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'Melbourne Storm went through a similar scandal to ourselves': McCall sets Saracens an ambitious Aussie-influenced target

By PA
(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport/Getty Images)

Mark McCall has set Saracens the challenge of repeating the success of their pre-salary cap scandal era as they target an immediate return to the Gallagher Premiership. McCall, along with all his coaching assistants, has signed a new long-term contract that ties him to StoneX Stadium until 2025 and in the process revealed the club’s ambition of lifting more silverware.

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Saracens were automatically relegated last season for repeated breaches of the salary cap and on Sunday they face a pivotal match in their Greene King IPA Championship promotion quest when they clash with runaway leaders Ealing.

McCall used Australian rugby league side Melbourne Storm as an example of how it is possible to recover from the setback with more domestic and European titles the ultimate aim. 

“It’s been a challenging 18 months to two years for us. It’s great to get everyone signed up because we’ve been through a lot together,” said director of rugby McCall, whose name was among ten staff contract extensions announced by Saracens on Tuesday.

“Hopefully we are at the start of a newish journey and to have all of the people, who have been very influential over the last five or six years onboard for the new journey is very good. I’m really excited with our squad for 2021/22 with the loan players coming back from the various clubs they will have been at. I’m really excited about what the squad will look like.

“Melbourne Storm obviously went through a similar scandal to ourselves and their records pre and post their salary scandal were almost identical. That’s one of the things I’d like us to do to see whether we can try to emulate the success we had before.”

McCall reported a clean bill of health for Saracens’ England contingent as they step up preparations for their most important game of the season to date. Owen Farrell was passed fit to lead the team against Doncaster last weekend having recovered from a calf injury and is expected to remain at the helm for the clash in Barnet.

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TI 3 hours ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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