Top players take on Gallop's Benji ban
Glenn Jackson, Rupert Guinness | February 20, 2009
SENIOR players are uniting against NRL chief executive David Gallop over his ban on Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall's fling with Japanese rugby.
With Marshall holding firm on plans to play an off-season in Japan, the Rugby League Professionals Association has thrown its weight behind the Kiwi's bold bid, even canvassing its legal team about Gallop's threat not to register a new contract for the 23-year-old on his return from a lucrative stint with a Japanese rugby union club.
But there was a new twist to the ongoing saga, with claims from former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, a consultant with the Suntory club in Japan, that should Marshall sign with a Japanese club, he must be in the country by June 30 - still three months before the end of the NRL season.
With Marshall contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2009, that would likely knock any chance of gaining a Japanese windfall on the head.
"You can leave after that, but you can't play for another club after that before you [finish] playing for your [Japanese] club," Jones said.
"When you sign a contract in June that means you sign to the Japanese rugby union. You sign to a company [that sponsors a club], but your host union is the Japanese rugby union. So you can't have a contract with another organisation."
But Marshall's manager, Martin Tauber, said he had not been informed of any such regulation during his dealings.
"That's never been raised," Tauber said. "I'm certainly not aware of that rule. The people representing us have never raised that, and that's a Japanese agent who speaks the language."
Marshall has received significant support from the RLPA as well as senior players, with the association's chief executive, Matthew Rodwell, backing him.
"His contract is expiring," Rodwell said. "He has the right to do what he wants. If that works out or doesn't work out with another NRL club, good luck to him.
"I don't think it's giving a lot of coverage to Japanese rugby, or promoting the game of rugby union to the degrees that's being mentioned. If there's an opportunity, perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to slam the door shut.
"And I think there would be a legal issue if Benji did go to Japan and his contract is not registered with Wests Tigers. I've had some advice from a lawyer and he said that's dangerous territory."
One high-profile player is believed to have sent a text message to Marshall expressing his full support, while others leaving the door firmly open on the move include Roosters coach Brad Fittler, who said he would allow one of his players to top up his income overseas if it meant the club retaining him.
"There are ways we can utilise that money and let our players play in the NRL," Fittler said. "You've just got to make sure they're contracted and make that part of their deal
[but] if they want to go there and take the money, I reckon beautiful.
"I think there's ways we can utilise the Japanese rugby union that can financially benefit our game."
Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello said the money on offer in Japan, which appears to far outweigh the limitations of the NRL salary cap, could be used to keep players in the competition.
"I don't see a problem in Benji doing that at all," he said.
"I don't think any player would see a problem in it."
New Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley added: "I don't have a problem with it. If it keeps him in our game, and there's a potential to earn a bit more money, that's fine.
"He'll still be staying in our game, promoting our game. This is about watching him play for 26 rounds or not watching him at all."
But Gallop was unbowed: "The ramifications are serious. If we let one player go, how many do you let go?
"It's not surprising that clubs want to hold onto every player they can, but sometimes there's a need to look at the best interests of the game, rather than individuals and individual club's wishes. Rugby league is not a six months-a-year job anymore."
Gallop said he would raise the issue at an NRL board meeting next week, although he said he believed he had the full support of directors.
The issue is also likely to be front and centre at the next chief executives' conference, on March 4. "This continues to be a difficult issue for the game," Gallop said.
