Rebel rugby raid on stars as real as a PNG corruption scandal

THE first thing anyone says when you raise the proposed R360 rebel rugby union competition is: “That’ll be a flop. Who’s going to support that? Who will watch it?”

Which is completely beside the point. As it is for LIV Golf.

The point is, the damage is done to existing competitions and codes when the players sign and defect.

Once they’re gone, it matters little how many people are watching them earn their millions.

The threat of R360 taking stars is as real as corruption scandals derailing the new PNG franchise where one board member, Wapu Sonk, is already gone.

He was taken out by corruption allegations exposed by this masthead. Hours after the story was published on Friday, PNG Prime Minister James Marape ordered Sonk stand down immediately.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape (left) and Wapu Sonk.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen/Facebook

But we digress.

Earlier last week this masthead broke the story last week that Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was seriously contemplating taking up an offer with R360 worth $1m a season, a nice superannuation booster for the 32-year-old currently on $550,000.

His agent Bruce Sharrock confirmed the story was correct, but had one detail wrong - the million dollar figure we floated was ‘unders’.

R360 is believed to be offering deals up to $US2m a season, more than double Kalyn Ponga’s $1.4m a year at the Knights which makes him the highest-paid player in the NRL.

If they’re throwing well over a million at Tuivasa-Sheck in the twilight of his career, how much will be thrown at other known targets in Ponga and Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen?

And how much will be thrown at as yet unknown targets?

For R360 to pull off its grand plan of eight franchises bouncing around the world F1 and LIV Golf-style between June and September next year and beyond, it needs at least 200 players - or 25 per team.

The competition will primarily interest a northern hemisphere audience, and will target players currently in the Investec Champions Cup (formerly Heineken Cup), the premier European competition.

If you want to sell a new competition to European rugby fans you need players known to them. But they will want international players to boost interest and television rights in other parts of the world in this global-based sports economy.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.Credit: Getty

There’s even talk of a pacific-based team.

Finding proper answers about exactly where R360 is at is like trying to catch air, but a few things are known.

By September, organisers need three things to secure the proposed Saudi Investment Fund and other private equity funding.

It needs the eight franchises purchased and formalised as legal entities, a broadcast partner on board and the two hundred players signed. It is believed they have the commitment of 140 players.

While this is a huge problem for rugby, with the World Cup looming in 2027, it’s also a big problem for the NRL.

With the Perth Bears entering in 2027 and PNG scheduled for 2028, the NRL needs players. As many as it can get.

With 17 teams right now the playing ranks are already thin, and some positions are desperately short such as halves.

When it grows to 19 teams, a further 70-odd players are needed.

Even ten players signing with R360 would hurt.

The live example is LIV Golf. In Australia, many think it’s a success because the Adelaide event is so popular. But, it’s a rarity and is about the only one.

In the United States, it is an absolute disaster. Poor crowds are an issue, but the bigger issue is television viewing numbers.

On Fox Sports in the US, the average number tuning in is about 175,000. Some Sundays have drawn about 400,000. That’s compared to an average PGA Tour audience of about three million on CBS and NBC.

The LIV number is beyond disastrous and tanking worse than the careers of many who signed their careers-away to play. Luckily for them, they were paid up front as for many their form and relevance has disappeared without a trace. Cam Smith anyone?

Whether LIV is working or not doesn’t matter - what matters is they signed great players such as Phil Mickelson, our own Smith and Marc Leishman, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau etc and took them out of the PGA Tour and the Tour is now weaker for it.

Threats to the NRL have come and gone before, and it has survived. It always will.

But right now, times are delicate. Some teams, such as the Wests Tigers have been appalling for years and new teams are coming.

The game needs all hands on deck.

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