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Recruits give Eels boost
By Paul Kent
July 12, 2004
PARRAMATTA's win on Saturday night against the competition-leading Sydney Roosters is a massive boost for the club, whose good times have been a little light on lately.
Perhaps the Eels' turnaround is the result of the club's recruitment for next season, which has been the most impressive of the teams wading into the market.
The Eels' spending spree is reminiscent of their last full dash into the market, when well over $9million was spent to secure the likes of Dean Pay, Jim Dymock, Jason Smith, Jarrod McCracken and Gary Freeman after almost a decade of missing the playoffs.
It had its desired effect then, and Eels fans are hopeful of a repeat.
Already Parramatta have bought Timana Tahu, Mark Riddell, Glenn Morrison, Paul Stringer and Chad Robinson for next season.
If there is any positive the current anti-tampering deadline does provide, it is that it gives struggling clubs new hope for next season, just like the Eels.
But is that enough to keep it? For every Parramatta at the moment, remember, there is also a Canberra.
Raiders coach Matthew Elliott awoke yesterday morning to news that Joel Monaghan had signed with Sydney Roosters.
Monaghan was seen as one of the rising stars at the club, and his loss comes on top of the recent losses of Luke Davico and Ruben Wiki, and this after the club had already failed to sign Brent Kite and David Kidwell from other clubs.
The current climate has been a huge downer for the Raiders.
Given this, it is almost certain that the latest frenzy, the biggest in years, has spelt the end of the anti-tampering deadline as it stands.
"We need to talk about it at the end of the year," NRL boss David Gallop said last night, aware his biggest opposition to change could be the Rugby League Players Association.
"I would expect that the players association would be receptive to the fact that it's not ideal and I wouldn't mind seeing a trial, for a year, of a different date."
Gallop is looking to extend the anti-tampering deadline to after the grand final to see what effect that would have on the market. It certainly must help during the season.
Much of yesterday was spent speculating about the future of Bulldogs skipper Steve Price, who is currently deciding whether a massive offer from New Zealand is enough to leave the Bulldogs.
Many people, yesterday, were willing to give you a nod and a wink to say that Price is all set to go. Others sat in the grandstand wearing Steve Price masks strapped to their heads, a handout as they came through the gates.
Price's loss would have a significant impact on the Bulldogs for the rest of the season.
In fact, unless all coaches are careful of the impact player movements have, they could have a telling effect as teams enter the run towards the playoffs.
Heavy signings, or heavy losses, could have a psychological effect on a team as it fights to make the playoffs.
While hoping to save Price, remember the Dogs have already lost Johnathan Thurston and Jamie Feeney, and are battling to save Hazem El Masri, and have little money left to sign anyone else.
The Storm are in good spirits, having kept Matt Orford and Kidwell.
Penrith have lost Amos Roberts.
The Dragons have lost Kite and Riddell, there is speculation over Mark Gasnier, and everybody knows the club is battling to remain under the salary cap. What effect will all this have?
If there is one thing all clubs and fans will agree on, it is that they need the best out of their players this season.
The Daily Telegraph
By Paul Kent
July 12, 2004
PARRAMATTA's win on Saturday night against the competition-leading Sydney Roosters is a massive boost for the club, whose good times have been a little light on lately.
Perhaps the Eels' turnaround is the result of the club's recruitment for next season, which has been the most impressive of the teams wading into the market.
The Eels' spending spree is reminiscent of their last full dash into the market, when well over $9million was spent to secure the likes of Dean Pay, Jim Dymock, Jason Smith, Jarrod McCracken and Gary Freeman after almost a decade of missing the playoffs.
It had its desired effect then, and Eels fans are hopeful of a repeat.
Already Parramatta have bought Timana Tahu, Mark Riddell, Glenn Morrison, Paul Stringer and Chad Robinson for next season.
If there is any positive the current anti-tampering deadline does provide, it is that it gives struggling clubs new hope for next season, just like the Eels.
But is that enough to keep it? For every Parramatta at the moment, remember, there is also a Canberra.
Raiders coach Matthew Elliott awoke yesterday morning to news that Joel Monaghan had signed with Sydney Roosters.
Monaghan was seen as one of the rising stars at the club, and his loss comes on top of the recent losses of Luke Davico and Ruben Wiki, and this after the club had already failed to sign Brent Kite and David Kidwell from other clubs.
The current climate has been a huge downer for the Raiders.
Given this, it is almost certain that the latest frenzy, the biggest in years, has spelt the end of the anti-tampering deadline as it stands.
"We need to talk about it at the end of the year," NRL boss David Gallop said last night, aware his biggest opposition to change could be the Rugby League Players Association.
"I would expect that the players association would be receptive to the fact that it's not ideal and I wouldn't mind seeing a trial, for a year, of a different date."
Gallop is looking to extend the anti-tampering deadline to after the grand final to see what effect that would have on the market. It certainly must help during the season.
Much of yesterday was spent speculating about the future of Bulldogs skipper Steve Price, who is currently deciding whether a massive offer from New Zealand is enough to leave the Bulldogs.
Many people, yesterday, were willing to give you a nod and a wink to say that Price is all set to go. Others sat in the grandstand wearing Steve Price masks strapped to their heads, a handout as they came through the gates.
Price's loss would have a significant impact on the Bulldogs for the rest of the season.
In fact, unless all coaches are careful of the impact player movements have, they could have a telling effect as teams enter the run towards the playoffs.
Heavy signings, or heavy losses, could have a psychological effect on a team as it fights to make the playoffs.
While hoping to save Price, remember the Dogs have already lost Johnathan Thurston and Jamie Feeney, and are battling to save Hazem El Masri, and have little money left to sign anyone else.
The Storm are in good spirits, having kept Matt Orford and Kidwell.
Penrith have lost Amos Roberts.
The Dragons have lost Kite and Riddell, there is speculation over Mark Gasnier, and everybody knows the club is battling to remain under the salary cap. What effect will all this have?
If there is one thing all clubs and fans will agree on, it is that they need the best out of their players this season.
The Daily Telegraph
Are we honestly supposed to feel sorry for the clubs who can't manage their finances well enough or have such a poor record at junior development. The Raiders just assumed that all the kids who lived within 250km of the ACT were going to grow-up ans want to play for them.
