Nothing new here. In the main Sydney clubs always have struggled for $ and always will until the League stop protecting them and let the weak die a natural death.


Not really. SBW is a perfect example of how a favourable media relationship contributes greatly to your 'stardom'


Of course they are all stars. Surely you don't expect all to have the profile of a Lockyer?? As for corporate pulling power, I'd much rather have a bloke like Petro or Price associated with my brand than a SBW.
Cameron Smith is arguably the world's best in his position, a Premiership winning captain, Origin winning captain and incumbent National captain. But in your eyes not a Star?? I'm fascinated to hear about your criteria for determining our game's role models / stars??

I loved this angle as well
[urlhttp://livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/07/28/Surely_rugby_league_is_better_than_Sonny_Bill[/url

I have to agree Price and Smith are stars, don't know how he could consider Cameron Smith anything other but some of the others aren't. Nooo way near.

cornerposter - I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume you're being naive.

When I'm talking about 'stars' I'm talking about the players everyone has heard of - ESPECIALLY not hard core fans of the sport. None of the names you gave would be well known to anyone outside of league. Gasnier, SBW, Mason, Marshall are names that are well known.

If you don't know the difference, imagine trying to sell these players to sponsors, who would make decisions based on the value of the player to their brand, not whether they're actually any good on the field.

Still, you and the NRL can continue to stick your head in the sand about this, but some of the stuff we're seeing from club bosses smacks more of waving the white flag than doing anything positive.

In that case you're not talking about stars of the game at all. You're simply referring to the media whores with reputations built on notoriety.
C'mon are you serious? What company would want to tie it's brand with players who screw scrags in toilets, get shot at while out on the grog, pee on others, harass / assault women, associate themselves with criminals etc etc etc.

Good ridance SBW, Gasnier, Gower, Tim Smith, Carney and hopefully Willie Mason. It's no wonder the game struggles to grow the Corporate $. What company in their right mind would want to associate their Corporate Culture with players such as the 6 mentioned above?
The true stars of RL are simply the type of players that would win a good old fashion 'Best and Fairest Award'. And I haven't seen too many of them leave our game.

nice to see toulon saying he's not getting more than his doggies contract

"It is disappointing," he said. "We'd have thought that they would have an obligation to conduct some inquiry, given they are the governing body of rugby union worldwide. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

"It is disappointing," he said. "We'd have thought that they would have an obligation to conduct some inquiry, given they are the governing body of rugby union worldwide. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

Quote fredie="fredie""It is disappointing," he said. "We'd have thought that they would have an obligation to conduct some inquiry, given they are the governing body of rugby union worldwide. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html '" Who does Gallop think he is kidding? The people he'll want to talk to are the French governing body, who will register SBW to play in their league. Failing that try talking to the French club themselves, to talk them out of it, if Canterbury are still threatening legal action. Having said that, who am I kidding if I think he'll be smart enough to do that.

Quote fredie="fredie""It is disappointing," he said. "We'd have thought that they would have an obligation to conduct some inquiry, given they are the governing body of rugby union worldwide. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html '" Who does Gallop think he is kidding? The people he'll want to talk to are the French governing body, who will register SBW to play in their league. Failing that try talking to the French club themselves, to talk them out of it, if Canterbury are still threatening legal action. Having said that, who am I kidding if I think he'll be smart enough to do that.

A private investigator working for the NRL and the Canterbury Bulldogs will stakeout Sydney airport in a bid to intercept the manager of runaway rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams, and serve him with a subpoena rugbyleaguelive.com.au/Articles/ ... asser.aspx

A private investigator working for the NRL and the Canterbury Bulldogs will stakeout Sydney airport in a bid to intercept the manager of runaway rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams, and serve him with a subpoena rugbyleaguelive.com.au/Articles/ ... asser.aspx

haha Gallop. What a fool. Wasnt he the guy getting the aussie stars to break their contracts during the ARL/Super league war?

I have a feeling Hunt will be the next big name to go to union

there are about 10 state of origin players looking too go too union

You gotta stop listening to Gould propaganda and form your own opinions

Les Bleus legend Blanco bemused by SBW's defection www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/le ... 42088.html

Les Bleus legend Blanco bemused by SBW's defection www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/le ... 42088.html