Rumours and Stuff

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

His tenure was. Not him as the man. Take it easy Baz and don’t let a metaphor spoil your day.

Don't worry. It didn't. I'd just say that that particular metaphor is best applied to ideas or strategies (e.g. recruitment preferences) than people.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

After a storied and decorated career of contrarian takes, this may be your worst and weirdest.

Have a look how good he’s going this year in a losing team. Talk about downhill skiers

 

[84 Baby]

I don’t think he’d be on huge money. He re-signed quite late last time and there didn’t appear to be huge interest in him. I guess he’d be on around $650k whereas the highest paid edge forward would be on about $1M.

I reckon looking at Smugs lack of player market activity, that he’s on more than that. But more that getting him away from them will wind up being overs

 

[Avenger]

Don't worry. It didn't. I'd just say that that particular metaphor is best applied to ideas or strategies (e.g. recruitment preferences) than people.

Fair enough.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Fair enough.

Thanks mate.

 

[Johnny88]

Does the salary cap still fit? NRL taskforce to launch review

The salary cap, rugby league’s great equaliser of playing talent, is about to undergo its first proper review, with smaller elite squads and exemptions for international player signings to be discussed.
The NRL is poised to form a taskforce to examine the salary cap, a move that will have huge ramifications for the 17 existing clubs and the two new franchises that will soon join the competition

Introduced by the NSWRL in 1990, the cap has been credited with levelling the playing field, stopping clubs from spending themselves into oblivion and giving all supporters hope that their team can prevail on any given day.
While there is no suggestion the cap will be scrapped, league powerbrokers want a full examination of whether tweaks could improve the system, given it has operated largely unaltered for 35 years.
While it has been argued the salary cap does not allow any team to stay at the top or bottom for too long, recent history suggests otherwise. Penrith have contested the past five grand finals, winning four of them, and are one of only three teams to taste premiership success – the others are Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters – in the past eight years.
There has been little movement at the bottom of the ladder as well: Wests Tigers are this year attempting to avoid their fourth straight wooden spoon.
“What we’ll do is commit to a review and put a team together from all parts of the game – the RLPA [Rugby League Players’ Association], the agents, the coaches and a few others – to have a look at the whole salary cap situation,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said.
“It hasn’t had a proper review for a long time.
“It’s not my idea; it came from a club CEO. He said it was time for it to be looked at, and I agree with him. Andrew [NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo] and I have been talking about it, so once the commission signs off on it, we will implement it.

Everything will be looked at – squad sizes, do we give exemptions to international players – all of these different things will be looked at.”
The review is timely, given there are concerns about how the new expansion teams will be able to build competitive rosters. PNG will enter the league in 2028, while Perth are expected to do so a year earlier.
One leading club official, likely to be invited onto the taskforce, believes the only way for the new teams to be competitive is for the current top-30 squad size to be reduced to a top-25. That would result in 85 contracted players becoming free agents, which could be picked up by the Perth or PNG franchises.
The flow-on effect would be that players would receive a pay rise, as there would be less of them at each club jostling for the same pool of salary cap funds.
Other issues likely to be considered include compliance – there have been three major salary cap scandals, involving the Bulldogs, Melbourne and Parramatta – third-party agreements and greater rewards for players loyal to one club.
The issue of whether to introduce trade windows could also be examined.
The salary cap: key points
Introduced into the NSWRL in 1990.
The current salary cap limit for each club’s top-30 squad, including allowances, is $11.8 million.
At the conclusion of the existing collective bargaining agreement, which ends in 2027, that figure will rise to $12.1 million.
While a PNG team will also be governed by the salary cap when it enters the NRL in 2028, player earnings will be tax-exempt.
“It could form part of that; we haven’t finalised the terms of reference,” V’landys said. “Once we finalise those … we’ll get it going straight away.”
The salary cap limit for each club’s top-30 squad, when car and veteran players’ allowances are factored in, is $11.8 million. That figure will rise to $12.1 million once the current collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of 2027.
While there have been calls to allow Perth and PNG to be given a recruitment head start on existing clubs, V’landys said that won’t happen.
“No, it will be the first of November,” V’landys said of the rule about when clubs can begin negotiating with free agents.
“We won’t disadvantage any of the current clubs.”
The NRL has previously toyed with the idea of introducing a “war chest” that would result in head office subsidising the signing of players poached from rival sports. However, that option is off the table.
“The NRL won’t be paying for any players, that won’t be happening,” V’landys said.
“That war chest is long gone. The beauty of our competition is that every club is treated the same. [They will] naturally think you have a bias if you give your war chest to one club over another club.”

Does the salary cap still fit? NRL taskforce to launch review

For the first time in 35 years, the salary cap will come under the microscope to determine whether it is still an effective talent-equalisation tool.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Twizzle]

The current salary cap limit for each club’s top-30 squad, including allowances, is $11.8 million.

I think this needs to be looked at in view of the AFL salary cap being $17.7 Million.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

I think this needs to be looked at in view of the AFL salary cap being $17.7 Million.

What’s an AFL squad size?

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

What’s an AFL squad size?

Their primary list is at least 36 players. And then there are rookies.

