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Humphreys' proposal for a longer season may have legs: officials
GLENN JACKSON
May 22, 2010
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...on-may-have-legs-officials-20100521-w1rg.html
Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys' pitch for a new 32-round competition to fix the game's salary cap woes has received support - albeit qualified - from a range of the top officials in the game - even the representative of the players.
Humphreys told the Herald yesterday that he had submitted a proposal to NRL boss David Gallop that the game embrace an extended competition which would involve every club playing each other twice, at home and away. That would give the code significantly greater earning capacity from broadcasters and sponsors, although it could come at a cost - already weary stars would have to play more football.
It was given some support yesterday from other chief executives - who had until close of business yesterday to submit their own proposals for salary cap reform to Gallop.
Gallop, who met senior players Petero Civoniceva and Darren Lockyer yesterday to discuss their concerns over player payments, also said the suggestion would be considered.
''More rounds of football has obvious benefits, but there's also significant downsides in asking players to play more,'' Gallop said. ''But we're happy to throw that into the mix.''
While not wishing to endorse the plan - or dismiss it - David Garnsey, the chief executive of the RLPA (Rugby League Players' Association) also said it had merits.
''There's a major concern about burnout in our game and adding games doesn't help that, but a lot of that concern revolves around fixtures which are squashed together, with players backing up within 24 or 48 hours,'' Garnsey said. ''If that were to be contemplated, the competition structure would have to be revamped so that players would not have to back up within, 24, 48 or even 72 hours.
''I'm not dismissing it. I'm receptive to all new ideas and there's certainly an attraction with a true home and away competition. A lot of people would love that, as a means of fairness.''
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg gave firmer support.
''If the trials were scrapped, that gives you three or four more weeks anyway, so that would give you 30 weeks without really blinking. I think it should absolutely be on the table to consider,'' said Greenberg, who like Humphreys had sought submissions from members and sponsors to offer up to the NRL yesterday. ''The common theme is that there's got to be more money available for the grant and the cap to be closer together.''
Gallop was in Coolum yesterday to meet disgruntled players. Both Civoniceva - who has taken on a role effectively representing the player group - and Lockyer have expressed frustration at the lack of equality between rugby league payments and those of other sports.
The two players, in camp with Queensland before Wednesday night's first State of Origin, spoke with Gallop about the bread-and-butter salary cap gripes of representative payments and third party agreements during their meeting.
''It was an opportunity to discuss the game's financial position, and the review of the salary cap,'' Gallop said. ''My advice was that they work on integrating their views with those of the RLPA so that as much as possible they present a single response to some of the issues.
''We discussed the pros and cons of some of the ideas that have been tossed up around the structure of the season. Many of their ideas were very good ones, and they will certainly be put into the mix as we go forward over the next few weeks.''
South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson, on the working party charged with leading reform, said he hoped that the cap would be simplified. ''We don't need to throw it out, we need to streamline it, make it simpler, clearer,'' Richardson said. ''It's there as a tool for the business plan of the game, not to beat you around the head with.''
GLENN JACKSON
May 22, 2010
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...on-may-have-legs-officials-20100521-w1rg.html
Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys' pitch for a new 32-round competition to fix the game's salary cap woes has received support - albeit qualified - from a range of the top officials in the game - even the representative of the players.
Humphreys told the Herald yesterday that he had submitted a proposal to NRL boss David Gallop that the game embrace an extended competition which would involve every club playing each other twice, at home and away. That would give the code significantly greater earning capacity from broadcasters and sponsors, although it could come at a cost - already weary stars would have to play more football.
It was given some support yesterday from other chief executives - who had until close of business yesterday to submit their own proposals for salary cap reform to Gallop.
Gallop, who met senior players Petero Civoniceva and Darren Lockyer yesterday to discuss their concerns over player payments, also said the suggestion would be considered.
''More rounds of football has obvious benefits, but there's also significant downsides in asking players to play more,'' Gallop said. ''But we're happy to throw that into the mix.''
While not wishing to endorse the plan - or dismiss it - David Garnsey, the chief executive of the RLPA (Rugby League Players' Association) also said it had merits.
''There's a major concern about burnout in our game and adding games doesn't help that, but a lot of that concern revolves around fixtures which are squashed together, with players backing up within 24 or 48 hours,'' Garnsey said. ''If that were to be contemplated, the competition structure would have to be revamped so that players would not have to back up within, 24, 48 or even 72 hours.
''I'm not dismissing it. I'm receptive to all new ideas and there's certainly an attraction with a true home and away competition. A lot of people would love that, as a means of fairness.''
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg gave firmer support.
''If the trials were scrapped, that gives you three or four more weeks anyway, so that would give you 30 weeks without really blinking. I think it should absolutely be on the table to consider,'' said Greenberg, who like Humphreys had sought submissions from members and sponsors to offer up to the NRL yesterday. ''The common theme is that there's got to be more money available for the grant and the cap to be closer together.''
Gallop was in Coolum yesterday to meet disgruntled players. Both Civoniceva - who has taken on a role effectively representing the player group - and Lockyer have expressed frustration at the lack of equality between rugby league payments and those of other sports.
The two players, in camp with Queensland before Wednesday night's first State of Origin, spoke with Gallop about the bread-and-butter salary cap gripes of representative payments and third party agreements during their meeting.
''It was an opportunity to discuss the game's financial position, and the review of the salary cap,'' Gallop said. ''My advice was that they work on integrating their views with those of the RLPA so that as much as possible they present a single response to some of the issues.
''We discussed the pros and cons of some of the ideas that have been tossed up around the structure of the season. Many of their ideas were very good ones, and they will certainly be put into the mix as we go forward over the next few weeks.''
South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson, on the working party charged with leading reform, said he hoped that the cap would be simplified. ''We don't need to throw it out, we need to streamline it, make it simpler, clearer,'' Richardson said. ''It's there as a tool for the business plan of the game, not to beat you around the head with.''
