‘Bulls**t’ crackdown that could ‘cost someone’ a title:
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...5/news-story/2fa7579bcc21757d2cbed0433c5b288e
No more broken contracts - NRL’s bid to stop more Mattersons:
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/24aa48b2e51a44ef4f63c43daa840dad
From Sporting News,
Cook Weighs In On Controversial Rule Change Under NRL Proposal
South Sydney star Damien Cook has endorsed the NRL's proposed crackdown on players leaving clubs mid-contract – so long as it considers the interests of all parties involved.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the NRL is due to be present a proposal to the ARL Commission to ban clubs from offering more money to players contracted to rival clubs in light of Ryan Matterson's controversial move from the Tigers to the Eels over the off-season.
The new rule could see Josh Addo-Carr become the last player in the competition to move clubs mid-contract for bigger money, with the Melbourne Storm winger seeking a move home to Sydney at the end of the year.
Cook backed the NRL's push to address the issue which has plagued the game for many years, but says not all focus should center around the players in mid-season moves.
"I think for one thing it's definitely not just on the players or just on the managers, it can be the clubs as well," the Rabbitohs hooker told reporters on Monday.
"All parties are involved when there's player movement so if there's going to be a rule done by the NRL, as long as it covers all three parties involved and is fair to everyone I'll agree to that.
"But at the moment I think a lot of pressure falls on the players, but there's sometimes managers will have a bit too much to say, but there's definitely clubs that have their part in it as well."
Movements such as Matterson's to the Eels have been at the center of fans' frustrations for years.
The star backrower forced his way out of Concord after a dispute with the Tigers over his worth spilled onto the training ground, ending in reported clashes with coach Michael Maguire and the club granting Matterson leave at the end of last season.
The 25-year-old penned a three-year deal worth a reported $1.5 million to join the Eels weeks later, despite still having two years to run on his contract with the Tigers.
It's since been revealed a dispute over how his concussion should be treated was also a key factor in Matterson seeking an exit from the Tigers, and that it wasn't entirely money-based.
Meanwhile, Addo-Carr's impending exit from the Storm could see the NSW Blues and Kangaroos winger double his earnings, the Herald reports. However, the new NRL under proposal hopes to rule that out.
Family, not money, is understood to be key to Addo-Carr's desire to return to Sydney, with the 25-year-old losing reportedly two family members last year.
Melbourne has agreed to release their boom winger from the final year of his contract to facilitate the move, which as yet to be made official with Melbourne hoping to gain a like for like player in return.
Cook added that player welfare, like in Addo-Carr's case, was another key factor that he hopes the NRL understood as it considers altering the rules around mid-contract movement.
"Sometimes players may need to come back to Sydney for a certain reason," he said.
"At the moment during this difficult time of COVID there's no better example and how important it really is. Sometimes it isn't what's on the table money-wise but it might be more to do with family.
"That's not up to us to go into the details of why players are moving but they might have their reasons behind it."
