Heads up boys, we could have a player boycott on our hands

[B-Tron 3000]

The only clubs wanting an immediate salary cap increase are the ones that didn't handle their player retention and/or recruitment properly.
Why should the clubs that did be disadvantaged because of the ineptitude of those that didn't.

They never agreed to this figure with the RLPA and they have said they might change it!

The interim CEO himself has said they are "discussing" it!!

I don't disagree with the fact that it shouldn't be changed, but when you leave the door open like this (along with grossly mishandling this idea of "notional value" for players so that clubs aren't allowed to sign players for the figure they agree to with the player!) then you are bound to bring controversy, self interest and politics into it.

 

[Frailty]

Leave it at $5 Million for this year... Contracted players wouldn't get an increase next year anyway because of their contract - the only people who will benefit is Parramatta, Israel Falou, Manly, and Brett Stewart. All the other clubs have worked with the $5 million salary cap.

However, 2014 Salary Cap should be determined now with an increase to $7 Million.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

I read somewhere that the RLPA want a cap of $6.5m spread over a first grade squad of 30. IMO the cap should remain at $5m in 2013 with all contracted players who have been loyal to the game over the last 5 years receiving a one off bonus from the NRL at the end of next year.

 

[DJShaksta]

Leave it at $5 Million for this year... Contracted players wouldn't get an increase next year anyway because of their contract - the only people who will benefit is Parramatta, Israel Falou, Manly, and Brett Stewart. All the other clubs have worked with the $5 million salary cap.

However, 2014 Salary Cap should be determined now with an increase to $7 Million.

This

 

[Silent Knight]

We're always hearing how the RLPA is fighting for the little guys and not just the stars. I think we should give them something. But call their bluff and give it all to them as a raise in the minimum wage rather than a top up for the Greg Inglis's or a free pass to sign Israel Folau.

Leigh.

You're not wrong there. I believe the minimum wage should be raised in particular to help out those emerging young players who are just starting their NRL careers. I just feel that Clint Newtons involvement in this smacks of self entitlement and Clint has always been about entitlement. Us Knights fans had to put up with the Herald fluff pieces for years where Jack Newton always carried on about his son being a future star in the making while he put in lacklustre performances at the club and never made Origin. A bloke who walked out on his teammates mid season because the coach said mean things to him.

 

[whall15]

Can't see it happening, don't the RLPA receive all of their funding from the ARL?

 

[Danish]

Increase it to $6.5 million.... but at the same time increase the minimum wage to $100K. See if the big name players like that given it will eat up the majority of the increase and not allow them to simply line their own pockets.

 

[Danish]

Can't see it happening, don't the RLPA receive all of their funding from the ARL?

They are basically just an arm of the ARLC aren't they? I recall they got absorbed or something by them a few years back.

If the players are truly for a boycott though they'd just leave the RLPA and form another player union that is actually independent.

 

[super_coach]

Leave it at $5 Million for this year... Contracted players wouldn't get an increase next year anyway because of their contract - the only people who will benefit is Parramatta, Israel Falou, Manly, and Brett Stewart. All the other clubs have worked with the $5 million salary cap.

However, 2014 Salary Cap should be determined now with an increase to $7 Million.

Agreed 100%......Why should teams like Parra and Manly be given a leg up when all the other clubs negoiated their 2013 contract within the limits of their cap.I agree the players deserve more but have all teams at the same start line

 

[Charles Bronson]

Remove the cap all together.

Rich teams like rorters and manly with no heart would be good for the game.

 

[bileduct]

Increase it but put a $6.5 million penalty on any clubs signing douchebags who deliberately undermined the NRL by participating in an AFL publicity stunt.

 

[Didgi]

Leave it at $5 Million for this year... Contracted players wouldn't get an increase next year anyway because of their contract - the only people who will benefit is Parramatta, Israel Falou, Manly, and Brett Stewart. All the other clubs have worked with the $5 million salary cap.

However, 2014 Salary Cap should be determined now with an increase to $7 Million.

Increase it to $6.5 million.... but at the same time increase the minimum wage to $100K. See if the big name players like that given it will eat up the majority of the increase and not allow them to simply line their own pockets.

