http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21990906-5012431,00.html
Penrith calls for fewer teams
Matthews, one of the Panthers' officials who rubber-stamped Craig Gower's release to join French rugby union club Bayonne, believes the NRL must be cut back to 12 clubs, the salary cap lifted to $6-$7million and the governance of the game streamlined.
Knowing full well his plan bears some similarity to that which caused so much pain during the Super League war, Matthews waded in all the same.
He said the competition needed teams in Adelaide and Perth - as it did in the Super League competition before both cities were abandoned - as a means of growing revenue amid concerns the NRL's depth is being eroded by cashed-up British clubs.
"You have to look at the economies of the game," Matthews said.
"At the moment if you want to compete in terms of (England), you have to either get more income or get more efficient.
"One way to increase the amount of money you have got, which would increase the salary cap, is to have less teams and to have the teams national.
"I'm a fan of having teams in Perth and Adelaide."
Matthews stressed he was an advocate of the salary cap but said it needed to rise or more players would be lost overseas.
Gower is believed to be receiving more than $500,000 a season to play union in France, while Melbourne's Matt King is ready to accept a $550,000 a year deal to join England's Super League.
Players based in England also receive tax breaks making it an even more attractive option.
Matthews warned the situation could become more dire next season when the national under-20s competition kicked off, putting the game's next generation in the shop window.
"I'm not saying for one minute we get rid of the salary cap," he said. "I'm not advocating the clubs putting in more money. We need more funding for the game."
North Queensland chief executive Peter Parr said he could understand the argument for fewer teams. However, he believed reducing the number of sides would lead to more players heading overseas.
"Obviously the elite players will be looked after," Parr said. "But you would lose another 100 players.
"There would be less opportunities for young players. You open up a whole range of other problems."
Penrith calls for fewer teams
- <LI class=byline>Brent Read and Stuart Honeysett
- June 30, 2007
Matthews, one of the Panthers' officials who rubber-stamped Craig Gower's release to join French rugby union club Bayonne, believes the NRL must be cut back to 12 clubs, the salary cap lifted to $6-$7million and the governance of the game streamlined.
Knowing full well his plan bears some similarity to that which caused so much pain during the Super League war, Matthews waded in all the same.
He said the competition needed teams in Adelaide and Perth - as it did in the Super League competition before both cities were abandoned - as a means of growing revenue amid concerns the NRL's depth is being eroded by cashed-up British clubs.
"You have to look at the economies of the game," Matthews said.
"At the moment if you want to compete in terms of (England), you have to either get more income or get more efficient.
"One way to increase the amount of money you have got, which would increase the salary cap, is to have less teams and to have the teams national.
"I'm a fan of having teams in Perth and Adelaide."
Matthews stressed he was an advocate of the salary cap but said it needed to rise or more players would be lost overseas.
Gower is believed to be receiving more than $500,000 a season to play union in France, while Melbourne's Matt King is ready to accept a $550,000 a year deal to join England's Super League.
Players based in England also receive tax breaks making it an even more attractive option.
Matthews warned the situation could become more dire next season when the national under-20s competition kicked off, putting the game's next generation in the shop window.
"I'm not saying for one minute we get rid of the salary cap," he said. "I'm not advocating the clubs putting in more money. We need more funding for the game."
North Queensland chief executive Peter Parr said he could understand the argument for fewer teams. However, he believed reducing the number of sides would lead to more players heading overseas.
"Obviously the elite players will be looked after," Parr said. "But you would lose another 100 players.
"There would be less opportunities for young players. You open up a whole range of other problems."
