I don't think anyone else has posted this here yet so
from the Sunday Mail (Queensland)
http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8313903%5E2764,00.html
* * * * *
Standing their ground
ADAM HAWSE
04jan04
Q [Adam hawse]) HAVE the NRL and Sydney Roosters spoken since The Sunday Mail broke the story two weeks ago of the Roosters challenging the salary cap?
A [David Gallop]) WE'VE had a number of telephone conversations about it. They're aware that we are not going to change our timetable and we're aware that they believe there should be an increase.
Q) HAVE you spoken to their chairman Nick Politis and was anything resolved?
A) YES I have spoken to him. No, nothing was resolved. (But) I don't believe there will be court action and I don't believe threatening court action was an appropriate way of dealing with the matter.
Q) BUT if neither party has changed its stance that means this court threat is still hanging over the game. The World Sevens is just three weeks away shouldn't you get this resolved?
A) WE won't be changing our timetable.
Q) WHAT is that timetable?
A) WE'LL make a decision some time after the start of this season on whether there will be a cap increase. A cap increase appears unlikely unless the clubs' income can be improved. The ideal salary cap model is the salary cap being the equivalent of the grants that the clubs receive from broadcasters and sponsorship. At the moment our club grants are at about $2.3m and our salary cap is $3.5m and closer to $3.6m. We have to have a balance between catering for the lowest common denominator as well as catering for what the better-off clubs can afford.
Q) THE Roosters say they helped save the game through the Super League split. Shouldn't that count for something?
A) I DON'T think bringing up what happened nearly 10 years ago is particularly helpful to the current competition. Everyone in the game is keen to put that behind us and I don't particulary think it advances this issue.
Q) NICK Politis is on the NRL partnership board and is chairman of a club that could soon be taking the NRL to court. Should he resign from the board?
A) NOT necessarily. People juggle competing interests in the game on a range of fronts. I'm sure a person with Nick Politis' business acumen can make his own decisions on an issue like that.
Q) FOR a long time Brisbane and the ARL were at loggerheads, some saying that was a factor in the split of the game. Do you have any concerns about the NRL's relationship with the Roosters?
A) I DON'T think threatening court action was an appropriate way of dealing with this issue, but I don't see any long term damage to our relationship with the Roosters.
Q) ARE you disappointed in the continual criticism of the game's administration from NSW coach and Roosters official Phil Gould?
A) YES. Some of that criticism has been way over the top. However, the game thrives on passion and debate and if the criticism is based on balanced argument we consider it from wherever it comes from.
Q) YOU say you have to cater for the lesser clubs, but doesn't the salary cap as it is penalise the top clubs from doing what they are supposed to do win competitions and produce representative players?
A) IT doesn't penalise. It means pure buying power doesn't dictate the structure of our comp.
Q) BUT shouldn't fans be able to experience a dynasty like the great St George teams of the 1950s and '60s?
A) THE salary cap is not the be all and end all of what constitutes a successful football team. There are a whole range of reasons from development to coaching to the luck you've had with injuries.
Q) SO you think it's still possible to win four premierships on the trot with a salary cap?
A) YES, definitely.
Q) WELL, we've had 10 different premiers in 10 years. Can't that be attributed to the cap and clubs being forced to shed players after winning a title?
A) YOU have to look at the alternatives. What's important here is there has to be a balance. There will always be weaker teams and stronger teams. But structuring the competition on pure buying power is inevitably going to lead to long periods where a few teams dominate.
Q) WHEN is the earliest the cap can be increased?
A) WELL, no decision has been made about 2005. I would like to see the cap go up. That would be indicative of the game's success, but on the current income levels of the clubs, it creates a problem.
Q) BUT last year the Telstra Premiership had record crowds, TV ratings were up and it was a sell-out Origin series?
A) YES, but the additional revenue that those things created is being put into grassroots programs and that should be one of the game's priorities.
Q) WHAT happens now? Is the NRL prepared to go to court to defend the cap?
A) ABSOLUTELY. The game's going through a period of widely-acclaimed success. And at the very core of that is the successul policing of the salary cap. Whatever happens, I'd expect the Roosters to accept the umpire's decision. Suggesting that they want to blow down the whole house of cards is really an unnecessary tactic on their behalf.
