Was disheartening to see that f**kwit Weidler tripping over himself trying to shove a microphone down Arthur's throat whilst asking yet another of his imbecile questions. It's a pity that the easiest news is always the worst news, a shame the media are intent on destroying something they pretend to promote
My idea of salvaging the game is looking after supporters of it, they are not the lowest common denominator they are imagined to be by their manipulators. Amazing how someone with access to media always considers themselves having superior intelligence and understanding
Since supporters must be the most valuable asset to a game it is imperative they be encouraged to expand in numbers, to do that their idealism must be protected. At first the salary cap was thought to be the best way to prevent supporters becoming disillusioned, but they are not dumb enough to believe it can't be corrupted, so now to keep them interested we may see a Marquee Player allowance
Unfortunately that won't compensate for the laziness that is driving supporters to disinterest, they want to see their club find NEW champions and hang on to them. The salary cap should still be retained but only as a deterrent to poaching, clubs don't need to sign established marquee players but create their own
The NRL needs to establish a line of embarkation, when a player is established the first time in the top grade by a designated number of games he then becomes a club's potential marquee, which means he can be paid as much as that club wants to pay him in the future
SBW for example should have been paid as much as the Dogs could find for him, Klemmer should now be allowed to ask for and get whatever they are willing to pay. Thurston on the other hand was overlooked and never played what I would recognise as enough starting games to be consider a 'preferential' Dog
Parramatta should be entitled to pay Hayne and Lyon for example as much as they want, the Dragons with Merrin, DCE and Foran with Manly . . . and so on. The NRL should have no power over players that clubs establish in the top grade.
The idea is to search out as many new champion players as possible, try and attract supporters and keep them interested by associating them with those players as well as the club that established them. Only players that are overlooked, underestimated or maligned enough to become fair game on the open market should be governed by the salary cap
There is a need to remove the media as much as possible from the equation, they have far too much influence which exasperates the insidious need they have for creating furore over player movements. Clubs should have more power to determine the outcome of the sport, which can only be achieved if they are encouraged to search for players they can call their own and pay accordingly
Another now pertinent example I should add is James Maloney, he is one that got away from Melbourne and the Warriors should have been allowed to pay whatever it took to keep him
