Marky Mark might be lost.

[Inflictor]

It’s the ARU
they will do anything to get players accross
they offered suaali $1.5 and will have cash from their sugar hit with the lions so will be looking to spend RWC to gain any advantage they can
suaali also got a wallabies European tour without playing a game of rugby

I Agree it does seem odd but Marky may want to have another crack and I’m sure they won’t say no - to at least sign to the Waratahs for a year and try and make the wallabies - so they have everyone available and depth as they can

I’m sure if he told the roosters he wanted to be back in 2028 they would make Something happen to

Comparing the Marky situation to Joey's is way different. They were trying to get a young kid about to become a superstar which ever code he played and offered more money than anyone in the ARU (apparently) and with a 5 years carrot.
Marky has been there. Others have taken over his spot. He is not guaranteed a walk-in into the Wallabies especially how they are going and there is bucklies the ARU will say come for one year and then go back to league. They don't need him. If we offered Marky $1M for 2 or 3 years I am sure he would be happy to watch the World Cup from the comfort of his Bondi penthouse.

It is just my opinion but I think the media is playing this up more than what it is and Marky is just feeding off it and good for him.

But if he goes then I say it will be for good or will at least sign a 3 year deal. And I doubt we will see him again in RWB.

[Bates]

With respect to his errors. I wonder what that is over the past 5-6 games. I think that is a part of his game that’s improving. Is that BMoz’s role there?

I hope he stays.

4 errors against the Dolphins.

[Bates]

1. That's only a major problem if he still has 40 meters + to reach the try line. Those tries are a minority. In a real game, most of the opportunities he will get, he will be quick enough to convert. And his fend and footwork outweigh the need for extreme speed in many attacking scenarios.

2. Errors can be ironed out with training. Unless you are Shaun Kenny Dowall.

3. Yes. As good as he is, the spine and the top forwards in the pack need to come first. A bidding war with the ARU for a winger is not a path we should go down, as good as it would be to keep him.

I do hope we manage to keep him for a solid 4-5 years & get his defence and errors ironed out. He could evolve into an absolute beast of a center or second rower as time goes on.

Imo he's a power strike centre who's filling a void.

Speed also helps wingers in cover defence scenarios. Nothing worse than seeing a winger in open space get mowed down by a backrower.

I do like him however it's not the end of the world if he moves on though.

[HunchoRooster]

I haven’t even registered the thought of him beyond staying beyond 2026 once since he’s signed with us. I assumed he was always going back in 27 to play at a home World Cup. We need to get the most out of him for the next season or so.

[HDTONE]

Three negatives about Marky Mark.
.

I really like him cause he's brought a freshness to the game with some of his tries. But I'm gonna add 2 more

* Can get caught out in defence
* Often takes the 2nd hit up but it's a flat footed carry. He needs to roam a bit on the edges at times and has to be given the ball from a running start

[caz]

if union throws a lot of money at him he might be tempted but it seems to me he's much better suited to league where he can go in looking for the ball. how many times a game did he touch the ball in union? maybe half of what he does in league?

[Thirteen]

if union throws a lot of money at him he might be tempted but it seems to me he's much better suited to league where he can go in looking for the ball. how many times a game did he touch the ball in union? maybe half of what he does in league?

Sounds like a perfect game for a bloke called Latrell.

[Thirteen]

I really like him cause he's brought a freshness to the game with some of his tries. But I'm gonna add 2 more

* Can get caught out in defence
* Often takes the 2nd hit up but it's a flat footed carry. He needs to roam a bit on the edges at times and has to be given the ball from a running start

He is new to the game so his defensive reads will improve you would think. I think he’s a strong runner from our end.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

Yawioun please. Everyone knows league is the real footy.

[Bansai Pipeline]

Love him but he doesn't feel like a Roosters stalwart.

He's just passing through in the best way possible.

Two seasons and I'll wish him well.

[The Lip]

**** I hope he stays he’s a weapon in attack. Creates try’s out of nothing and quite often from a standing start.His defence as some have said definitely needs to improve he gets caught ball watching and as a result then in no man’s land but he's only 20 something games into his RL career - that will definitely improve with experience. If I thought he was hanging around I would say he’s been the most pleasing thing out of our 25 campaign but feeling like he will go back to RU in 27 makes it bittersweet.

Still plenty of player development highlights in 25 in no particular order

Hugo and his kicking game - it’s a game changer for us as is his support play - he’s always backing up in case there’s a break. People I know who have watched him play a lot in lesser grades are telling me to wait for him to show us his attacking/running game as well. I think he’s beginning to show us that now.

