Rumour mill

[Bansai Pipeline]

SBWs profile in RU is no where was big as it is in RL
I am sure they would like him, but as an All Black bench player, I imagine he is not a huge priority

Does he strike you as someone who relishes the spotlight?

He hasn't exactly put his hand up for publicity this year.

I read somewhere today that the Chiefs have told a number of players to look elsewhere next season...

[Hawkeye]

Hey KB saw you roaming the streets in Randwick with your arm in a sling.

You been sparring with SBW?

wasn't his drinking arm was it ?

[milanja]

Does he strike you as someone who relishes the spotlight?

He hasn't exactly put his hand up for publicity this year.

I read somewhere today that the Chiefs have told a number of players to look elsewhere next season...

Shouldnt really matter if chiefs are letting players go, because its the NZRU that want to sign him to a 3 yr deal. Chiefs will have him on a certain amount, but NZRU will chunk it up considerably.

[Guest]

Not really, prop and lock are similar these days but I doubt Maubs, SBW, Cordner would be as successful at prop as they are at 2nd row.

SBW had his best game at #7

[Guest]

Does he strike you as someone who relishes the spotlight?

He hasn't exactly put his hand up for publicity this year.

I read somewhere today that the Chiefs have told a number of players to look elsewhere next season...

This is my thoughts

The guy has been virtually unsighted. If I didn't go to the Games and catch him having a pre game swim every now and again at Bronte or Coogee I wouldn't even know he was in Sydney

[Guest]

SBW had his best game at #7

Agree with that morls, his options are definatley better when at 1st reciever defences tend to panic more. A bit of SBW @ 1st reciever during games could be robbo's finals ace?

[Guest]

How times have changed. When I was growing up Rugby Union had no weight when it came to these decisions. Anyone that can't see that Rugby League is now under serious pressure is kidding themselves. Just look at who they brought in to run our game and look at what he is trying to do. Hybrid Game? That's how it will start. The only thing we should take from union are the scrums. Fulton may have been right all those years ago. Super League was as much about undermining the domination of league in Australia as anything. They were talking about hybrid games back then too. Union fans say that if League was not around Australia would have the best talent base of any nation. That is probably true but why weaken a great code to help a lesser one?

[Headless Chook]

How times have changed. When I was growing up Rugby Union had no weight when it came to these decisions. Anyone that can't see that Rugby League is now under serious pressure is kidding themselves. Just look at who they brought in to run our game and look at what he is trying to do. Hybrid Game? That's how it will start. The only thing we should take from union are the scrums. Fulton may have been right all those years ago. Super League was as much about undermining the domination of league in Australia as anything. They were talking about hybrid games back then too. Union fans say that if League was not around Australia would have the best talent base of any nation. That is probably true but why weaken a great code to help a lesser one?

League may be under pressure but its not from rugby union. It is the 4th ranked football code in our country and I can't see that changing anytime soon. The Bledisloe Cup last week had half priced ticket offers because they couldn't sell it to the punters. Thats unheard of and shows how far down the totem pole it has slid

[Guest]

SBW going back to Union has nothing to with the strength of Union in Australia.

[Hawkeye]

SBW going back to Union has nothing to with the strength of Union in Australia.

I wonder if it might have a bit to do with the physical toll one year back in the NRL has had on his body, in comparison to playing a few seasons of centre in rugby ?

[chook 56]

I wonder if it might have a bit to do with the physical toll one year back in the NRL has had on his body, in comparison to playing a few seasons of centre in rugby ?

I think you are very close to the money, Hawk.

[Salvatori Grubber]

Yeah - it's totally that. Can't say I'd blame him.

[roosterproud]

I wonder if it might have a bit to do with the physical toll one year back in the NRL has had on his body, in comparison to playing a few seasons of centre in rugby ?

and yet he can box against botha and then come back to training 2 days later....hmmmmmmmmm....thats the difference between a supreme athlete and a park player I guess

[Hawkeye]

and yet he can box against botha and then come back to training 2 days later....hmmmmmmmmm....thats the difference between a supreme athlete and a park player I guess

Even a supreme athlete gets to an age when the toll starts taking on the body. As a professional athlete, he'd want to ensure longevity of his money making asset ...his body, for as long as possible.
I'm sure one season of playing in the forwards in the NRL, is probably the equivalent of 3 or 4 seasons of playing inside centre rugby at half the pay. So for that reason alone (given that he loves both codes), it'd be hard to get him to choose league over union.

[Spirit of 66]

Even a supreme athlete gets to an age when the toll starts taking on the body. As a professional athlete, he'd want to ensure longevity of his money making asset ...his body, for as long as possible.
I'm sure one season of playing in the forwards in the NRL, is probably the equivalent of 3 or 4 seasons of playing inside centre rugby at half the pay. So for that reason alone (given that he loves both codes), it'd be hard to get him to choose league over union.

You might be right. League is a brutal game.

Pity there's not big money in lawn bowls. Sonny would cut a dashing figure on the green.