- Phil Waugh wants Rugby Australia to nurture its own talent
- Barring any future NRL stars jumping on big contracts
- Roosters star Joseph Suaalii signed a three-year deal worth $4.8 million
Rugby Australia chief executive officer Phil Waugh has ruled out spending any more money on NRL stars, saying the 15-a-side code cannot “continue to spend more than we can afford”.
The development comes after RA’s bold decision to sign Sydney Roosters star Joseph Suaalii on a three-year deal reportedly worth $4.8 million from 2025.
And on Tuesday it emerged the Tricolors are planning a bold move for Mark Nawaqanitawase, with reports suggesting club power brokers have met with the Wallabies winger to complete a shock deal.
Waugh, who was not RA boss when Suaalii, 20, was offered his multi-year contract, said rugby had to be “fiscally responsible” in the future.
“The game has historically spent more than we can afford,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Rugby Australia chief executive officer Phil Waugh has ruled out spending any more money on NRL stars, saying the 15-a-side code cannot ‘continue to spend more than we can afford’
Roosters star Joseph Suaalii signed a three-year deal worth a reported $4.8 million with Rugby Australia earlier this year
The Tricolors are said to be planning a bold move for Mark Nawaqanitawase, with reports suggesting club power brokers were meeting with the Wallabies winger to finalize a deal.
‘It’s not just about money. You don’t want to attract people just because of the money and then you don’t have the environment in order.
“We can’t ignore the fact that we have athletes, not just the rugby league targeting them, but also overseas clubs targeting them from a rugby perspective.
“We certainly have a job to do in terms of actually getting our game on to attract the best athletes possible.
“We have to make sure we create an environment that people want to be in… and we fill stadiums and create a real buzz around the game.
“We’re definitely not there now.”
Waugh said rugby needed to emphasize the “international component of our game” in attracting and retaining the best talent.
“But what we need to do is actually provide security to our players so that they trust the administration and the direction we are taking the game,” he said.
‘I don’t care if (young) people play competition, AFL and other sports. As long as they experience rugby, we have a very clear route for those 15, 16, 17 year olds to become Wallabies or Super Rugby players sooner than they have historically.”