“What a bunch of cry babies” – Rugby Union officials slam Rugby League personalities after recent reports

Rugby league has been rocked by the loss of “generational talent” Joseph Suaali’i to rugby union for 2025.

Following this ARLC Chair Peter V’landys said saying Suaali’i will be “paid twice the money for doing half the work,” according to Fox League.

Making matters worse one of rugby league’s top journalists down under also took a swing at the move.

“Good luck to Joseph but for every Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers and Israel Folau — who have been smash-hit success stories in rugby union — there’s been a Sam Burgess, a Benji Marshall and a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck,” noteworthy journalist Phil Rothfield told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

“He’s 19-years of age, he’s an outstanding prospect and he’s a really decent young man. But I think rugby union have got a massive identity crisis.

“If you saw three quarters of that (Wallabies) side walk down George Street would you know who any of them are? They’ve done this as a trophy signing.

“In the old days they had so many superstars, right now they have none — the game is struggling. The pathways are struggling, they’ve allowed so many great kids to come to rugby league.

“When they’re paying $1.6 million for a young fella that’s now elite in rugby league yet… I think it shows the desperation of rugby union.”

However, rugby union heads have hit back at this backlash branding them “a bunch of cry babies.”

“What a bunch of cry babies,” Rugby Australia chair Hamish McLennan said.

“They have completely thrown their toys out of the cot.

“Our elite players will earn more. We are in a different league as we are global with over 800 million people who follow the game and it is played in more than 100 countries.

“They can say what they want but we won’t be bullied.”

“No doubt they will try and pick off somebody like Max.

“But we love him and his contract renewal will be when he’ll be on the cusp of playing on the Lions tour and then the Rugby World Cup in 2027, which league just can’t compete with.”