LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Cameron Murray, the South Sydney Rabbitohs player, has revealed that he was never approached by Eddie Jones and Rugby Australia, despite being repeatedly named as a high-profile target for rugby union.
Murray, who recently signed a five-year contract extension with the Rabbitohs worth $4.6 million, expressed his surprise at the lack of contact from the 15-man code.
He stated, "I never heard from rugby union, I never spoke to anyone there." The revelation comes as a shock, considering the speculation surrounding Murray's potential move to rugby union.
Murray, who played rugby union during his school days, expressed his relief at securing his future with the Rabbitohs.
He stated, "I'm happy now that my future for the next five years is locked up, I don't have to keep talking about it, to be honest." While he acknowledged that being in the conversation was flattering, Murray admitted that he prefers to fly under the radar and not have his name constantly in the headlines.
Souths officials have confirmed that Murray's new contract does not include any clauses that would allow him to break the deal and switch to rugby.
This effectively eliminates any possibility of him representing the Wallabies in major events such as the British and Irish Lions series in 2025 and the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia.
It remains unclear why Jones and Rugby Australia did not make an offer to Murray, especially considering their pursuit of other players in the NRL, such as Joseph Suaalii from the Sydney Roosters.
Murray's revelation raises questions about the leadership and decision-making within Rugby Australia, as they failed to secure a player who was highly regarded in rugby union circles.