rugby league team. It costs far less for them to play league, and they receive much better support from the ARL.

Answer 4

You have a point. The ARU makes a lot of money and they do put some back into development, but not enough and sometimes not in the right areas. I think a lot of League players are attracted to Union initially for the money or the fact they are dissatisfied with their status or progression in League which is still very competitive. There was a time there though when Union went pro, when both codes were chasing each others players and it was quite nasty. Well Loti just re signed for 6 million for the five years. I don't know whether that makes him the highest paid but that's big dollars and frankly I have not seen him earn it of late !!