Cronulla Sharks forward Toby Rudolf has disclosed a surprising romantic link to his teammate Cameron McInnes's wife, dating back to their high school days. Speaking on the rugbyleaguejourneymen podcast, Rudolf revealed that his Year 10 formal date was Rachel McInnes, who is now married to McInnes and has two children with him.
Playful Banter Between Teammates
McInnes quickly responded to the revelation with humor. 'Want to hear the real story?' the Sharks forward asked former NRL stars James Maloney and Jeremy Latimore on the podcast. He explained that Rudolf's mother, Susan, was a substitute teacher and librarian at Rachel's school. 'She would always say to Rachel: "My Toby, I'm a bit worried about him, with girls, he is real awkward." '
McInnes continued, detailing how Rachel ended up as Rudolf's date. 'She was one of the more popular girls at school, so she decided to take him under her wing. It was like a make-a-wish type thing. I think it sparked his confidence; he has been pretty good since then.' Rudolf accepted the playful jab, stating he 'just needed a foot in the door' and thanked Rachel for the boost.
Contract Status and Future Moves
Both McInnes and Rudolf are off-contract at the end of the season. Rudolf, 30, made a cheeky pitch on live television as the Papua New Guinea Chiefs prepare to enter the NRL competition in 2028 with tax-free player contracts. Appearing on Channel Nine's Today show, Rudolf directly addressed the club's general manager of football, Michael Chammas: 'I'm available.' This comes after the Chiefs secured the marquee signing of Wests Tigers star Jarome Luai on a multi-year deal.