 

[Soto]

If not already the NRL needs to have the following
- discount for juniors. Eg if you have brought the player through from Harold Matt's and they make 1st grade needs to result in 15-20% discount off the salary recorded in the cap (if the cap is to remain)
- 10yr player at one club.. discount as per above
- father son rules and discounts like some other sports do
- NRL needs to reward clubs who attract larger crowds. Clubs need to be innovative and get more ppl through the door.
- needs to also reward membership numbers...if clubs are doing a good job attracting members and increasing yr on yr, the NRL should be recognising this in some way shape or form.
- not sure the younger generation today is as passionate as us (assumption) middle aged men. Some of us have children and some may have grand children...I personally don't see the same passion
Go the Eels

 

[84 Baby]

- discount for juniors. Eg if you have brought the player through from Harold Matt's and they make 1st grade needs to result in 15-20% discount off the salary recorded in the cap (if the cap is to remain)

I still think a form of soft/hard cap. You can resign the players already in your squad even if it pushes you above the soft cap but you can’t sign outsiders if it pushes you a cent over soft cap (with maybe some exceptions).
I believe the dates requiring X squad numbers was a step towards something like this.

- father son rules and discounts like some other sports do

I can’t wait for @hineyrulz reaction in 2045 when Jakob Arthur Jr is named in our team list

 

[hineyrulz]

I still think a form of soft/hard cap. You can resign the players already in your squad even if it pushes you above the soft cap but you can’t sign outsiders if it pushes you a cent over soft cap (with maybe some exceptions).
I believe the dates requiring X squad numbers was a step towards something like this.


I can’t wait for @hineyrulz reaction in 2045 when Jakob Arthur Jr is named in our team list

Maybe for the Reds in Perth, Bea Arthur has more chance having a full head of hair than someone from his lineage playing again for Parra.

 

[emjaycee]

If not already the NRL needs to have the following
- discount for juniors. Eg if you have brought the player through from Harold Matt's and they make 1st grade needs to result in 15-20% discount off the salary recorded in the cap (if the cap is to remain)
- 10yr player at one club.. discount as per above
- father son rules and discounts like some other sports do
- NRL needs to reward clubs who attract larger crowds. Clubs need to be innovative and get more ppl through the door.
- needs to also reward membership numbers...if clubs are doing a good job attracting members and increasing yr on yr, the NRL should be recognising this in some way shape or form.
- not sure the younger generation today is as passionate as us (assumption) middle aged men. Some of us have children and some may have grand children...I personally don't see the same passion
Go the Eels

The bits I highlighted means more club revenue, not more NRL revenue, except for any additional licencing revenue on increased merch sales, so not sure the NRL will spend more money when they are not making an increase. Mind you, I dont disagree with the sentiment.

 

[Soto]

The bits I highlighted means more club revenue, not more NRL revenue, except for any additional licencing revenue on increased merch sales, so not sure the NRL will spend more money when they are not making an increase. Mind you, I dont disagree with the sentiment.

Agree wholeheartedly. Needs to be a collaborative approach to ensure sustainable game. I love going to the footy but younguns these days have many more distractions with the million social media apps, wanting instant success in work and life and looking for the next big thing.
Going a bit off topic but I'm sure ppl can relate and understand where I'm going with this ramble....bring on 6pm.....cmon the Mighty Eels..

 

[Twizzle]

What’s an AFL squad size?

no idea mate, they have 18 on the field and 5 on the bench I think, thats all I know

 

[Timana]

If not already the NRL needs to have the following
- discount for juniors. Eg if you have brought the player through from Harold Matt's and they make 1st grade needs to result in 15-20% discount off the salary recorded in the cap (if the cap is to remain)
- 10yr player at one club.. discount as per above
- father son rules and discounts like some other sports do
- NRL needs to reward clubs who attract larger crowds. Clubs need to be innovative and get more ppl through the door.
- needs to also reward membership numbers...if clubs are doing a good job attracting members and increasing yr on yr, the NRL should be recognising this in some way shape or form.
- not sure the younger generation today is as passionate as us (assumption) middle aged men. Some of us have children and some may have grand children...I personally don't see the same passion
Go the Eels

Yeah. Set a limit and if the club brings in more than the limit, rhe difference is added to the salary cap.

Should bottom four teams get an extra cap for 3 years to rebuild as they always have to pay overs to climb the ladder.

 

[Matty Bhoy]

I’ve long argued that the cap is flawed while third party payments are allowed and don’t count against anything. The rich get richer.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I’ve long argued that the cap is flawed while third party payments are allowed and don’t count against anything. The rich get richer.

The problem is that the cap has two separate purposes, which at times lead to inconsistent outcomes in terms of specific rules. Those purposes are 1) the restrict clubs' expenditure to reduce the risk of them getting into financial distress, and 2) to distribute talent. Genuine 3rd party payments can actually reduce clubs' financial risk, but can also concentrate talent in a few clubs.

 

[AnonymousLurker]

problem is there is not much genuine third parties … look at tigers how Richo was talking about putting the offer for Galvin on James graham podcast

a genuine tpa would be in place with same business regardless of what club (in same city) player was at

 

[Black Panther]

I don’t think he’d be on huge money. He re-signed quite late last time and there didn’t appear to be huge interest in him. I guess he’d be on around $650k whereas the highest paid edge forward would be on about $1M.

Appears to be a smart move signing for less to win Premierships at a great club. Just because someone gets paid a lot of money it means they are good. See David Fifita..
I believe a figure of 750k for Martin when he last signed.