Fledgling New York club wants top Aussie NRL talent
A CASHED-UP US consortium is ready to target NRL stars like the Titans’ Jarryd Hayne with $1 million-aseason offers to play rugby league in New York.
There will be big bucks to be made in the Big Apple after an official business plan was submitted to the English Rugby Football League yesterday for a New York team to enter The Championship – one level below the Super League – in 2019.
It is believed champions like Hayne, Johnathan Thurston, Cam Smith, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Paul Gallen will be targeted with the lure of living in New York.
It could signal a US return for Hayne, who carved out a short yet successful NFL stint with the San Francisco 49ers.
Investors have already secured $12 million to get the club off the ground and fund them for their seven-hour trips across the Atlantic Ocean for away matches.
But the clincher will be locking in a marquee player to drive on-field success.
“I think they will, yes (target a big name),” leading player manager David Riolo said.
“Maybe not a big-name player in his prime but there are still a lot of really big names doing really good things in their early 30s.
“Some of my clients like Ryan Hoffman, Cam Smith, Paul Gallen, the Morris twins, Trent Hodkinson – they would all look at it to go.
“If the club can tap into the American TV dollars, and with the right backing behind them, you only need a small niche market to be successful.”
Clubs in The Championship are allowed a marquee player who is exempt from the salary cap and New York officials have already started discussing which Australians could fill that role.
“They would want to attract a big name to start,” said Australian NRL agent Al Gainey, who has Inglis, Bryce Cartwright and Matt Moylan on his books.
The New York bid comes after the initial success of the Toronto Wolfpack, who, led by former NRL cult hero Fuifui Moimoi, averaged 7000 fans to their home games in North America this year. Dave Taylor and Josh McCrone have signed on to play next season.
The fledgling New York club has attracted some wealthy benefactors. Co-founder Tom Scott said they would not seek outside funding.