Roosters look for cap relief to re-sign stars

[legend]

Can you believe the hide of the Roosters. They are trying to find a way to fit in some of their players who are off contract at the end of this season but I bet my bottom dollar they will still splash out in the free agent market come July 1st. How can they fit all the players they currently have under the cap? It defies logic.

If I were the Tigers I'd be hovering with the cheque book for guys like Fitzgibbon and Morley


<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=354 border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td><span>Roosters may lose some stars: Gurr</span>
<span>31 March 2003</span>
</td></tr> <tr> <td align=middle>

</td></tr> <tr> <td class=newstext width=348><span>Sydney Roosters chief executive Bernie Gurr admitted the club may struggled to retain some of its stars - including Brad Fittler - who are off contract at the end of the NRL season.
Internationals Fittler, Adrian Morley and Craig Fitzgibbon head the list, which also includes outside back Todd Byrne and New Zealand Test prop Jason Cayless.
The Roosters have already held informal talks with the NRL as they look to squeeze Fittler and the other four under the $3.25 million cap next season.
But Gurr concedes they may be fighting a losing cause.
"There's a concern there that we won't be able to keep all of them," Gurr said today.
"We had the same problem last year. It's nothing new to us. We're not crying about it. Brisbane and Canberra have had it in the past. That's just par for the course."
Fittler has expressed his desire to remain with the Roosters beyond this season and he did his cause plenty of good in a losing side against the Panthers.
The former Test captain scored two tries in the club's 23-22 loss to Penrith and it's understood the focus of the Roosters' talks with the NRL have been on Fittler's contract for next season.
</span> <table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width=160 align=right border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td>

</td></tr> <tr> <td class=newsquote>We're just trying to work out a way to keep the guys we have coming off contract and Brad is just one of those.</td></tr> <tr> <td align=right>

</td></tr> <tr> <td class=newsquotefrom>Bernie Gurr</td></tr></tbody></table><span>The club has held discussions with NRL chief executive David Gallop and salary cap auditor Ian Schubert in relation to potential third party payments to Fittler.
The Roosters are wary after being stung by salary cap auditors last year over Craig Wing's contract.
"We're just trying to work out a way to keep the guys we have coming off contract and Brad is just one of those," Gurr said.
"At the end of the day they (the NRL) have the cap there."
The club also has to deal with ongoing speculation over coach Ricky Stuart's future, although Gurr remains confident the premiership-winning coach will be with the club next season.
Stuart is off contract at the end of the year and the Roosters are yet to begin negotiations for extending his contract.
"We're very comfortable at the moment," Gurr said.
"He's very comfortable here and we're comfortable with him. I think it's a case of we're all so comfortable in the situation we have got that we're getting on with business.
"We have a great relationship. He's very happy with the Roosters and we're happy with him. I don't see any concern there."</span> <span>

<a target=_top>Brought to you by AAP</a>
<a target=_top>

</a>
<a target=_top>© 2003 AAP</a>
</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[imported_midas]

Heard David Gallop interviewed on the weekend and he was saying that the cap is under review as they don,t want it to weaken the stronger clubs.Shit,Dave,where have you been for the last 3 years?

 

This message has been deleted by the author.

 

[ozbash]

""the government is really trying to crack down on the money sport earns from pokies""

yes. thats dead right,but they dont mind the money poker machines generate for rescue helicopter services etc..

gallop mentioned raising the cap to $5 mill.
also talked of the likelyhood of a wellington based team (wellington rabbitohs ?)
shouldnt the bears be re-admitted first ?

 

[imported_Beast]

Yes Ozbash, The Bears should be readmiited first.
They have put a strong proposal to the News/NRL , they are backed by John Singleton and Harvey Norman are mooted as being eager for a substantial sponsorship. The News/NRL are keeping it low key so as to give the existing licensees a chance to jump before they are forced to jump!

 

[imported_JoeD]

You would think that the salary cap would have to go up just to keep up with inflation. How long has it been in place? 4 years? at 1.5% inflation/year is around $200,000.

 

[bender]

The Salary Cap was to high to start with, I believe it needs to be lowered if anything. The higher the salary cap goes, the harder it is to bring in expansion teams. Ideally, i would like to see a 1.5 to 2 million dollar Salary cap, with players given an automatic 10% exemption for each year of service they have given to a club.

 

[imported_Docker]

Clubs with real feeder clubs could get around the salary cap by having some of their players paid by the feeders and run the player "on loan from...." The Warriors could rort it to kingdom come.So could the Broncos and Cowboys.