Billy Smith staying healthy and proving he is at the top end of NRL centres and defensively one of the best.

Foketi - strong fast and great feet with the motor to go all game. Will be a part of our pack for 10yrs I hope. He seems to relish the defensive task as well and really can hit hard.

Tioa - been a bit quiet since origin but clearly a future great talent.

Whyte - no more needs to be said he’s a beast.

Benaiah - will be better than Robson if he gets more game time - different player I know but wow he’s good.

Losalu - I wish he could get more games under his belt but I get it Whyte, Lindsay, Spence all in front of him makes it hard but he bends the line as well if not better than any of them.

Egan - showing us why Robbo has faith.

Sammy Walker in a handful of games this season reaching new heights. It’s so exciting to think about where his ceiling is.

Wong - with an interrupted campaign proving his toughness. He's a big out imo this week. Got the errors out of his game this year.

Spencer - finally delivering what we bought him for. I like him at 13 actually.

Obviously then we have those that have done it for years for us most notably Teddy then Vic, Watto, Toups and Gus recently but these guys aren’t really any surprise.

The future looks exciting

[Rooster90]

Love him but he doesn't feel like a Roosters stalwart.

He's just passing through in the best way possible.

Two seasons and I'll wish him well.

it would be nice if we got a Ryan Cross type stint with him.....every year there were rumblings he'd go back to Union and ended up staying for about 9 years

[Cutloose6]

I’d be surprised if the ARU offered him a 1 year deal just so he can have the experience of playing in a World Cup. A move like that could further destabilise a backline who have long committed themselves to rugby and who you would think already have their noses out of joint due to the massive discrepancies in player contract amounts.
Just my opinion but post 2027 World Cup all the tournament sugar hits are gone and Australian rugby will fall off the cliff edge it’s currently standing on so why would anyone commit long term. The only chance for the Wallabies is to base themselves in Europe where the game is thriving and players can earn big dollars in European club rugby.
Finally as per some of the above posts the Roosters are far bigger than one player so if he wants to go back to Union so be it…next man up.

[JAF]

I’d be surprised if the ARU offered him a 1 year deal just so he can have the experience of playing in a World Cup. A move like that could further destabilise a backline who have long committed themselves to rugby and who you would think already have their noses out of joint due to the massive discrepancies in player contract amounts.
Just my opinion but post 2027 World Cup all the tournament sugar hits are gone and Australian rugby will fall off the cliff edge it’s currently standing on so why would anyone commit long term. The only chance for the Wallabies is to base themselves in Europe where the game is thriving and players can earn big dollars in European club rugby.
Finally as per some of the above posts the Roosters are far bigger than one player so if he wants to go back to Union so be it…next man up.

Well said Cutloose6 - I agree with your post 100%

[Carlos Parra]

**** I hope he stays he’s a weapon in attack. Creates try’s out of nothing and quite often from a standing start.His defence as some have said definitely needs to improve he gets caught ball watching and as a result then in no man’s land but he's only 20 something games into his RL career - that will definitely improve with experience. If I thought he was hanging around I would say he’s been the most pleasing thing out of our 25 campaign but feeling like he will go back to RU in 27 makes it bittersweet.

Still plenty of player development highlights in 25 in no particular order

Hugo and his kicking game - it’s a game changer for us as is his support play - he’s always backing up in case there’s a break. People I know who have watched him play a lot in lesser grades are telling me to wait for him to show us his attacking/running game as well. I think he’s beginning to show us that now.

Billy Smith staying healthy and proving he is at the top end of NRL centres and defensively one of the best.

Foketi - strong fast and great feet with the motor to go all game. Will be a part of our pack for 10yrs I hope. He seems to relish the defensive task as well and really can hit hard.

Tioa - been a bit quiet since origin but clearly a future great talent.

Whyte - no more needs to be said he’s a beast.

Benaiah - will be better than Robson if he gets more game time - different player I know but wow he’s good.

Losalu - I wish he could get more games under his belt but I get it Whyte, Lindsay, Spence all in front of him makes it hard but he bends the line as well if not better than any of them.

Egan - showing us why Robbo has faith.

Sammy Walker in a handful of games this season reaching new heights. It’s so exciting to think about where his ceiling is.

Wong - with an interrupted campaign proving his toughness. He's a big out imo this week. Got the errors out of his game this year.

Spencer - finally delivering what we bought him for. I like him at 13 actually.

Obviously then we have those that have done it for years for us most notably Teddy then Vic, Watto, Toups and Gus recently but these guys aren’t really any surprise.

The future looks exciting

Some excellent observations there. Can't argue against any of them.