I can understand Sam's frustration (if it is a real interview i should add) but the question that needs to be asked is were the NRL clubs consulted about the fixture before it was confirmed? After all, the clubs pay the wages, not the RFL
If this is an NRL call I don’t think there’s anything Souths can do about it.Why should they be consulted? The rules are players are to be released, if not the players are to be suspended.
No other sport works like that. Last year the English players flew to Sydney for a mid season test and it wasn’t a problem. The Australian players are playing a three game mid season test and that’s not a problem. It’s a f**king joke.
If Souths don’t release the brothers they can hav my ticket back and I’m f**king done with them.
If this is an NRL call I don’t think there’s anything Souths can do about it.
I haven’t read any comment from Souths on the issue, but I’d like to think they are supporting Sam on this issue.
SOO is a NRL product and big money earner for them. England vs NZ in Denver isn't either of those things.
You only need to look at what happened to Hodgson in the RLWC and how that has inpacted Canberra to understand the clubs concerns.
I don't disagree with the sentiment of it at all but from the point of view of the NRL and it's clubs, i don't see a reason as to why they should release some of their highest earners for little or no compensation should something happen to them.
The NRL clubs are the ones protesting to the NRL.
The nrl is rumoured to only give their blessing to not release them. Souths pay their wages not the NRL so if they want to release them they can. I don’t believe Souths with 2/3 players in the running to be called up don’t have a hand in it.
In the context of origin it amounts to nothing less than discrimination in my eyes. It’s ok for Australians but not foreigners, f**king bull shit.
Stupid timing for a test march. There should have been decisions between all party’s involved to have a international break in both the nrl and superleauge so players can rep there county’s just like they do in soccer.
then why is everyone crying the clubs and nrl have no right to Stop players leavingThat’s exactly what happened for f**ks sake. Origin standalone weekend is an international break. There are no NRL or SL games.
then why is everyone crying the clubs and nrl have no right to Stop players leaving
The NRL isn't in a position of strength in this country either. Let's be honest, the only reason that it is competing with the AFL is thanks largely to the population in RL heartlands. Outside of NSW and Qld, it is AFL territory and they are slowly sinking their claws into our zones too. Therefore, the NRL need to do what is best for the NRL and an England vs NZ friendly in Denver is what's best for RFL, not NRL.
I'd liken it to the EPL as recent as in the early 2000's when clubs refused to release players for WC qualifiers. The difference here however is the EPL was and still is the biggest brand in England. There is no salary cap in place and at the time, there was no restrictions on player movement. A lot of players were easily replaced should they get injured while away.
In the NRL, there is a salary cap in place, limiting the potential for a club to replace a player who gets injured while on international duty. Josh Hodgson for example. These English players are crucial cogs in the set up of a club and losing them to injury would severly dent any hope of success for the season.
Which EPL clubs refused to release players?
My problem with your Hodgson analargy is JT. Cowboys potentially lost a premiership because of origin, but that’s fine because Australia. f**king hypocritical merkins.
Leeds wouldn't release Kewell, Viduka and Okon amongst others and they weren't alone, at times claiming they were injured even though no club matches were missed. I imagine that this is a similar line that will be pedalled out by NRL clubs. Afterall, everyone has a niggle by that stage of the season.
JT went down in an NRL endorsed fixture. The friendly in Denver has very little to do with the NRL outside of players used.