El Diablo
Post Whore
- Messages
- 94,107
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...h-over-2018-entitlements-20161105-gsivaw.html
Parramatta Eels play hardball with Anthony Watmough over 2018 entitlements
This time last year, Anthony Watmough was earning $700,000 a year – he was paid to eat well, train hard and push his body to places it wasn't meant to go. Right now, Watmough is working for free in his restaurant, Tokonoma.
"I'm learning the business from the bottom up," he said.
He's doing it because he sees a future in the business. And he will need a strong income stream to maintain the lifestyle he enjoys with his wife and children. Truth be known, he needs to be busy – he's been bored.
But here's the problem: Parramatta have stopped paying Watmough, despite their obligations under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He checked his bank account last month and there was nothing from the Eels. Zip.
It turns out the club has decided not to pay him because of a dispute about whether he is entitled to another big sum of money for season 2018. The Eels are taking the line that Watmough didn't have a contract for 2018, but he says he has an option in his favour. It's a tricky negotiation.
But you need to question their decision to stop paying a bloke money he is perfectly entitled to. There is no dispute about his 2017 contract. And you will remember that when Parramatta needed to get under the cap earlier this year, it was Watmough who was retired by the club to let the team play for points.
They are playing hardball with a man they signed to turn around the culture of the club, and it will be interesting to see how the Eels players react when they learn how the club is treating a bloke they admired and respected. It's not Watmough's fault the club gave him a deal that seemed too good to be true. You can't then not pay him because they were poorly run at the time the contract was agreed. But Watmough is now the one suffering.
The Eels had a lengthy meeting with Watmough's agent early this week, but not much was resolved. The decision to stop paying him was made by Max Donnelly, the club's administrator. It will be interesting to see how new CEO Bernie Gurr deals with the mess.
Parramatta Eels play hardball with Anthony Watmough over 2018 entitlements
This time last year, Anthony Watmough was earning $700,000 a year – he was paid to eat well, train hard and push his body to places it wasn't meant to go. Right now, Watmough is working for free in his restaurant, Tokonoma.
"I'm learning the business from the bottom up," he said.
He's doing it because he sees a future in the business. And he will need a strong income stream to maintain the lifestyle he enjoys with his wife and children. Truth be known, he needs to be busy – he's been bored.
But here's the problem: Parramatta have stopped paying Watmough, despite their obligations under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He checked his bank account last month and there was nothing from the Eels. Zip.
It turns out the club has decided not to pay him because of a dispute about whether he is entitled to another big sum of money for season 2018. The Eels are taking the line that Watmough didn't have a contract for 2018, but he says he has an option in his favour. It's a tricky negotiation.
But you need to question their decision to stop paying a bloke money he is perfectly entitled to. There is no dispute about his 2017 contract. And you will remember that when Parramatta needed to get under the cap earlier this year, it was Watmough who was retired by the club to let the team play for points.
They are playing hardball with a man they signed to turn around the culture of the club, and it will be interesting to see how the Eels players react when they learn how the club is treating a bloke they admired and respected. It's not Watmough's fault the club gave him a deal that seemed too good to be true. You can't then not pay him because they were poorly run at the time the contract was agreed. But Watmough is now the one suffering.
The Eels had a lengthy meeting with Watmough's agent early this week, but not much was resolved. The decision to stop paying him was made by Max Donnelly, the club's administrator. It will be interesting to see how new CEO Bernie Gurr deals with the mess.
