Rumours and Stuff

[Forty20]

Maybe they'll make it a "legends" match or an "allstar" invitational - and not wear their club-specific strips for this one-off match?

That would at least make it technically a proper loophole instead of a bare-faced cash grab!

I just can't see this standing because it is so obscenely stupid and exploitable. Yes Smith and Thurston are two all-time greats but where do you draw the line? Rothfield mentions James Graham and Bazal threw Semi's name out there as well. One of the best English imports of the modern day and one of the most prolific try scorers in the NRL - why should either of them be begrudged a testa-f**king-monial game?

 

[84 Baby]

If they both f**king retire at full time, they can have their love in match

 

[El Diablo]

next they'll let certain clubs have testimonials as part of their contract if players sign with them

and they can have one every year

 

[hindy111]

not exactly hard to do is it

Except everyone on here was saying 30 be enough

 

[hindy111]

Is you saying i have a boring life supposed to be an insult? I quite like being boring to be honest.

Me too.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Except everyone on here was saying 30 be enough

Not everyone. I remember saying you might be right. What do I win?

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Could I become Mr 50.5%?

 

[oneguy]

what a f**king joke

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n/news-story/f045da6546718973540558fcaf2eb105

Melbourne and North Queensland’s $1.5m salary cap loophole for Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston

Couldn't agree more.

On the one hand - JT is a strong advocate of reducing the player's workload as reported here:

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ague-players-association-20150916-gjof4p.html

But but but suddenly it's OK to play an extra game - as there's $$$ in it.

FMD - either there's too many games in a season for a player or there isn't.

what a f**king joke

 

[oneguy]

Here's a quote from the article from Captain Cam regarding JT's stance on reducing the number of games played by the players -

.

Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith had earlier applauded Thurston's "selfless" decision to risk missing what would be a history-making night to stand up for players' rights.

A fourth medal would take the 32-year-old North Queensland captain past eighth Immortal Andrew Johns' three gongs.

Smith revealed Thurston had reached out to him after their most recent captains' phone conference, informing him of his decision to make a stand against the governing body.

"He spoke to me about how strongly he felt about not attending the Dally Ms if it got to that point," Smith said.

"But it shows how much he supports the RLPA and, more so, he looks at the wellbeing of the group.

"To put an almost guaranteed Dally M medal of his own on the line, it's a very courageous call."
.

haha -I would respect them if they declared - "yes the benefit match would be great to say bye to the fans (and add to the coffers) - but as per my belief for the well being of players who are playing way too many games - and this is something i feel strongly about - Cam and I (JT) will not be playing in another match"

Now that would be SELFLESS - and be a stand up for players' right and truly represent their strong beliefs

 

[strider]

FMD .... that is all kinds of wrong

The NRL never fail to amaze with their ineptness

 

[Snoochies]

Macklemore to play Grand Final show. Apparently in a first, they consulted the fans. Don't know which ones.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/ma...7/news-story/20723b446fe2b70d7b67feabf8773f23

 

[Gronk]

I have a few issues with this.

1. Testimonials should be limited to charitable situations. So if a player's family suffers tragedy through illness or death.
2. It should not be held to make a rich player richer.
3. It should not be used to fudge the cap as a top up to an under market contract.

 

[Bandwagon]

Give them their testimonial, nothing wrong with that, but why should they receive all takings? Surely the money raised could go to something like grass roots footy.

Otherwise it's just another means by which to show the cap works very differently for some.

 

[El Diablo]

Smith deserves no more seeing who knows how much more he made during the years of the Storm cheating

 

[84 Baby]

I can't imagine Melbourne or North Queensland being involved in any nrl endorsed scam. Especially not His Worship Lord Cameron Smith

 

[hindy111]

Smith deserves no more seeing who knows how much more he made during the years of the Storm cheating

I reckon he deserves a 2 mill bonus from foxsports. He has played on massive under for the last 6yrs. Must be topped up.

 

[Glenneel]

But they've already approved it? So no balls. And I suppose Sloth was implying that it's a carrot for Smith to get the rlpa to sign off on the deal.

Yes Smith is one of the main spokesmen looking for higher wages for players and here he, and JT, two players paid over $1m each, looking to make a quick windfall. What about all the players on minimum wages, is that being raised next year or is Smith looking only after himself?

Also Smith and JT also do commercials where they are paid handsomely, so neither are short of a quid, yet want another 32 players to bust a gut, and could incur a career ending injury also, to top up the pockets of these 2 wealthy players. What a rort and a slap in the face of those other players, some being on minimum wage.

 

[parra-matters]

Yes Smith is one of the main spokesmen looking for higher wages for players and here he, and JT, two players paid over $1m each, looking to make a quick windfall. What about all the players on minimum wages, is that being raised next year or is Smith looking only after himself?

Also Smith and JT also do commercials where they are paid handsomely, so neither are short of a quid, yet want another 32 players to bust a gut, and could incur a career ending injury also, to top up the pockets of these 2 wealthy players. What a rort and a slap in the face of those other players, some being on minimum wage.

Considering how much both men can make in life after footy because of the profile they have it's really a slap in the face to those on minimum wage who are expected train as hard and play at the best of their capabilities every week just as the guys on $1mil are.

 

[Stevie]

Does Smith have to declare his refereeing salary? That's like another 120k a year.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

UK forward not happening:

"He was nominated for the Man of Steel award a few years back. It won't happen. He has some family stuff in England which has stopped the move from happening. Fell over last week."

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...d/news-story/26496ec4565b00a368792603f9cc30da