Exodus?

[steds]

Over the last week, two professional rugby league players contracted to Super League teams have quit the game to take up careers in boxing. First Monty Betham of Wakefield last Friday, then Solomon Haumono of the London union club. These aren't firsts, of course, with Anthony Mundine and John Hopoate having a crack at boxing.

Edit: Just read Lance Thompson of Cronulla dabbles in it too.

So what's the appeal that boxing has towards rugby league players? And how come no other sports seem to be affected by players running off to take it up?

 

[superkingdave]

Both those guys have a bit of boxing background though don't they?

I wouldn't imagine there's many other sports where you could have a physique that would be readily transferable to boxing without a couple of years out.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Read in the paper that Willie Mason's brother boxes. If he's got a punch like Willie he should go ok.

Didn't Barrie McDermott box a bit before he played League too?

 

[Simon]

Read in the paper that Willie Mason's brother boxes. If he's got a punch like Willie he should go ok.

Didn't Barrie McDermott box a bit before he played League too?

yeh he is, when Mason goes out as such he usually takes his brother along as well. In nightclubs and that a lot of stupid people try to pick fights with Willie but he generally walks away and leaves his brother to deal with it...

 

[Simon]

Over the last week, two professional rugby league players contracted to Super League teams have quit the game to take up careers in boxing. First Monty Betham of Wakefield last Friday, then Solomon Haumono of the London union club. These aren't firsts, of course, with Anthony Mundine and John Hopoate having a crack at boxing.

Edit: Just read Lance Thompson of Cronulla dabbles in it too.

So what's the appeal that boxing has towards rugby league players? And how come no other sports seem to be affected by players running off to take it up?

Haumono has already tried a boxing career, he wasnt that great and had no creditability because he fought dud boxer all the time...

 

[Matteh]

yeh he is, when Mason goes out as such he usually takes his brother along as well. In nightclubs and that a lot of stupid people try to pick fights with Willie but he generally walks away and leaves his brother to deal with it...

Poor David Hookes.

 

[Perm]

Monty Betham already had a bit of a background in boxing when he was in New Zealand playing for the Warriors and it was a big interest of his so I suppose he's just pursuing something that he likes doing.