I look at it in a completely different way. Some are earning significant money, many are not. They are generating an enormous amount of money for the NRL. The huge TV rights are not paid because of the administrators managing or mismanaging the game. The fans don't watch the game on tv or at the ground because of the administrators, it is the players who provide the entertainment. No players, no revenue.
I hate it when people start comparing players to normal workers, it makes no sense. It is a reality that the entertainment providers should be compensated properly, it is a reality that their careers are relatively short. It is a reality that they are putting their bodies through the sort of punishment which is likely to lead to suffering of all sorts of ailments for the rest of their lives. If they are lucky it will just be bung knees or shoulders, for the less fortunate like James McManus it is headaches, dizziness and maybe depression. Then we have the least fortunate like Alex McKinnon in a wheel chair.
I realize people in many professions have the potential for injury or even death. You do read about guys on worksites or police etc who carry this unfortunate risk. Many will be lucky and avoid this. Pretty much every single NRL player will go through this for the rest of the lives to some degree once they are retired. All this for our entertainment. Remember these are the elite of the game, just like the elite doctors, lawyers, actors etc all are paid a premium, why compare these to the average worker? Compare the best footballers salaries against the average nurse, doctor, bricklayer etc. Where is the logic in that?
Perhaps those whinging about the players earning more would rather sit down and watch hacks like John Grant and Todd Greenberg pen pushing all day than watch the players.
