RTS to the Blues

[morepork]

Is this really happening?

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-i ... eally-mean

I am sensing an exodus from the Kiwis jersey in the near future. Thanks Kidwell. RTS is one mean machine on the run, but I dunno if he can even kick a ball straight.

[zer0]

It's an NRL contract rumour. God knows what the f*ck is happening. While he might make a good winger, he certainly wouldn't be a fullback. There's also a guy in the Sevens side who the Warriors are trying to hold to a long term contract he signed as a minor. I'm no lawyer, but I'd be surprised if five year contracts signed by 15 years old's are all that binding.

[zer0]

If he were to actually do the switch, I'd say there are far too many obstacles in his way to make it into the squad in 2019, without first playing some NPC-level rugby in 2018 first. Unlike the Wallabies coaches, the current All Blacks coaching regime usually only pull the trigger on converts after a couple of seasons or so, and assuming he'd be a winger, he'll competing against some ridiculously strong players in who have far more rugby experience than he does.

He was playing rugby (and League) in high school, so he'd be similar to Milner-Skudder. Plus the wing is hardly the most demanding of positions. But yes, making the 2019 RWC would be difficult/quite the achievement. He would be pretty lethal in Sevens.

[zer0]

Only one winger is typically required to fulfil the secondary fullback role, the other is still normally a strike winger. See J.Savea, Milner-Skudder, Naholo, R.Ioane.