Jonah Lomu - Wallaby???

[biffon]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10404654

Jonah could be thrown a lifeline in Australia

1.00pm Friday October 6, 2006



Could Jonah Lomu carry on his rugby career in Australia? The new national rugby competition across the Tasman could offer a lifeline to Lomu.

It has been revealed each of the eight Australian teams will be allowed to recruit one "marquee" player who will have no restrictions on what they can be paid. That could be a non-contracted Australian who is currently overseas or a foreign player such as Lomu.

The search began yesterday for the 127 club players needed to take part in the new competition by calling for them to register expressions of interest on the ARU website.

It is unclear how many New Zealand players could be enticed over to Australia.

Earlier this week Lomu conceded his dream of playing for New Zealand in next year's World Cup is over because he has been unable to land a contract in the Super 14.

Lomu defied medical advice by making a comeback two years after his kidney transplant in the hope of finishing his career with a World Cup victory.

But the 31-year-old says he now has no hope of making the All Blacks squad after being overlooked for the 2007 Super 14 season.

[spuff]

Ya, he would probably be a first choice wallaby too... :)

[biffon]

eish thats harsh man......

you seem to have got amnesia.. let me refresh your memory....

The final whistle has just been blown in the WC semi final between Wallabies & AB's
Gregan is seen standing over one of the AB's and sneering - "see you in 4 years".... HAhahah

Cholkers!!!

[Raevoyn]

Sorry, but where does that mean that he'll be playing for the scumbags?
Anyway, a man with his brains, I'd expect nothing less than following the likes of Clyde Rathbone and others - Sell Outs!

Anyway, I don't think any Self Respecting All Black (Former or current) would bring themselves to play for the wallabies!

[biffon]

jake white F'ed up with Rathbone and you all know it - by not selecting him for the boks he effectively said hey youre not good enough, you can imagine how sweet it must have been to score the winning try against the boks here in Perth on his debut
- i would have moved if i knew i was good enough.

PS. i think a kiwi will prefer to play for the Aussies before they even looked further west.

[Raevoyn]

Your fist comment, yeah, I can understand that, however, how is it possible that the SAU21 Captain (That won the U21 World Cup) is not good enough to play for the national team - it smells a bit like Bovine Faeces!

Your second comment, I know loads of Kiwis, and they only support 2 coutries, the All Blacks and those playing against the Wallabies!

[Blazzo]

I suppose it also comes down to a business/ financial decision, i.e. wherever you get have the strongest economic power, and SAfrica compared to Oz is just not an option. not that I think Lomu will ever play for wallabies, in fact he will never play for a country ever again. If I had the talent and opportunity I would come to Oz too, Africa is too unpredictable..

[neilvr]

He won't be able to play for the wallabies as he has already played international rugby for the AB, Kennidy Simba was is the same boat - because he played for Zim as a 7s player he can't play for the Boks

[biffon]

thats not true at all.
The Wallabies have had an ex-Argentinian international play for them.

Kenny Simba was/is a good player but too old for the SA folks to consider him a good investment. On the other hand Tonderai Chavhanga has a good chance to be a Bok if he lifts his tactical game, then its just a matter of time

[TiGeR]

jake white F'ed up with Rathbone and you all know it - by not selecting him for the boks he effectively said hey youre not good enough, you can imagine how sweet it must have been to score the winning try against the boks here in Perth on his debut
- i would have moved if i knew i was good enough.

PS. i think a kiwi will prefer to play for the Aussies before they even looked further west.

Jake White had NOTHING to do with Clyde Rathbone- he wasnt the SA coach when Clyde went to Oz...

[TiGeR]

He won't be able to play for the wallabies as he has already played international rugby for the AB, Kennidy Simba was is the same boat - because he played for Zim as a 7s player he can't play for the Boks

Partially true- since 2001, the IRB law states that once you have played Int'l rugby (7s or snr 15s) you are inelligible for any other country regardless of your status (birth, qualification period etc) Kenny played 7s & 15s for Zim (in fact he captained us in a few world cup qualifiers) so he was never going to be a Bok (BELIEVE me they tried!)

