It is obvious that really talented young men who are suited to rugby are choosing to go to league and not union. Whether that is because of the way the game is played or the money on offer is debatable.
Australian Rugby lacks the superstars such as Slater, Inglis, Thurston, Barba, Hayne etc. The depth of talent is also lacking. The billion dollar television deal awarded to the NRL is not going to make it any easier.
The last time Australian Rugby looked strong was when it signed elite NRL stars Tuqiri, Rogers and Sailor.
Until the code has an Australian competition similar to the AFL and NRL then it will struggle to compete. Those competitions have both had great success because of the tribal loyalty built up over more than a century. They also provide the opportunity for fans to see their team play every week for the best part of the year.
Super 15 is a good concept but interest drops off rapidly when the Australian teams perform badly. To achieve star status players have to be in the Wallabies squad playing test football. Representative football is high profile and the money is good but only a very limited number of players get chosen and they don't get to play many games in Australia. That may be the reason that the NRL is attracting so much of the talent. The players are choosing the NRL as a more likely pathway to success and monetary reward.
