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Let's lay off the dick measuring contests and get into the spirit of sport and the topics of the threads.
Canterbury-Bankstown back-rower (Young Australian of the year) Corey Payne announces retirement from rugby league
Canterbury-Bankstown forward Corey Payne has announced his immediate retirement from the NRL to focus on academic and commercial pursuits.
It's unusual for a 28-year-old injury-free professional to walk out on his sporting career.
But then again it's rare for a rugby league player to be named the NSW Young Australian of the Year, like Payne was at the end of 2012.
Payne went within a whisker of winning the overall Young Australian of the Year gong on Australia Day, and seemingly has a world of opportunity at his feet.
Despite playing nearly every match for Canterbury-Bankstown last year, including the grand final, Payne decided it was time for him to shift his focus entirely on his bright off-field prospects.
Payne finishes with 131 first grade matches to his name, after debuting with St George Illawarra in 2005.
After three seasons with the Dragons, he spent two years at the Wests Tigers before shifting to his junior club Canterbury in 2010.
Payne was the recipient of the Churchill Fellowship last year, which allows him to research and gain experience in his chosen field overseas.
He is also the executive chairman of the Future Direction Network which helps disadvantaged students complete their studies.
Although still young enough and able to continue his rugby league career if he so wished, Payne believes the time is right to set his mind on achieving different goals.
"Growing up as a Bulldogs supporter and a local junior I always dreamt of playing first grade for the club," Payne said.
"2013 will be a year where I finish my Master of Commerce at the University of Sydney, complete a Churchill Fellowship, maintain the Future Direction Network which assists disadvantaged students reach their academic potential at university and carry out the responsibilities of being NSW Young Australian of the Year.
"I intend studying for an MBA abroad in 2014 and transition to a business career which I hope is as challenging and rewarding as my rugby league career has been."
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said Payne should be admired for making such a tough call.
"Corey has a very wise head on his shoulders and I admire him for being so open and honest throughout this process," said Greenberg.
"He has worked tirelessly on setting up his Future Direction Network and the work he has done with the local community is something that not only he can be proud of but also something that we at the club are very proud of."
Penrith boss Phil Gould extended his best wishes to Payne on twitter.
"Congratulations to Corey Payne .. Wonderful footy career .. However, his academic achievements are outstanding .. A real success story," he said.
I've got it now - uncritically quoting PR pieces is 'discussion'; questioning how impressed we should all be at the content is 'a dick measuring contest'.
Comparing sports or putting down sports is a dick measuring contest. Go ahead with the critical discussion of the stories posted. It has happened once. Something was brought up and then that thing was proven. What followed was a dick measuring contest.
As all that happens, it looks as though the NRL is set for another pay day after the record breaking TV deal, Telstra Sponsorship and Holden Sponsorship (which is worth about half of the Toyota AFL deal and doube the money Holden spend on the V8 team)
Now this
Plan for $2.2 million rugby league nines tournament to kick start NRL season
A KIWI promoter has a $2.2 million plan to kick off the rugby league season with a super Nines tournament - with the winner pocketing more money than the NRL premiers.
The offer is considered too good to refuse with all 16 clubs agreeing in principle to field their strongest sides.
That would see champions Greg Inglis, Ben Barba, Benji Marshall and Jarryd Hayne featuring in the tournament to be staged in Auckland.
An NRL CEOs conference on February 20 is expected give the proposal the green light.
The concept is the brainchild of New Zealand events organiser Dean Lonergan of Duco Events and business partner David Higgins.
They were responsible for organising the popular Fight For Life charity boxing event which featured league players Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Willie Mason and Manu Vatuvei in December.
Under the proposal, which was first pitched to NRL clubs in July, each team would receive $70,000 for competing with the tournament winner earning $500,000.
It's a staggering purse considering last year's NRL premiers, the Melbourne Storm, received $400,000.
Lonergan said the concept was going "full steam ahead" after positive talks with the NRL, the 16 clubs and Auckland City council. Discussions with a naming rights sponsor and TV network Sky NZ are also in full swing.
"We're making great progress," Lonergan said.
"The feedback so far from the clubs and the NRL has been extremely positive, so we're moving closer to having it totally ratified."
Under the proposal, the knockout tournament would be held in the first week of February.
Some clubs fear the Nines could threaten the Annual All Stars concept - held a week later - despite Lonergan and the NRL claiming it would have no impact on the showpiece game.
"We think this tournament would only complement the All Stars," Lonergan said.
The NRL have made no secret of their desire to continue the promotion of rugby league in New Zealand and see the Nines as the perfect challenge to rugby's hugely popular Wellington Sevens tournament, which will be held this weekend.
"With the support of the NRL clubs and the talent that rugby league has, it could be bigger than the rugby's sevens," Lonergan said.
Paul Kind, director of commercial and marketing at the NRL, confirmed discussions with Lonergan and the clubs had been positive.
He said there was a plan to draw up a formal recommendation to the ARL commission after the upcoming chief executives' meeting.
Channel Nine and Fox Sports are yet to see the proposal, but it's believed both networks would support the pre-season tournament.
