http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22096434-5006066,00.html
NRL acts on player burnout
By Dean Ritchie
July 19, 2007 12:00am
A DAY after rugby league's most courageous player Danny Buderus admitted he is a burnt-out wreck, the NRL will unveil a plan to relieve the stress and strain on the game's elite stars.
NRL chief executive David Gallop will today announce to chief executives his long-overdue initiatives to reduce the workload on worn-out players.
His announcement comes after The Daily Telegraph's revelation that 75 players will miss this weekend's round through injury. They include Buderus, who last night told of the extreme extent of his pain.
The courageous Newcastle skipper said the constant strain of playing injured and pushing the limits of endurance had left him physically and mentally spent.
"It's probably a blessing in disguise (to be out injured) to be honest," Buderus said.
The NRL's new-season restructure will include:
TWO byes for every club with the 2008 season to start a week earlier;
CITY-Country to be moved from Thursday to Friday night; and
MONDAY night football to be scrapped for rounds before City-Country and the Anzac Test.
"The proposed new season structure will provide some relief for the heavy burden on our players as we continue to juggle the demands of the club competition and the representative season," Gallop said last night.
The NRL restructure follows discussions between NRL management and the game's television broadcasters, Channel 9 and Fox Sports.
"The new calendar has been arrived at after extensive negotiations with our broadcasters and is an improvement on the 2007 situation," Gallop added.
News of the restructure will be greeted favourably by the game's top players who have battled through the representative games while still giving their all for their clubs.
Manly's veteran forward Steve Menzies said: "It's a good step by the NRL - it is a very tough season for players.
"Any extra rest for players has to be a positive."
Also under discussion at today's CEOs meeting will be the game's concerning player drain to England.
Last night club bosses were at a loss to explain how the NRL could prevent our top players accepting big-money offers in Super League.
"We want to get the clubs' views on the issue - nothing concrete has been put to them," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.
"But we cannot increase the salary cap - the clubs can't afford it. We all want to solve the problem but there is no easy answer."
Eels boss Denis Fitzgerald said: "I don't see an increase in the salary cap as a solution."
The Canberra CEO Simon Hawkins and his Gold Cost counterpart Michael Seale said that England remained a concern for the NRL. "But there's no magic fix. I don't have any pre-conceived ideas on the issue," Hawkins said.
Searle added: "They (England) are only targeting a small minority. We shouldn't model our salary cap to prevent poaching at different times."
NRL acts on player burnout
By Dean Ritchie
July 19, 2007 12:00am
A DAY after rugby league's most courageous player Danny Buderus admitted he is a burnt-out wreck, the NRL will unveil a plan to relieve the stress and strain on the game's elite stars.
NRL chief executive David Gallop will today announce to chief executives his long-overdue initiatives to reduce the workload on worn-out players.
His announcement comes after The Daily Telegraph's revelation that 75 players will miss this weekend's round through injury. They include Buderus, who last night told of the extreme extent of his pain.
The courageous Newcastle skipper said the constant strain of playing injured and pushing the limits of endurance had left him physically and mentally spent.
"It's probably a blessing in disguise (to be out injured) to be honest," Buderus said.
The NRL's new-season restructure will include:
TWO byes for every club with the 2008 season to start a week earlier;
CITY-Country to be moved from Thursday to Friday night; and
MONDAY night football to be scrapped for rounds before City-Country and the Anzac Test.
"The proposed new season structure will provide some relief for the heavy burden on our players as we continue to juggle the demands of the club competition and the representative season," Gallop said last night.
The NRL restructure follows discussions between NRL management and the game's television broadcasters, Channel 9 and Fox Sports.
"The new calendar has been arrived at after extensive negotiations with our broadcasters and is an improvement on the 2007 situation," Gallop added.
News of the restructure will be greeted favourably by the game's top players who have battled through the representative games while still giving their all for their clubs.
Manly's veteran forward Steve Menzies said: "It's a good step by the NRL - it is a very tough season for players.
"Any extra rest for players has to be a positive."
Also under discussion at today's CEOs meeting will be the game's concerning player drain to England.
Last night club bosses were at a loss to explain how the NRL could prevent our top players accepting big-money offers in Super League.
"We want to get the clubs' views on the issue - nothing concrete has been put to them," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.
"But we cannot increase the salary cap - the clubs can't afford it. We all want to solve the problem but there is no easy answer."
Eels boss Denis Fitzgerald said: "I don't see an increase in the salary cap as a solution."
The Canberra CEO Simon Hawkins and his Gold Cost counterpart Michael Seale said that England remained a concern for the NRL. "But there's no magic fix. I don't have any pre-conceived ideas on the issue," Hawkins said.
Searle added: "They (England) are only targeting a small minority. We shouldn't model our salary cap to prevent poaching at different times."
