Rugby League’s Bad Boy, Booze Culture
- Wendall Sailor
The Australian Rugby Union over the past decade had flirted with the notion of approaching and acquiring Australian rugby league players, with a recipe of sprinkling a generous amount of money, adding water and creating an instant Wallaby, from an already-established rugby league superstar, producing the likes of Andrew Walker, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuquri, and Matt Rogers.
The only problem with this short list of players, they came, they played, they misbehaved and then left. They swapped the 13-man game for the 15-man game, tanking the ‘Gold and Green’, only to fall from grace and run back to rugby league in disgrace.
Drugs, indiscretions and a general lack of desire to continue this version of the code had ended their rugby careers, dragging along the clean name rugby union had earned and forged in Australian sports.
Yet, some rugby league players have established themselves as worthy rugby union players and to this day, play with pride and respect, such as Berrick Barnes and Brad Thorn.
The attitude at ARU headquarters had notably changed over the past year however, since the last incident with Lote Tuquri ended in his contract terminated, and when the next potential instant rugby star, Jonathan Thurston was given the cold shoulder.
There have been media speculation this week that Thurston who set rugby league alight last year, would make himself available to join rugby union, with the player’s agent going on a fishing expedition to see if the ARU would be able to match the player’s set price tag.
Tthe recent messages shown by the ARU, who would normally provide a ‘top-up’, financially, to it’s super 14 teams for signing marquee players, signify a change in attitude when it comes to converting rugby league players.
Thurston’s agent figured a $700,000 per season asking price from either the new Melbourne Rebels, or Queensland would sweeten the deal for him to play union, the ARU stepped in and circulated a directive warning all of it’s Super franchises from approaching the player.
This may not stop Thurston from following in Gasnier’s footsteps, another rugby league player who initially looked at playing rugby in Australia but instead went to play in France, but the ARU were not prepared to foot the asking price it once afforded, for rugby league players.
More so, this signifies a new stance that the ARU can generate it’s own players and not have to pay inflated prices for rugby league players who want to don the Wallaby jersey along with the greedy intentions of playing in the World Cup, getting as much money as possible and then going back to rugby league.
The ARU had finally learned that their historical approach to attracting players, through fattening their wallets, rather than venting out the players with a genuine passion and desire to play rugby union, is an expensive short-term gain, with harmful long-term ramifications for the game.
The greed of throwing money at a player, leads to apathy, arrogance and the development of a disruptive personality within the rugby fraternity, in Australia, leading to indiscretions and ultimately a breach of agreements with the ARU.
By Doron Katz
With thanks to SARugby.com
The Super 14 Starts Here!
If you haven’t picked your team yet for the Sports Illustrated Super 14 Fantasy League, get cracking NOW! Here are all the latest team-sheets…
Remember, a key part of scoring well in the Super 14 Fantasy League is making sure all your player picks are actually starting!
From the team news coming through, there are some significant omissions – remember, there’s no Richie McCaw for the Crusaders nor Rodney So’oialo for the Hurricanes (both taking a break for the first few weeks). Matt Giteau is officially out of the Brumbies team and his spot is taken by young Matt Toomua, who played for Western Province in the Currie Cup.
Other notables on the bench include: Ricky Januarie (Stormers), Derick Kuun (Bulls), and Brad Thorn (Crusaders).
Starting line-ups
Blues v Hurricanes, North Harbour - 8:35am
Blues: 15 Rudi Wulf, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Paul Williams.
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 Karl Lowe, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 David Smith.
Western Force v Brumbies, Perth – Fri 1:05PM
Western Force: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Sam Harris, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Mark Bartholomeusz, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Pek Cowan, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Tim Fairbrother, 18 Richard Stanford, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Chris O’Young, 21 Mitchell Inman, 22 Josh Tatupu.
Brumbies – revised: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Justin Harrison, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Salesi Maafu, 18 Ben Hand, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Alfi Mafi.
