The Wallabies have tabled a monster offer to Sydney Roosters star in a bid to lure him to rugby union.
Rugby Australia has put forth a sizable offer to a Sydney Roosters player in yet another widely criticized attempt to steal NRL talent.
To entice Sydney Roosters star Angus Crichton to play rugby union, the Wallabies have made him a tremendous offer.
Crichton, whose contract with the Roosters expires at the end of the upcoming season, has reportedly received a two-year, $1.6 million offer from Rugby Australia.
The agreement is for 2024 and 2025, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The 27-year-old would leave the Roosters right away and play for the Western Force in the Super Rugby league, returning to the 15-man format.
Crichton participated in rugby union as a junior and has long been rumored to be considering a return to the competing game.
The news comes as the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup campaign in France reached a historic low with crushing defeats to Fiji and Wales that eliminated them from the tournament before the knockout round for the first time.
Joseph Suaalii, a second Sydney Rooster, was signed by Rugby Australia earlier this year on a three-year, multimillion-dollar contract to play for the Waratahs starting at the end of 2024.
Following league legend Laurie Daley’s suggestion that the NRL purchase rugby union, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys enjoyed taking a shot at Rugby Australia this week.
According to V’landys, “the first rule in business is that you always buy an asset, not a liability.”.
So I suppose that notion would be immediately discarded.
Inform Laurie that you purchase assets rather than liabilities.
“.
On the Big Sports Breakfast earlier this week, Daley said, “Rugby league should buy rugby union.”.
I believe they can live in harmony.
Competitors can be fierce, and skills can be transferred.
Rugby union ought to belong to the NRL. I believe the AFL will pose a serious threat in 20 to 25 years.
“I just think you could use those skills if we were closer together because you wouldn’t be in competition.
They can be converted to either code.
You can prevent young, talented athletes from raiding the AFL.
“.
Many have criticized Rugby Australia’s decision to recruit players from the NRL in light of the Wallabies’ disastrous World Cup campaign and called for greater investment in rugby union’s grassroots.
Ben Alexander, a former Wallaby, said: “Signing more leases is like applying a band-aid to a broken leg. “.
According to News Corp’s Brent Read, inquiries to a number of clubs were turned down, so it would appear that Crichton has no takers in the NRL.
Regarding the Angus Crichton and ARU trade, Read noted on X that “this week, someone close to him inquired as to whether at least one NRL club would be interested in signing him.”.
“We politely declined them. It’s possible that they wanted to incite rivalry or that Angus wasn’t particularly interested in Perth. “.
On Monday morning AEST, the Wallabies take on Portugal in the World Cup’s penultimate match.
