now it's contracts that are making him lose
the world is against the master and it's just not fair
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ra...l-to-fix-contract-system-20180422-p4zaz6.html
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart calls for NRL to fix contract system
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says the NRL need to overhaul the players' contract system because it's distracting the players.
More than half the Raiders team that lost to South Sydney at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday was off-contract.
Both their halves, Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer, and a huge chunk of their forward pack - Sia Soliola, Siliva Havili, Junior Paulo, Luke Bateman, Shannon Boyd, Josh Papalii and Dunamis Lui - finish their Raiders contracts at the end of the season - although it's believed Paulo has already accepted a four-year deal worth almost $3 million to return to Parramatta in 2019.
Stuart said there needed to be a better system, rather than one that benefited player managers - and he didn't just say that because of the situation the Green Machine was in.
He said other sports didn't have the same problems, but wouldn't be drawn on what his preferred model was.
Both soccer and the AFL have set trade periods, while the AFL also has a draft.
"The contractual process and how it's structured make it, I believe, very difficult to work to when you've got players off-contract, and they are a disturbance throughout the playing season," Stuart said.
"And it's not because we're in this position, it's happening to us at the moment.
"I believe that it's a disruption to the players who are paid to play football and there's got to be another way or another system because every other elite sport has a better system or structure where it doesn't disrupt the season.
"There's a lot of other things that I'd like to say, but it's not the time or place for me to say it."
Boyd's been linked with the Gold Coast Titans, Papalii' with the Titans and the Rabbitohs, and Sezer's reportedly interested in moving back to Sydney.
It's believed the Raiders have offered contracts to a majority of their off-contract stars, with Bateman close to finalising a two-year deal.
The Raiders coach felt all the rumours highlighted the disruption it caused players during the season.
"That's the thing, there's always speculation around players that are off-contract," Stuart said.
"It's another disruption and disturbance and to put a player in this position where they have to negotiate their careers in season - it's not always their choice of wanting to do this, but it's better for them to be negotiating in season for the managers' sake.
"We've got a wonderful club here. Every player that I've spoken to wants to stay here and be a Raider and I haven't heard anything [else]."
Raiders second-rower Joe Tapine said it wasn't something that's distracted him since joining the Raiders on a four-year deal in 2016.
"No, I don't really take it into consideration. It's a business, people come and go, but I'm happy to play alongside any of the brothers whether they're staying or leaving," he said.
Does this bloke ever take any responsibility for his and his club's actions?
