How to stop exciting crop of Aussie school boys from leaving rugby

We need to start making rugby league think twice about which Australian Schoolboys it signs from rugby.

The only way to do that is to make it more expensive for NRL clubs to sign youngsters and hold onto its mid-tier talent. To make it hurt a bit more to cast the net.

And the best way to do that is to play to union’s strengths and league’s weaknesses during the contracting process.

Now before any aggrieved league fans start arguing about just who is enticing who from where, let’s be clear about two things.

Firstly, many kids play both codes at some stage of their schooling. To argue about that is a nonsense.

Not all League juniors are ‘nicked’ by big private schools either. Payne Haas, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Ezra Mam all played union outside of GPS competitions.

Secondly, very few elite schoolboy league players are lost to union. Quite the opposite.

While union appears to have won the immediate race to young Zach Fittler, it has lost the race to numerous others such as Pat Carrigan, Cameron Murray and Kalyn Ponga. The list continues until almost before time: Michael O’Connor, Wally Lewis and Chris Roche all toured Europe with the undefeated rugby schoolboys in 1977.

Of the Australian Rugby Schoolboys who just rolled New Zealand in New Zealand, Heinz Lemoto plays union at Scots and league for the Panthers. Rex Bassingthwaighte is at Shore but is also a Roosters junior. Heamasi Makasini has just been announced as a West Tigers signing.

So the question must be, how does union fight back?

Sun Tzu once said “the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.”

Hamish McLennan probably missed that chestnut but Nick Politis certainly didn’t.

The signing by rugby of Joseph Suaalii was an example of what not to do, not because it cost union too much or because Suaalii was not worth it. But because there was no underlying strategy at Rugby HQ to reduce the risk of the same situation occurring again. No ability to ward off retaliatory raids from the Roosters and Titans straight after either.

Union must go back to its strengths in this country and use them to win battles with league before declaring war. Relationships with the corporate world, partnerships with international clubs and domestic tertiary institutions are key.

Unless you become one of the top 10 of your position in league, your average annual salary is not likely to be life-altering especially over a short career with reduced scope to play overseas afterwards. The likes of St Helens or Perpignan can’t match the salaries available in Japanese or Top 14 Rugby.

Incredibly, the 16th to 20th most valuable contracts for NRL five-eighths in 2022 averaged just $125,000 per annum according to Michael Chammas of the Sydney Morning Herald. The Top 5 averaged $764,000.

The gap between the haves and have nots in the NRL is significant enough to cause any parent pause, especially with the attritional nature of the game. Significant enough to carefully target NRL reserve grades too.

The minimum wage in League was $120,000 per annum in 2023 but it’s interesting to note that tertiary or TAFE placements as well as traineeships can be in addition to the game’s salary cap rules.

When Heinz Lemoto and his parents knock on the door of rugby and ask what the game has to offer, we sure as hell need to present a coherent strategy that plays to union’s strengths.

Contracting must become an ‘Art of War’ where we get creative. Instead of taking on the billions oflLeague dollars head on, rugby must seek to chip away at the edges with subtlety at first. Why should a contract offer to young Lemoto not be framed like this:

“Dear Heinz and Mr and Mrs Lemoto

Rugby Australia is pleased to make the following offer in conjunction with the NSW Waratahs, the University of NSW, Panasonic Wild Knights and Fortescue Metals.

Upon signing, Rugby Australia will pay an immediate signing bonus of $100,000 in addition to a guaranteed annual salary of $75,000 over 4 years (total guarantee of $400,000).

Over the first 3 years of your contract, we are also pleased to offer, in conjunction with Fortescue Metals and the University of NSW, a full scholarship to obtain a tertiary degree (subject to academic achievement). This will include work placements with Fortescue as a way to begin securing your future after rugby.

The fourth year of your contract will be subsidised by Panasonic Wild Knights where a 3-month playing sabbatical is offered.

The only condition we seek to impose on your contract is that Rugby Australia will have first right of refusal, the ability to match or exceed any offer you receive upon the conclusion of your 4-year contract.

We look forward to meeting with you and your parents to discuss our offer further.”

How hard is that?

A four-year contract with a guaranteed monetary value comparable to league minimum wages, a tertiary scholarship, exposure to corporate Australia and an optional overseas rugby sabbatical that benefits both player and Rugby Australia.

This is a question for Phil Waugh. Are such proposals being made to our schoolboy talent? Has Twiggy even been asked if he’s interested in pivoting away from handouts and towards a coordinated policy that benefits youth and grows the game?

To my knowledge no such offers have been put forward to school boys or their families by rugby in recent times, if ever.

It might not be enough. The likes of Lemoto may still go to league but a coordinated and innovative policy playing to union’s strengths will stem the flow.

Importantly, it will make life a whole lot more expensive for NRL clubs and force them to re-consider casting nets too wide.

And that’s where union must start.