Mortimer banking on TV jackpot
GREG PRICHARD
February 23, 2010
WHICHEVER club signs Daniel Mortimer will get him for only two years, with his management set to position the 20-year-old potential superstar to take advantage of an anticipated dramatic increase in the NRL salary cap because of a monster television rights deal.
In what could quickly become a trend for sought-after players, Parramatta five-eighth Mortimer's agent, Steve Gillis, said yesterday he and his client were looking at a short-term deal when Mortimer signed a contract with the Eels or the other club involved in the battle for his signature, Canterbury.
Mortimer, who made a tremendous impact as a first-year rookie with the Parramatta team that went all the way to last year's grand final, is contracted to the Eels until the end of this season, and another two years would take him to the end of 2012, when the league's free-to-air and pay TV deals run out.
The salary cap stands at $4.2 million, but Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle, who has been heavily involved in the push for an independent commission to run the game, last month predicted the cap could rise to as much as $6 million following the new TV deals.
Parramatta and Canterbury would both like to sign Mortimer to a long-term deal, but Gillis said it made sense to put the player in a position where his next contract ran out at the same time as the new deals took effect on the cap in time for the 2013 season.
''We're looking at a two-year deal, primarily because I think it's safe to predict the new TV rights deals will lead to an increase in the salary cap, and I believe Daniel is the type of player who will only get better, and can take advantage of that,'' Gillis said. ''If that is the case, then to negotiate beyond 2012 is quite risky, because we wouldn't want Daniel to undercut himself.
''I've got confidence in the NRL negotiating a bonanza deal with the TV rights. As a consequence, the cap could rise markedly, and since Daniel is not even 21 yet but already on the verge of playing representative football I think this is the way to go. We will play it safe, rather than risk being sorry.''
Mortimer would prefer to resolve his future before the season kicks off on March 12, but that seems increasingly unlikely. ''It's something you can't really rush into, but hopefully over the next few weeks I'll get it all sorted and I'll know what I'm doing for the next few years,'' he said yesterday. ''I haven't actually got an offer from either club yet, but I've been told that in the next few weeks I will, so I'll have to have a look at them and weigh those options up.''
Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson said he also hoped it could be worked out before the season began to avoid distracting Mortimer from his football. ''We've done everything, I think, to get him to stay at the club,'' Anderson said. ''We'd love him to stay.''
Mortimer seemed comfortable with what some other young players might find a difficult position.
Canterbury are the club for which his father, Peter, and uncles Steve and Chris played.
