Rumoured Signings and Even More Crap X

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Would require consent from players association and hasn't been forthcoming since Terry Hill's case (which isn't as be-all and end-all as people think). Again it works in American sports because of the dollars and weight of the draft system. Draftees get guaranteed salaries dependent on their draft position and give the amount of available players currently and in the future, players aren't usually stupid enough to give up money. Any draft system in the NRL wouldn't be able to provide draftees with enough guaranteed salary to make in incentive for players nor enough guaranteed years of contract to make it feasible for teams. And for a club's ability to sell/trade players, firstly see Terry Hill for currently why the team would have issues and then see SBW for why it isn't really an issue for the player to say no to moving teams

Didn't say it has to have the exact rules of the various US drafts.

The players association's position on the introduction of a draft might change significantly if part of the deal was an increased / more liberal / non-existent salary cap (in fact, I'll bet my bottom $ that it would change).

The current issue with player transfers centres on the effect under the present salary cap. Transfer fees paid (within NRL) are assessable under the cap AFAIK. They don't have to be under a reformed system.

The total $$$ in the NRL system from TV rights alone are significant, though obviously not the same as in the US. However, the US have had basically similar draft systems in place for some time (i.e. before money went crazy in the late 70s). We also don't fill anywhere near as many roster positions as the NFL/MLB teams. Countering that, we have more teams per capita (by a lot).

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Seems a very odd thing to do by Steve Price.

Maybe they are about to announce the mid year signing of Ben Roberts - we can only hope.

 

[Avenger]

Would we do a mid season swap with Roberts for the remainder of this season?

 

[Gary Gutful]

Can we make it a 3 for 1 deal and give them a couple of other nuffies?

 

[84 Baby]

Didn't say it has to have the exact rules of the various US drafts.

The players association's position on the introduction of a draft might change significantly if part of the deal was an increased / more liberal / non-existent salary cap (in fact, I'll bet my bottom $ that it would change).

The current issue with player transfers centres on the effect under the present salary cap. Transfer fees paid (within NRL) are assessable under the cap AFAIK. They don't have to be under a reformed system.

The total $$$ in the NRL system from TV rights alone are significant, though obviously not the same as in the US. However, the US have had basically similar draft systems in place for some time (i.e. before money went crazy in the late 70s). We also don't fill anywhere near as many roster positions as the NFL/MLB teams. Countering that, we have more teams per capita (by a lot).

Regardless of rules, a system would have to be created that both the teams and players find economically enticing. The best proven way to do this is guaranteed salary over a guaranteed period. However given the players association's dipping into restraint of trade, the salaries would need to be high enough to stop players from negating the draft because they don't want to play for the wooden spooners and to make sure the drafting team has the best chance of retaining said player or if they don't want to play for that team at least getting best value, then the contract length would have to be long enough. It all comes down to how much the best young draftees are willing to take & for how long for, and IMO given the dollar values that would likely be used either a draftee would quickly jump up and down, or the system wouldn't be feasible long term.

It's essentially the same issue with trading players. Players won't always want to move teams and restraint of trade effectively gives them an out clause of any trade, which undermines the involved teams.

The players association would of course be all for no salary cap, however as I stated before it's only a short-term cash cow for them (what do they care though, it'd be an issue for next gen players) and almost all teams with half a brain would recognise it isn't feasible long term (at least not the way they would like).

There are too many conflicting interests for it to work in a manner which means short-term it isn't a profitable as all parties want, mid-term won't be recognisable to current competition & long-term may not be as supported as it is now

 

[Avenger]

Can we make it a 3 for 1 deal and give them a couple of other nuffies?

In all seriousness Gary why can't we do it? For once why can't our club think beyond the square. Didn't Melbourne and Manly recently do it with Richard Fa'aso?

 

[84 Baby]

In all seriousness Gary why can't we do it? For once why can't our club think beyond the square. Didn't Melbourne and Manly recently do it with Richard Fa'aso?

Manly/Melbourne are top 4 sides that short term help could be difference between winning a final. Soward wouldn't help us there and would he help us make the finals in such a short stint? If Dragons are willing to take dead weight with contract for 2014+ off us then that'd be worth regardless of Soward would bring, but then how many of our scapegoats are both still under contract next year AND the Dragons would be willing to take?

 

[Eels Dude]

Seems a very odd thing to do by Steve Price.

