All Blacks star Jordie Barrett has made headlines after he revealed he often thinks about crossing codes to play in the NRL.
Barrett, 24, is considered a star of rugby union and any move across to rugby league would send shockwaves in both codes’ communities.
While the Warriors have already expressed an interest in his services, Scott Sattler believes the NRL’s newest club - the Dolphins - should be the franchise chasing him most aggressively.
“Once upon a time, if you were an All Black you never spoke about anything but the All Blacks,” Sattler said on Sportsday NSW.
“Now you’ve got someone saying you know, ‘I wouldn’t mind giving rugby league a crack’.”
Sattler believes the competition would prefer that the Redcliffe club go after Barrett due to his marquee status and the fact that they wouldn’t be stealing stars away from their current NRL rivals in doing so.
“It’s interesting though, at 24 years of age and with a new team coming into the competition in 2023 with the Dolphins,” Sattler said.
“I think the discussions may have already been had.
“Well, I know the NRL doesn’t want the current infrastructure to be destabilised through recruitment.
“Trying to find the players in cross-codes, rugby union or whatever it may be is going to be a focus of the new clubs.
“He’s a superstar, he could play fullback, in the centres, in the halves.
“At 24 years of age, he’d be one of the highest paid All Blacks players.
“He wouldn’t get as much money in rugby league, but that’s not what it’s always about.”
Barrett has played 36 times for the All Blacks and is considered a key part of their future.
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“They’ve been there a long time and it just doesn’t feel like home for them.”