New South Wales Waratahs centre Tom Carter considering switch to rugby league
there are good points and bad points in this article.
the good: carter f**king off to leauge
the really REALLY REALLY bad: the idea of the force approaching carter... he is NOT the kind of player we want here. he does not represent the game in a positive light.
HOME RUGBY SUPER RUGBY WARATAHS CENTRE IN LEAGUE TALKS
By Iain Payten The Sunday Telegraph July 01, 2012 10:47AM
In a shock development, Carter is all but certain to leave the Waratahs next season and has been in talks with several rugby league clubs in Sydney about a possible code switch.
Carter is being targeted as a backrower in rugby league, with his size - 100kg and 1.89m - and hard hole-running and defence seen as suited to the right edge.
The 29-year-old has also been approached by a rival Australian Super Rugby province, which is understood to be Western Force.
There has also been interest from Japan.
"We have had preliminary discussions with a couple of rugby league clubs, and at this stage he has interest from another province," Ed Carter, brother and manager of Tom, said.
"At this stage, it looks like he is more than likely not going to be at NSW."
Carter played rugby league as a junior in Young before moving to Sydney to attend a rugby-playing school.
With his eight-year association with the Waratahs at an end, Carter is pursuing the option of NRL as a means of staying in Sydney due to family circumstances.
"The decision for him is based around the fact he is pretty keen to stay here, as opposed to going overseas, because with the right opportunity he still thinks he can play some decent football," Ed Carter said.
The abrasive No.12 has carved a starting spot for the Waratahs in the past five seasons with a combative game that sees him crash the ball into and through defensive lines.
The last man to make a switch from rugby to league was Sam Harris, who played centre for the Waratahs in stints either side of five years playing in the back row for Manly, Wests Tigers and City Origin.
Harris believes Carter would be good league player.
"Me and Tommy used to talk about that all the time in my last years with NSW, he was always looking over the fence and wondering about league," Harris said.
"He'd be a really good league player, to be honest. He's big and strong, he's fast and he's very fit, probably at the high standard league players require.
"He's got the right sort of shape, not too tall, a bit compact like the leaguies.
"And he's done really well to hold down a spot with the Waratahs for five years.
"Stuff he gets criticised for in rugby wouldn't be involved in league. He'd be good to put on a right edge, he runs good lines and would look after your halfback in defence."
Carter's on-field persona - he's regarded as one of the game's most vocal sledgers - divides opinion, but it also masks his effectiveness as rugby a centre.
Last year, Carter made the most tackles of all Australian centres in Super Rugby and also had the highest tackle percentage (91.5 per cent). His run metres, tackle busts and linebreaks all rank highly.
Teammates and coaches also swear by Carter as the man who does the one-percenters such as kick-chasing and defensive double-ups.
The Sydney Uni product made his debut on the wing for NSW in 2004 but had to wait until 2008 to make his Super Rugby debut. Since then he's played 70 games.
Ed Carter said it had been a tough for his brother to make a decision to move on.
"He has really enjoyed his time and he'd hoped to continue to play there. He has a lot of respect for the people there," Ed Carter said.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...ce=twitterfeed
Tom Carter - I do hope not
http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7858626,00.html
This man is a petulant @"$ckhead. I really hope they don't sign him.
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