* * * * *
from the Sunday Mail (Queensland)
http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8313903%5E2764,00.html
* * * * *
Standing their ground
ADAM HAWSE
04jan04
Q [Adam hawse]) HAVE the NRL and Sydney Roosters spoken since The Sunday Mail broke the story two weeks ago of the Roosters challenging the salary cap?
A [David Gallop]) WE'VE had a number of telephone conversations about it. They're aware that we are not going to change our timetable and we're aware that they believe there should be an increase.
Q) HAVE you spoken to their chairman Nick Politis and was anything resolved?
A) YES I have spoken to him. No, nothing was resolved. (But) I don't believe there will be court action and I don't believe threatening court action was an appropriate way of dealing with the matter.
Q) BUT if neither party has changed its stance that means this court threat is still hanging over the game. The World Sevens is just three weeks away shouldn't you get this resolved?
A) WE won't be changing our timetable.
Q) WHAT is that timetable?
A) WE'LL make a decision some time after the start of this season on whether there will be a cap increase. A cap increase appears unlikely unless the clubs' income can be improved. The ideal salary cap model is the salary cap being the equivalent of the grants that the clubs receive from broadcasters and sponsorship. At the moment our club grants are at about $2.3m and our salary cap is $3.5m and closer to $3.6m. We have to have a balance between catering for the lowest common denominator as well as catering for what the better-off clubs can afford.
Q) THE Roosters say they helped save the game through the Super League split. Shouldn't that count for something?
A) I DON'T think bringing up what happened nearly 10 years ago is particularly helpful to the current competition. Everyone in the game is keen to put that behind us and I don't particulary think it advances this issue.
Q) NICK Politis is on the NRL partnership board and is chairman of a club that could soon be taking the NRL to court. Should he resign from the board?
A) NOT necessarily. People juggle competing interests in the game on a range of fronts. I'm sure a person with Nick Politis' business acumen can make his own decisions on an issue like that.
Q) FOR a long time Brisbane and the ARL were at loggerheads, some saying that was a factor in the split of the game. Do you have any concerns about the NRL's relationship with the Roosters?
A) I DON'T think threatening court action was an appropriate way of dealing with this issue, but I don't see any long term damage to our relationship with the Roosters.
Q) ARE you disappointed in the continual criticism of the game's administration from NSW coach and Roosters official Phil Gould?
A) YES. Some of that criticism has been way over the top. However, the game thrives on passion and debate and if the criticism is based on balanced argument we consider it from wherever it comes from.
Q) YOU say you have to cater for the lesser clubs, but doesn't the salary cap as it is penalise the top clubs from doing what they are supposed to do win competitions and produce representative players?
A) IT doesn't penalise. It means pure buying power doesn't dictate the structure of our comp.
Q) BUT shouldn't fans be able to experience a dynasty like the great St George teams of the 1950s and '60s?
A) THE salary cap is not the be all and end all of what constitutes a successful football team. There are a whole range of reasons from development to coaching to the luck you've had with injuries.
Q) SO you think it's still possible to win four premierships on the trot with a salary cap?
A) YES, definitely.
Q) WELL, we've had 10 different premiers in 10 years. Can't that be attributed to the cap and clubs being forced to shed players after winning a title?
A) YOU have to look at the alternatives. What's important here is there has to be a balance. There will always be weaker teams and stronger teams. But structuring the competition on pure buying power is inevitably going to lead to long periods where a few teams dominate.
Q) WHEN is the earliest the cap can be increased?
A) WELL, no decision has been made about 2005. I would like to see the cap go up. That would be indicative of the game's success, but on the current income levels of the clubs, it creates a problem.
Q) BUT last year the Telstra Premiership had record crowds, TV ratings were up and it was a sell-out Origin series?
A) YES, but the additional revenue that those things created is being put into grassroots programs and that should be one of the game's priorities.
Q) WHAT happens now? Is the NRL prepared to go to court to defend the cap?
A) ABSOLUTELY. The game's going through a period of widely-acclaimed success. And at the very core of that is the successul policing of the salary cap. Whatever happens, I'd expect the Roosters to accept the umpire's decision. Suggesting that they want to blow down the whole house of cards is really an unnecessary tactic on their behalf.
* * * * *
