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Message: [QUOTE="Coxy, post: 2121327, member: 1764"] Yeah, it seems to be something everyone in the media overlooks. Rugby League players now have such a choice of employment! Play in the NRL in Australia, play in the ESL in the UK, play in Rugby in Australia, NZ, UK or Europe. The only difference between League and Soccer is that Australia's soccer talent has disappeared overseas for eternity, because the game here has been so shit, therefore no whinging. This is a new phenomenon for League, but it's one we're just going to have to get used to. The benefit Australia does have is that the NRL competition and State of Origin are the highest quality forms of Rugby League competition in the world. So people who want to play rugby league will want to play in Australia to prove themselves. Once they've "Been there done that", then they either chase bigger money for less drama in the ESL, or they chase a new challenge, or big money and nice lifestyle and less pressure in Rugby. The same can apply to rugby union players, it's just money isn't a temptation for them to defect to league anymore, except young players just out of school who have bugger all opportunity unless they crack a Super 14 contract. Come to league, get some money and some exposure in the media and then when you look the goods, go back to rugby and get a Super 14 contract and chase your Wallaby/All Black dream. AFL? Well, they don't have a lot of choice do they? Their sport doesn't translate skills wise to the other major codes, and Aussie Rules is only played professionally in Australia...so where are they going to go? There's been, what, 1 example where they've gone to NFL as a kicker, but other than that... So yes, the hysteria is over the top. The NRL CAN do things to make the game more appealing to NRL players, to make them want to stay, but given our international game is unlikely to ever rival rugby, we have focus on the strengths our game does have - and that is Origin, our NRL premiership, living in Australia...and combine that with some better money. It's the better money issue that is tricky, and yes it may involve some fairly drastic restructuring of our sport, but it shouldn't be drastic restructuring done in kneejerk style. [/QUOTE]

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