With two expansion clubs joining the NRL in the next two years, and talk already turning to a third following soon after, rugby league needs more players.
Ninety to 100 extra players is what that translates to at the top level alone, let alone the juniors and pathways that set a club up for the long term.
Where I think there’s an opportunity to find those players – and it’s only an opportunity – is in South Africa. And an even bigger, far more tangible pathway, is the south island of New Zealand.
Firstly, across the Indian Ocean. South Africa has an incredibly rich rugby union history with four World Cup victories (including the last two) and sport in their DNA. They produce phenomenal athletes, especially big, strong and fast rugby players who thrive on the physical side of the game.
Rugby union’s foundations in South Africa present rugby league with a chance to grow as well, especially if our code looks to get involved in their school system using rugby league nines.
Nine-a-side league is a great intro product to the game – it’s fun to play, fast, open footy with a lot of space. But the physicality that makes rugby league what it is (and which I think South Africans thrive on), as well as the defensive fundamentals, are still there.
Sevens rugby league and rugby union have so much emphasis on fitness, speed and endurance, whereas nines offers more of a balance between the codes.
South Africa’s school system plays a massive role in rugby union’s pathways over there, much like the 15-man game here, and I think it’s worth trying to present rugby league to the younger generation.
There’s no harm in seeing if there’s interest, because of course rugby union is never going to be overtaken in South Africa. But with 15 players on the field and less space and time out wide for the fastest, most physically gifted athletes, I’d love to show them our game and what they could do with it.
If you could get schoolboys and girls trying out rugby league, who knows, you might unearth a new pathway. Outside backs, predominantly wingers, are the most obvious, and probably the only converts.
But dreaming big, imagine champion winger Bryan Habana playing left wing outside Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell. In today’s game, Springboks stars Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe could be anything playing rugby league.
My other favourite that many people may not know is Danie Gerber – an incredibly gifted, tearaway centre who the world didn’t see enough of because he played during the apartheid era when South Africa were banned from a lot of international sport.
Then across the ditch, I’d use the same school-based nines programs to get really moving on New Zealand’s south island.
There’s momentum growing already around franchise bids as a 20th NRL team out of Christchurch, with the Southern Orcas making a lot of noise and a lot of sense given the city has a new, state-of-the-art stadium with a roof.
There are pockets of rugby league in mining towns like Greymouth on the South Island, and the NRL needs to build up all levels of the game – a quality reserve grade and juniors pathways system is how you sustain New Zealand rugby league across both islands for the long term.
And can you imagine the rivalry between the Warriors and a second Kiwi side? Can you imagine the talent that could be picked up with all of rugby league’s extra time and space out wide if we encouraged it with a nines program?
And dreaming big again, can you imagine if a bloke like Ma’a Nonu ended up coming to our game? I’m just glad that move to the Bulldogs never happened, for my own safety.
Cranky Cody and a Broncos rookie
There’s talk of rain for Thursday night’s clash between Souths and Brisbane. And even if it stays dry, Accor Stadium gets very slippery with dew on the surface this time of year, which I think suits the Rabbitohs.
The Broncos are horribly out of form, and now without Payne Haas and Reece Walsh, after losing to teams running 17th and 15th in consecutive weeks.
It sounds easy, but when you’re in a funk like that and low on confidence, often the best thing to do for a team like the Broncos is really simplify their attack.
High percentage footy, complete your sets, win the effort areas and grind out a victory. Just find a way and win ugly if you have to.
Souths didn’t get the rub of the green last week against Manly and Cody Walker had a bee in his bonnet over that game.
This week the Broncos have 19-year-old Antonio Verhoeven (a rugby union product from the south island) on the right wing, playing his third NRL game.
He’ll be in Cody’s sights as the veteran playmaker comes down his favourite left edge. Good luck young man.
Joey’s tip: Rabbitohs by 10
First try-scorer: Alex Johnston
Man of the match: Jye Gray
Why the Dolphins will win out wide
On Friday night, the Dolphins and the Roosters line-ups have been decimated by Origin. But the home side will have Isaiya Katoa on deck and that’s so dangerous considering they’ve got Jack Bostock and Herbie Farnworth out wide as strike weapons.
Especially considering the Roosters are patched up in the centres, with back-rower Egan Butcher named out there alongside a debutant in Reece Foley.
Billy Smith plays his 50th NRL game after such a horrific injury run, which is a credit to him and I expect he’ll end up coming into the centres. Hugo Savala offers a really steady hand in the halves alongside Daly Cherry-Evans and I think their strong forward pack will keep the Roosters in the contest for 50 to 60 minutes.
But the Dolphins have them matched up front for mine and the firepower out wide to open the contest up late.
Joey’s tip: Dolphins by 12
First try-scorer: Trai Fuller
Man of the match: Isaiya Katoa
An upset to sign off at Leichhardt
On Sunday, the Tigers play their last game at Leichhardt Oval before the grand old girl gets a renovation, and they do so after a kick up the backside from Penrith.
They were completely embarrassed, and they know it. Api Koroisau going into NSW Origin camp doesn’t help, but they will surely bounce back after last week’s performance.
The Titans, meanwhile, knocked off the Broncos at Suncorp and showed us what we all know – they’ve got so much talent, now they need to find consistency in their game.
I think Jayden Campbell will steer them to an upset here, and as well as being such an unpredictable attacking threat, his defence has improved out of sight this season – he’s whacking ball-runners and is playing with real confidence.
Joey’s tip: Titans by six
First try-scorer: Jahream Bula
Man of the match: Jayden Campbell
Andrew Johns is an Immortal, a Newcastle great and a commentator for Channel Nine
