R360 supremo Mike Tindall has denied claims the rebel league tried to poach several big-name NRL players as he declared the underpaid stars were reaching out in droves to try and join the new competition.
The initial plan was for R360 to launch in October with a smaller competition that would then expand with more teams.
But that was scrapped, leaving players such as Zac Lomax, who had already sought a release, hung out to dry.
R360 said the delay was to allow for “stronger market conditions, greater commercial certainty, and a significantly more favourable environment” to fans, players and broadcasters.
After its delay, the NRL gloated about it not being legit and many felt the call was made because the league simply didn’t have the talent pool to get fans interested.
That was partly due to the competition being painted as a threat to rugby league and rugby union, with both the NRL and Super Rugby doing all they could to stop R360 from taking its stars.
The NRL even threatened 10-year bans to players or agents who held talks with the league before welcoming the likes of Lomax back, stating they were “hoodwinked” by a mirage.
“Of course they are welcome back to our game. It’s sad they were hoodwinked by this mirage that was R360,” Peter V’landys said after the announcement that R360 was delayed.
“Administrating the game, you know what is required to run the game, how much revenue you need, and R360 were never going to get there.”
However, according to Andrew Webster in The Australian, even with threats of mammoth bans, NRL players that are “overworked” and “underpaid” were reportedly reaching out in massive numbers to join R360.
Tindall told Webster the NRL were off the mark as they didn’t try to poach particular rugby league stars, instead, NRL stars’ agents were banging down his door to join.
“We didn’t target anyone,” Tindall said.
“NRL players and their agents approached us. We didn’t go after them. We’re a rugby union competition. NRL players are fine athletes, but only those who could play in the back three could make the transition. Sam Burgess went from South Sydney to the England team (for the 2015 Rugby World Cup), and he didn’t find it easy.”
R360 is now targeting a 2028 start date and Tindall is confident it will be a massive success not just for them but for rugby union in general.
“How it came across and how the unions, the rugby unions and the British and Irish Lions reacted to it wasn’t exactly how we wanted to do it,” Tindall told 7News.
“So we need to do a bit of friendship making.
“The whole point of R360 is to enhance the game. It’s not to come out fighting.
“It’s supposed to be to help promote the game, hopefully drive a younger audience. But at the same time, we need to shake the game up a little bit.”
Tindall also claimed more than 200 players are on the verge of joining R360 as soon as it gets off the ground.