These are the only two options IMO, particularly this late in the game. It's farcical it's been left this late, and despite the TV deal more than doubling in value there's only been a 20% increase on the salary cap. I understand there will be further increases but it should have been immediate and far more substantial.

 

[BunniesMan]

In these situations I don't usually agree with the players but I agree with them. The tv rights deal has gone up astronomically and a 5mill salary cap is a joke. I think it should be 6m at least.

I think it's really unfair on the players for the NRL to be taking advantage of them like this. Everyone and everything else gets paid but the players have to deal with a crappy 10-15% increase when the tv rights has more than doubled.

The NRL should give them a fair offer and if they don't I support all reasonable boycotts, including what it is suggested in this article.

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

Why haven't the commission set the bloody salary cap, it is a bloody disgrace, i'm bloody outraged!!!! Sack John Grant !!!!!!!11 rawr

RLPA goes high, commission goes low. They end up settling for something roughly in the middle. Standard course of business, happens throughout sporting competitions the world over

 

[bileduct]

These are the only two options IMO, particularly this late in the game. It's farcical it's been left this late, and despite the TV deal more than doubling in value there's only been a 20% increase on the salary cap. I understand there will be further increases but it should have been immediate and far more substantial.

The broadcasting rights deal was made after clubs had already pretty much finalised their squads for 2013.

Raising the salary cap at this point of the year only benefits clubs who have mismanaged their caps and are looking to sign turncoat douchebags.

 

[eozsmiles]

Agreed 100%......Why should teams like Parra and Manly be given a leg up when all the other clubs negoiated their 2013 contract within the limits of their cap.I agree the players deserve more but have all teams at the same start line

One side of the argument is being run by clubs and fans for their benefit. And the other side of the argument wants to make sure that stars such as $BW, Izzy, and Stewart are on the field and playing our sport.

Understandable that fans are only interested in how this decision affects their club. But the people charged with making this decision won't be weighted by the same bias.

So while you think that Parra and Manly are going to get a leg up, Shane and the boys are trying to give the NRL a leg up.


Plenty of people suggested that the NRL should've fronted Izzy a marketing deal, AFL and A-League style, that was outside the cap of any club that signed him. Had this happened and Parra signed him then people would still be blowing up.

Fact is that for every person that wants to see a star in our game, there is one fan who doesn't want it for any number of reasons. It is a bit of a shame that 2-3 players with this quality remain unsigned - $BW only just submitted his deal so it may well go through no problem - and so many people seem intent on them remaining unsigned, rather than looking for a way that can get them on the field this year and potentially open up more variable ways of paying star players in the future.

 

[DJShaksta]

the broadcasting rights deal was made after clubs had already pretty much finalised their squads for 2013.

Raising the salary cap at this point of the year only benefits clubs who have mismanaged their caps and are looking to sign turncoat douchebags.

qft

 

[IanG]

Hope not cause I'm going to the All Stars game next year

 

[Dogs Of War]

The broadcasting rights deal was made after clubs had already pretty much finalised their squads for 2013.

Raising the salary cap at this point of the year only benefits clubs who have mismanaged their caps and are looking to sign turncoat douchebags.

But it does benefit all clubs, the clubs which have mismanaged their caps get a reprieve, but all the other clubs get to bring forward some payments if they don't want to add more depth to there squads and thus free up more money for resignings etc.

I think from the clubs perspective, they don't want any dillution of cash that they will receive next season, and thus it will be ARLC having to stump up any increase in money to players.

The players association really should have been better prepared to request that all player payments be tied to an overall percentage of the new deal, probably in line with the percentage AFL players get.

 

[firechild]

But it does benefit all clubs, the clubs which have mismanaged their caps get a reprieve, but all the other clubs get to bring forward some payments if they don't want to add more depth to there squads and thus free up more money for resignings etc.

This is a great point that most people seem to ignore. As it stands, Manly and Parra have to (and no doubt will) reshuffle their squad, payments or whatever and come in under the cap. If the cap gets raised, other clubs have the luxury of shifting payments forward to give them more cap space in future years while Manly and Parra would not be able to do so. In reality this season probably won't be affected for either club but the other 14 clubs will gain benefits over the coming years.