Untapped Potential

[sam4731]

I've always thought that there is huge opportunity in undrafted college American Football players. They are some of the best athletes on the planets and the game shares a lot of qualities with RL. Mike Dimitro proved in the 50s that with very little input, they could be half decent players.

Thoughts?

[Exiled red]

Why would college athletes move from America for a chance at earning a pittance in Super league

[Whippet13]

No, we already have lots of "half decent" players. As has been discussed on here many times, the return is just not worth the huge investment and risk. If it was, the NRL would be doing it already.

Edited November 30, 2024 by Whippet13

[JohnM]

Discussion point. Hw would you sell the benefits of playing rugby league to them? 

- in the UK

- in France

- In Australia/New Zealand.

[HawkMan]

17 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Discussion point. Hw would you sell the benefits of playing rugby league to them? 

- in the UK

- in France

- In Australia/New Zealand.

- Mushy Peas

- Moulin Rouge

- Bondi Beach

[sam4731]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I mean there could be a strong American game if we could convince some of these players to switch over to RL.

[sam4731]

2 hours ago, Whippet13 said:

No, we already have lots of "half decent" players. As has been discussed on here many times, the return is just not worth the huge investment and risk. If it was, the NRL would be doing it already.

1. My point is that without much input, you could get half decent players, so with the input you could get some real talent.

2. That is just unmeasurable. How many times have we said that we wish the sport would be more ambitious, only to just dismiss innovative ideas as being too risky?

 

[warriors 95]

4 hours ago, sam4731 said:

I've always thought that there is huge opportunity in undrafted college American Football players. They are some of the best athletes on the planets and the game shares a lot of qualities with RL. Mike Dimitro proved in the 50s that with very little input, they could be half decent players.

Thoughts?

Incredible athletes with speed, strength and agility but zero experience in the basics and nuances of RL structures and gameplay etc and at ages of 22, 23 and 24.

[Big Picture]

5 hours ago, sam4731 said:

I've always thought that there is huge opportunity in undrafted college American Football players. They are some of the best athletes on the planets and the game shares a lot of qualities with RL. Mike Dimitro proved in the 50s that with very little input, they could be half decent players.

Thoughts?

Defensive players are worth scouting, but not the offensive players.

The problem with the latter is that they generally don't have any defensive skills so they'd have to be taught how to play defense from scratch, plus their offensive skills aren't at the level needed and the instincts they've had instilled in them are all wrong for RL.  Their learning curve would be much too long and steep. 

The defensive players on the other hand already have solid transferable skills and game sense, they can be taught the rest fairly easily.  Their learning curve will be much shorter and flatter.

[sweaty craiq]

20 hours ago, sam4731 said:

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I mean there could be a strong American game if we could convince some of these players to switch over to RL.

It’s in motion - URL will be in charge soon

[fighting irish]

56 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said:

It’s in motion - URL will be in charge soon

I'm sorry Craig, but I've no idea what you are referring to with this comment? Can you please elaborate? I'm always eager for news from the USA.

[Whippet13]

18 hours ago, sam4731 said:

1. My point is that without much input, you could get half decent players, so with the input you could get some real talent.

2. That is just unmeasurable. How many times have we said that we wish the sport would be more ambitious, only to just dismiss innovative ideas as being too risky?

 

If every SL takes on, say, 2 players, you would need to pay them £20k a year absolute minimum. That's half a million quid per annum before clubs start on scouting, accomodation, flights, and very complicated things like work visas.

That money is cash clubs wouldn't be spending on their local recruitment and development, so diluting British player quality.

There are far better investments right here already, £500k could pay for 15 FT development officers in London for example. 

And if it did unearth a gem I bet they would be off to the NRL too at very first opportunity, I known I would be!

[fighting irish]

25 minutes ago, Whippet13 said:

If every SL takes on, say, 2 players, you would need to pay them £20k a year absolute minimum. That's half a million quid per annum before clubs start on scouting, accomodation, flights, and very complicated things like work visas.

That money is cash clubs wouldn't be spending on their local recruitment and development, so diluting British player quality.

There are far better investments right here already, £500k could pay for 15 FT development officers in London for example. 

And if it did unearth a gem I bet they would be off to the NRL too at very first opportunity, I known I would be!

Forgive me Whippet but I think your missing the original posters point.

I believe he was advocating making an effort to draw these terrific athletes (who just missed the draft pick) into the American RL game, not bringing them here to Super League.

In my opinion, there's no sensible argument against this concept.

Practically speaking, it's difficult to see (if they consider themselves to be professional athletes/football players) how the USARL could tempt them in.

No doubt, with little alternative opportunities presenting themselves, some of these young men will be tempted to get involved, if they are approached and the USARL should be mounting a big effort to identify those athletes and entice them to play.

I think the best hope though, is if the USARL can become (perhaps with NRL guidance/advice/support) a professional or semi professional competition in the not too distant future.

If I could be granted a wish then it would be that the NRL would set up a permanent office/base in the USA, capitalising on the interest generated by the Las Vegas games, with these goals uppermost on their list.

Like the original poster I think the potential is enormous and also, is the shortest/quickest route (I believe) to providing credible competitive opposition to England, in the Northern Hemisphere.

