If we want to throw rugby at a union 'star'

[Guest]

EDIT: Title should be throw money at a union star. My bad.

Forget Quade and SBW. O'Connor too.

Kurtley Beale is a ready made, eager to play league rugby league fullback. Passionate about his footy too, reports of a MASSIVE improvement to his attitude ever since he lost his baby fat and stepped up for the Waratahs.

Has better footwork than anyone in our current side, a top flight kicking game, bullet passes, and can defend. He's also incredibly strong, and very quick.

As a 5/8 or fullback, he would be an infinitely better option than Khoder Nasser's halfwits.

[Kingbilly]

I worry about his defense more than the others.
I also worry about his life off the field, doesn't mind several ales.

[ism22]

Aside from the fact I wouldn't waste money on union players, and the fact Beale just got a billion dollar contract to play for the rebels:
- Beale would be a decent FB option (and FB is one of those positions that is pretty similar in both codes.)
- Some of the fringe forwards might go alright? Sekope Kepu is a tank... union forwards are bigger than league forwards - they also tend to be able to do big dominating tackles (as well as things like driving/rolling mauls whereas league is all about mauls.)
- Genia? Little guys with solid ball skills seem to go alright in League (Carney, Friend, Pearce, Soward...etc)
- Saia/Anthony Fainga'a could go alright... they also played a lot of League as kids (at least 1 of their many brothers has a contract with the Raiders at one level or another.) The union connection came because they are from QBN and got offered scholarships to play for all the big private schools in Canberra. They have really good parents (who I know on a personal basis.) But - they're basically league players who got bought out by union (private schools) before they were even near professional.
- A few years ago I would have said Cross, but he has had it.
- Rodzilla is MASSIVE if we want to go for size.

Not many more... the positions/games are too different these days. Buying stars you're just wasting money... SBW is rubbish anyway and Quade is worth too much (League can't afford him without making dumb compromises.)

[Guest]

I worry about his defense more than the others.
I also worry about his life off the field, doesn't mind several ales.

More than Cooper's? Beale's tackling isn't as good as Barnes' or Giteau's, but it is very solid.

Off the field, back after his days at Joeys, he used to get on the piss regularly. It's why he carried kilos of baby fat for his first few years in top flight competition, and struggled. But his attitude has improved massively - he is leaner and quicker than he has ever been, and cares about his football.

The guy is a freak like Cooper, but unlike Quade he has a complete game - he'd be my first choice.

[Billy Gunn]

Cooper would be better

[Spanner in the works]

As long as his off field crap is in the past then yes please! He is one of the only Union backs in my mind who looks like he is playing the wrong game. He is one of the few players that moves like a league player does. His attacking awareness is second to none and he has a phenomenal kicking game. If he was available at the right price then I say why not?

[Guest]

Cooper would be better

Maybe, but this is debateable.

Cooper is very inconsistent, and looks suspect under pressure. Brilliant at times, but when his options start missing the mark, it isn't pretty.

Kurtley has Cooper's brilliance mixed with a conservative safety, which makes him unpredictable yet smart. As Spanner says, he looks like he'd excel in league, whereas Cooper's defence and work under the high ball would be a worry.

[elo]

Digby Ioane and O'Conner will do for me.

[crikey chris]

Unless the salary cap doubles lol, league cannot afford what yawnion pays the likes of Cooper/SBW etc.

Beale probably better suited to league than Cooper, but a current wallaby paypacket would be extreme.
O'Connor would be the cheapest option. Would kill it at fullback.