I'd say he will go to the Panthers early if he does leave.

If we were going to go for a mid season half signing i'd go for Gower lol. Not that it would happen.

Who would the Dragons play at 6?? Soward is their only playmaker at the moment. Maybe they would go with Drinkwater.

Am I the only one that thinks this might be an effort from Price to get him to sign a counter offer to stay with the Dragons before round 13.

 

[Suitman]

Am I the only one that thinks this might be an effort from Price to get him to sign a counter offer to stay with the Dragons before round 13.

Yeh.
I reckon you are.
They can't wait to get rid of him.
He's f**king hopeless.

Suity

 

[I bleed blue & gold]

Am I the only one that thinks this might be an effort from Price to get him to sign a counter offer to stay with the Dragons before round 13.

Hmmm. I'm not sure on that one.

 

[Craig Johnston]

pretty sure soward was told he wasn't wanted before he signed with the pamfers.

they're just trying to save some coin to promote the outside 25 squad players

 

[hineyrulz]

Am I the only one that thinks this might be an effort from Price to get him to sign a counter offer to stay with the Dragons before round 13.

Maybe Sowards headgear is too big for his knees???

 

[Etu Uaisele]

Am I the only one that thinks this might be an effort from Price to get him to sign a counter offer to stay with the Dragons before round 13.

Yeah and maybe we could do the same with T.Tautai :sarcasm:

 

[Gronk]

Soward is crappier than Kapow IMHO.

Heard Girdler bitching about the signing on MMM on Saturday.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Regardless of rules, a system would have to be created that both the teams and players find economically enticing. The best proven way to do this is guaranteed salary over a guaranteed period. However given the players association's dipping into restraint of trade, the salaries would need to be high enough to stop players from negating the draft because they don't want to play for the wooden spooners and to make sure the drafting team has the best chance of retaining said player or if they don't want to play for that team at least getting best value, then the contract length would have to be long enough. It all comes down to how much the best young draftees are willing to take & for how long for, and IMO given the dollar values that would likely be used either a draftee would quickly jump up and down, or the system wouldn't be feasible long term.

It's essentially the same issue with trading players. Players won't always want to move teams and restraint of trade effectively gives them an out clause of any trade, which undermines the involved teams.

The players association would of course be all for no salary cap, however as I stated before it's only a short-term cash cow for them (what do they care though, it'd be an issue for next gen players) and almost all teams with half a brain would recognise it isn't feasible long term (at least not the way they would like).

There are too many conflicting interests for it to work in a manner which means short-term it isn't a profitable as all parties want, mid-term won't be recognisable to current competition & long-term may not be as supported as it is now

What makes you think that our current system, which has no close parallels anywhere in the sporting world, has survival value? It evolved in a era in which the $$ going in were very different to today's $$. It is the result of a plan that was supposed to include a draft (which was struck down). We've tinkered in an ad hoc manner ever since.

Yes, a draft system would require a lot of thought re its specific workings, but this should not be an insoluble problem. The AFL draft system seems to work with only a few kerfuffles.

At no stage did I suggest anything about trading players without the player's agreement. I stated quite specifically that what I was suggesting was that transfer fees not be assessable under the salary cap, which would increase the chance that small clubs could get some financial rewards for sound development strategies.

Cheers

 

[Jodeci]

I am hearing that the club has blown a major five year multi million dollar sponsorship that the previous Board had just about finalised which was pointed out at the AGM. At the AGM, the Chairman at that point Roy Spagnolo pointed out in his speech that the new sponsorship deal just has to be signed off which now looks like being off the cards. This deal was much bigger than the current Pirtek deal.

When you consider our club is at the bottom of the table and so our sponsorship prospects arent in any way attractive at the moment so this deal was vital for our brand and image.

I hope Ken has a back up plan and the mob he has hired to find our next sponsor deliver otherwise we could have a blank jersey.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Why should there even be small clubs? Splitting the revenue more evenly and enforcing the salary cap (even if it means the Israel Folaus go elsewhere) is best for current fans and potential fans of the future.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Trust 3P to f**k this up.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well as long as a few members of the bistro staff get their jobs back we can all be happy.

Who needs sponsorship anyway?

 

[Gary Gutful]

Can we get those ChangHong merkins to cough up $1.5M? Sure I've copped a couple of electric shocks but their TVs go pretty good apart from that...