[TiGeR]

thats not true at all.
The Wallabies have had an ex-Argentinian international play for them.

Kenny Simba was/is a good player but too old for the SA folks to consider him a good investment. On the other hand Tonderai Chavhanga has a good chance to be a Bok if he lifts his tactical game, then its just a matter of time

True about two ex wallaby props being Argentinean (there are HEAPS of guys who are dual internationals in the old days- John Allan the kilted bok, there were a hEAP of kilted kiwis & but both BEFORE IRB changed the laws... Tonde is HIGHLY rated by Jake but he is very injury prone- i coached him in Harare schools & Zim schools teams 2000 & WOW what a talent, but injury prone...in fact he is just recovered & started running about a month ago...

[biffon]

aaah well this will end the debate once and for-all.
Titan set for Gold Coast

By Col McCleland
October 16, 2006
GOLD Coast Titans is poised to pull off another league sensation with the reported signing this week of former New Zealand rugby wing Jonah Lomu.
It is understood the giant former All Blacks star will meet Titans management tomorrow to discuss a code switch.
If he passes a tough medical assessment and agrees to terms with the fledgling NRL side, Lomu, 31, will join former Australia rugby star Mat Rogers as the second high-profile player to cross codes and sign with the new club in the past three months.
Titans management remained coy about the impending deal yesterday and, when contacted by The Gold Coast Bulletin, but managing director Michael Searle declined to confirm or deny the club was planning to meet with Lomu.
But Lomu, who attended Saturday's Tri-Nations Test between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland, has privately indicated he has set his heart on becoming a dual international, and joining the Titans would be the first step up the ladder.
According to sources close to the Lomu camp yesterday, his move to league is "not a cash grab" but a genuine attempt to make an impact in the sport.
Undoubtedly he will have to tighten his belt if he makes the switch, as he will not be able to command the lucrative financial deals he has been able to sign off on in the past.
If Lomu and the Titans can agree terms, salary cap restraints will prevent the franchise from offering him a pot of gold, and it is understood the deal will be for one year but will contain an option to renegotiate for 2008.
With 73 New Zealand and two Rugby World Cup appearances to his credit, there's little doubt a fully fit Lomu would have a massive impact on the NRL.
The huge Kiwi, who is believed to be the biggest man ever to wear his national jersey, was sidelined after the 1999 World Cup when a debilitating kidney disease threatened to end his stellar career.
But the big-hearted winger refused to lie down and a 2004 kidney transplant opened a new door for him.
After recovering from the operation, he made his comeback with North Harbour in the NPC at a reported $350,000 a year then spent a season in Wales where he was sidelined again, this time through an ankle injury.
Throughout it all, Lomu maintained his desire to break back into top-line rugby and set next year's Rugby World Cup in France as his target.
But earlier this month, he was forced to concede defeat. Unable to clinch a Super 14 contract for the 2007 season, he looked towards Australia's new third-tier club championship but was not immediately snapped up.
That's when he began to focus seriously on the idea of breaking into the NRL competition. "I'd be lying if I said I'm not disappointed about not getting a Super 14 contract," Lomu said earlier this month.
"But I have had a go. I would have been more disappointed if I didn't have a go.
"I don't feel I have let anyone down. I've given it my all. It's been a failure in the sense I didn't make the All Blacks (for the 2007 Rugby World Cup) but I certainly didn't fail myself.
"I dared to dream. Who can criticise me for that?"
Gold Coast Bulletin

[Raevoyn]

Mat Rogers changes codes more often than most people change underwear!

He played for Australia U21 against New Zealand (Rugby Union) Then switched to Rugby League (League Honours, State of Origin Honours, International Honours), then switched back to Union, and now back to League.

I will give him credit though, he's a very versatile player, high work rate, dependable, and an inspiration to watch, pity he's Australian however!