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El Diablo

Post Whore
Messages
94,107
what a f**king joke

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n/news-story/f045da6546718973540558fcaf2eb105

Melbourne and North Queensland’s $1.5m salary cap loophole for Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston

Phil Rothfield, Exclusive, The Daily Telegraph
an hour ago

MELBOURNE Storm and the North Queensland Cowboys have found a legal way to exploit next year’s salary cap by a combined $1.5 million in staging a testimonial game for Maroons legends Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston.

In a dangerous precedent, the NRL will allow the two clubs to play a trial match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in February with all gate takings, sponsorship, merchandise and potential TV rights being shared by the two superstars.

They could become the code’s first $2 million stars by collecting up to $750,000 each — which is exempt from the salary cap — on top of their $1.3 million playing contracts.

The timing is interesting in that Smith, as president of the RLPA, is entangled in bitter negotiations with NRL powerbrokers over the collective bargaining agreement.

Melbourne Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy declined to comment when contacted by The Daily Telegraph on Thursday.

His club could the benefit again next year by putting on a similar ‘charity’ game for Billy Slater.

Under the ‘testimonial’ arrangement, the Storm could hypothetically pay the champion fullback less than his market value but offer him up to $750,000 from a one-off game.

The code’s rules allow for testimonial matches but they are rarely approved by the NRL.

Given the status of these two players the NRL felt it was appropriate.

Both clubs and the players’ managers have worked on the loophole for a number of months.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said Smith and Thurston deserved the chance to play in a testimonial match.

“We do not approve these matches lightly but there is no doubt these are two of the best players to play the game,” he said.

“Not only have they reached the highest level in representing their State and country but they have done it in style.

“They are both a credit to the game and fans deserve the chance to pay respect to them.”

It also opens the door for rival clubs to escape salary cap pressure by offering other long-time champions like Paul Gallen at the Cronulla Sharks a money-making swan song.

It is interesting in that Smith has been one of the most vocal critics of the NRL in the recent pay dispute.

He has even threatened to boycott the Dally M Awards by recently saying: “If it’s the right thing to do for our playing group I’m willing to sacrifice that night.”

‘Off the record’ conversations with club chief executives indicate there will be a backlash.

Especially at clubs like the Canterbury Bulldogs who are desperately trying to move players on but unaware that players like their skipper James Graham could also have been offered a testimonial.
 

Forty20

First Grade
Messages
7,677
A 'creative loophole' is a friendly way of labeling the effort. It seems more like a brazen attempt at robbery at noon. They are testing the NRL to see if they have any balls.
 

Bazal

Post Whore
Messages
106,685
What the actual f**k?

We should have a testimonial for Semi. Should cover his wages well enough to entice him back
 
Messages
42,876
A 'creative loophole' is a friendly way of labeling the effort. It seems more like a brazen attempt at robbery at noon. They are testing the NRL to see if they have any balls.
But they've already approved it? So no balls. And I suppose Sloth was implying that it's a carrot for Smith to get the rlpa to sign off on the deal.
 

Forty20

First Grade
Messages
7,677
But they've already approved it? So no balls. And I suppose Sloth was implying that it's a carrot for Smith to get the rlpa to sign off on the deal.

You would have to think that backlash from the other 14 clubs would see it shit canned? They are set to earn $750,000 a piece - outside of the cap - for work performed exclusively in their club gear.

That completely opposes the NRL's stance with earning uncapped income and the underpinning tenant of the TPA system where you can not wear your club's gear or uniform otherwise it comes out of the cap.
 

phantom eel

First Grade
Messages
6,327
THat testimonial will raise some decent funds in Queensland, with corwds turning out for two origin legends.

Trouble is we hardly draw a crowd, Sydney clubs playing out of Homebush have a dimishing attendance. And I'm not sure we'd have as many people included to turn out for a testimonial for Semi, Mannah or Scot (for example) compared to the future immortals Smith and Thurston.
 

phantom eel

First Grade
Messages
6,327
You would have to think that backlash from the other 14 clubs would see it shit canned? They are set to earn $750,000 a piece - outside of the cap - for work performed exclusively in their club gear.
Maybe they'll make it a "legends" match or an "allstar" invitational - and not wear their club-specific strips for this one-off match?
 
Messages
42,876
You would have to think that backlash from the other 14 clubs would see it shit canned? They are set to earn $750,000 a piece - outside of the cap - for work performed exclusively in their club gear.

That completely opposes the NRL's stance with earning uncapped income and the underpinning tenant of the TPA system where you can not wear your club's gear or uniform otherwise it comes out of the cap.
You'd hope so. You can't allow this windfall for some and not others, based entirely on the NRL's say so. It just smacks of making shit up as you go along, something that seems to happen a lot under Todd.
 

84 Baby

Immortal
Messages
31,074
All this after the Cameron Smith testimonial season? He'll be f**king raking it in. And he's not boycotting the dally ms, he's just double booked with the cammy s's awards night
 

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