Edited December 1, 2024 by fighting irish

[sweaty craiq]

1 hour ago, sweaty craiq said:

It’s in motion - URL will be in charge soon

Ultimate Rugby League - early stage backed by Billionaires in the States will be taking over SL soon

[warriors 95]

3 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said:

Ultimate Rugby League - early stage backed by Billionaires in the States will be taking over SL soon

You wouldn’t need to be a billionaire in order to take over super league.

[Whippet13]

1 hour ago, fighting irish said:

Forgive me Whippet but I think your missing the original posters point.

I believe he was advocating making an effort to draw these terrific athletes (who just missed the draft pick) into the American RL game, not bringing them here to Super League.

In my opinion, there's no sensible argument against this concept.

Practically speaking, it's difficult to see (if they consider themselves to be professional athletes/football players) how the USARL could tempt them in.

No doubt, with little alternative opportunities presenting themselves, some of these young men will be tempted to get involved, if they are approached and the USARL should be mounting a big effort to identify those athletes and entice them to play.

I think the best hope though, is if the USARL can become (perhaps with NRL guidance/advice/support) a professional or semi professional competition in the not too distant future.

If I could be granted a wish then it would be that the NRL would set up a permanent office/base in the USA, capitalising on the interest generated by the Las Vegas games, with these goals uppermost on their list.

Like the original poster I think the potential is enormous and also, is the shortest/quickest route (I believe) to providing credible competitive opposition to England, in the Northern Hemisphere.

Ah, you could be right! However, no disrespect to the clubs over there, who are working very hard, but what is the appeal for a US athlete of trying a tiny amateur sport played at a very low standard? 

If someone puts some cash into a comp over there (NARL-style) then young athletes will be interested, but where is that money coming from? It's either SL or NRL realistically, and neither is interested in pumping in tens of millions, which is what it would take.

I'm guessing that's why the NRL are trying to sell their existing product as a way to grow RL interest in the US and sell subscriptions, an easier and cheaper route.

Edited December 1, 2024 by Whippet13

[warriors 95]

Roosters are doing some good stuff at least.

 

https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/06/12/american-dream-roosters-invest-in-us-growth/

 

https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/07/22/roosters-see-promise-in-usa-youth-teams-debut/

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nrl/article-13508287/Sydney-Roosters-make-history-signing-American-football-star-Las-Vegas-combine.html

Edited December 1, 2024 by warriors 95

[sam4731]

38 minutes ago, Whippet13 said:

Ah, you could be right! However, no disrespect to the clubs over there, who are working very hard, but what is the appeal for a US athlete of trying a tiny amateur sport played at a very low standard? 

If someone puts some cash into a comp over there (NARL-style) then young athletes will be interested, but where is that money coming from? It's either SL or NRL realistically, and neither is interested in pumping in tens of millions, which is what it would take.

I'm guessing that's why the NRL are trying to sell their existing product as a way to grow RL interest in the US and sell subscriptions, an easier and cheaper route.

That was the point though. There would have to be major change over there for it to happen but if there was, there could be some talent ready to hit the ground running.

[sweaty craiq]

2 hours ago, warriors 95 said:

You wouldn’t need to be a billionaire in order to take over super league.

Turkish Lira

[warriors 95]

18 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said:

Turkish Lira

More like Zimbabwe dollar.

[sam4731]

Just now, warriors 95 said:

More like Zimbabwe dollar.

 

[warriors 95]

Would there be any value in recreating the 1953 American all stars tour of Australia and New Zealand with college American football players as a reality tv show on say Netflix?

they could play teams from expansion areas like Western Australia and Victoria etc so they wouldn’t get a tonking every game.

the goal of such a tour would be to raise the profile of RL in North America and maybe even secure a development contract in the Queensland and NSW cup competitions for any players that impress. 

[redsi42]

I’d imagine there are plenty of an avenues a college football player  could take to make more money than they could by moving to somewhere as glamorous St Helens to pursue a RL career.  Like a managers job in Dollar Tree or most other jobs you can get in the US with a degree.  

[Big Picture]

7 hours ago, Whippet13 said:

If every SL takes on, say, 2 players, you would need to pay them £20k a year absolute minimum. That's half a million quid per annum before clubs start on scouting, accommodation, flights, and very complicated things like work visas.

That money is cash clubs wouldn't be spending on their local recruitment and development, so diluting British player quality.

There are far better investments right here already, £500k could pay for 15 FT development officers in London for example. 

And if it did unearth a gem I bet they would be off to the NRL too at very first opportunity, I known I would be!

You underestimated there, make that 45k£ a year absolute minimum.  Even that is only a smidge more than the minimum player salary in the CFL and UFL which are both minor leagues.

[EggFace]

9 hours ago, Big Picture said:

You underestimated there, make that 45k£ a year absolute minimum.  Even that is only a smidge more than the minimum player salary in the CFL and UFL which are both minor leagues.

CFL never was a minor League from what I have read about it in the 1950s to 80s but it seems to be not getting any better and be and be comparison it's like Super League while NRL is like the NFL in a way.