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IN the past week, two internationals - Israel Folau and Willie Tonga - announced they would be playing at different clubs from 2009. At the same time, Wayne Bennett, an institution in Brisbane, declares his allegiance to St George Illawarra for next year, while Neil Henry confirms he will head back to North Queensland at the end of the season. All of the above is big news - even in Melbourne.
Every person I talk to wants to know one thing: how can this happen? How can you sign for a rival club for the following year but play out your existing contract with your current club?
I'll tell you how. It is happening because everyone in the league community has become too comfortable with the present situation. We accept it because it has happened in the past, and will probably happen in the future.
The point I am trying to make is that we shouldn't be happy with it. It is madness. A think-tank is needed to develop and implement a system to deal with it.
I do not have the answers with regards to the movement of coaches. It is a phenomenon that seems to have surfaced in recent years.
There is an obvious solution to player movement though. I have long been a supporter of a draft. I think it, along with the salary cap, is a fair way to even the competition. It would also reward loyalty. We should give it a chance. The previous June 30 deadline didn't work. But neither is the free-for-all situation we have in place now. Players should not be able to sign with rival clubs before the end of the season. It has an affect on the club. It has an affect on the fans.
Is it a restraint of trade? I can't answer that. All I am saying is that we should not be feeling comfortable with the present situation. We should be looking at ways to improve. There are plenty of examples in other sports that we can look at to stop the distractions of coaches and players pledging their futures elsewhere mid-season. A player draft is one of those.
Losing Israel - a talent that has the potential to become anything - to Brisbane for next year was, needless to say, disappointing. His circumstances, though, are different to most players. We understand that. Family is important to everyone. Deep down, I think he wanted to stay but family was the overriding factor. As a Mormon he felt like it was his responsibility to return to them after two years away.
I was confident he would stay. That probably adds to the disappointment. But, given his family situation, it was probably a lot more complicated than we realised. I have a lot of admiration for Israel. He has stuck to his beliefs in a rugby league environment.
He told his teammates of his decision after our game on Saturday against the Sydney Roosters. Yes, Israel is heading north at the end of the year, but he gave them his word that he would be 100 per cent committed to playing his best each and every week.