Cheetahs v Bulls, Bloemfontein – Fri 7:10PM
Cheetahs:15-Riaan Viljoen, 14-Lionel Mapoe, 13-Corné Uys, 12-Meyer Bosman, 11-Jongi Nokwe, 10-Naas Olivier, 9-Tewis de Bruyn, 8-Ashley Johnson, 7-Juan Smith (captain), 6-Heinrich Brüssow, 5-David de Villiers, 4-Nico Breedt, 3-WP Nel, 2-Adriaan Strauss, 1-Wian du Preez
Substitutes: 16-Ryno Barnes, 17-Coenie Oosthuizen, 18-Walti Vermeulen, 19-Frans Viljoen, 20-Sarel Pretorius, 21-Sias Ebersohn, 22-Danwel Demas
Bulls: 15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Gerhard van den Heever, 13-Jaco Pretorius, 12-Wynand Olivier, 11-Francois Hougaard, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Fourie du Preez, 8-Pierre Spies, 7-Pedrie Wannenburg, 6-Deon Stegmann, 5-Victor Matfield (captain), 4-Danie Rossouw, 3-Werner Kruger, 2-Gary Botha, 1-Gurthro Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16-Bandise Maku, 17-Bees Roux, 18-Flip vd Merwe, 19-Derick Kuun, 20-Heini Adams, 21-Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22-Stephan Dippenaar
Crusaders v Highlanders, Christchurch – 8:35AM
Crusaders 1. Ben Franks , 2. Ti’i Paulo , 3. Owen Franks , 4. Sam Whitelock , 5. Isaac Ross , 6. Kieran Read (c) , 7. George Whitelock , 8. Thomas Waldrom , 9. Andy Ellis , 10. Dan Carter , 11. Zac Guildford , 12. Tim Bateman , 13. Robbie Fruean , 14. Jared Payne , 15. Colin Slade
Reserves: 16. Quentin MacDonald , 17. Peter Borlase , 18. Brad Thorn , 19. Jonathan Poff , 20. Kahn Fotuali’i , 21. Adam Whitelock , 22. Sean Maitland
The team is: 1 Jamie Mackintosh,2 Jason Rutledge, 3 Clint Newland, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 5 Tom Donnelly, 6 Adam Thomson, 7 Alando Soakai, 8 Nasi Manu, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c), 10 Matt Berquist, 11 James Paterson, 12 Jayden Hayward, 13 Jason Shoemark, 14 Ben Smith,15 Israel Dagg.
Reserves: Jason Macdonald, Chris King, Hayden Triggs, John Hardie, Sean Romans, Michael Hobbs, Fetu’u Vainikolo.
Waratahs v Reds, Brisbane – Sat 10:40AM
Waratahs 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Tom Carter, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Cam Jowitt, 4 Will Caldwell, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Ben Mowen, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Rory Sidey.
Reds 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 James Horwill, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Adam Byrnes, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Sean Hardman, 1 Ben Daley.
Subs: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Ezra Taylor, 19 Andrew Shaw, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 Tim Walsh, 22 Will Chambers.
Lions v Stormers, Jhb – 5:00PM
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan De Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 Anton Van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Lionel Cronjé, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.
Lions: 15-Earl Rose, 14-Tonderai Chavhanga, 13-Deon van Rensburg, 12-Doppies la Grange, 11-Wandile Mjekevu, 10-Carlos Spencer, 9-JP Joubert, 8-Jonathan Mokuena, 7-Franco van der Merwe, 6-Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5-Willem Stoltz, 4-Jacques Lombard, 3-Ross Geldenhuys, 2-Hannes Franklin, 1-Heinke van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16-Charles Emslie, 17-JC van Rensburg, 18-Todd Clever, 19-Jacques Coetzee, 20-Derrick Minnie, 21-Burton Francis, 22-Michael Killian.
Sharks v Chiefs, Durban – 7:00PM
Sharks
The Sharks 15. Stefan Terblanche 14. Odwa Ndungane 13. Waylon Murray 12. Andries Strauss 11. JP Pietersen 10. Monty Dumond 9. Rory Kockott 8. Ryan Kankowski 7. Jean Deysel 6. Keegan Daniel 5. Johann Muller 4. Steven Sykes 3. John Smit ( C ) 2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Craig Burden 17. Jannie du Plessis 18. Gerhard Mostert 19. Willem Alberts 20. Jacques Botes 21. Ruan Pienaar
22. Adrian Jacobs
Chiefs TBC
Loading ...
