Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

[Tiger05]

Sullivan has dug his heels in and said he's not going anywhere.
I don't think he likes the idea of going to England.

Let's wait and see what happens but that signing really isn't working for us. It was a Benji signing as well. I hope he learns.

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

Sullivan has dug his heels in and said he's not going anywhere.
I don't think he likes the idea of going to England.

In his defence, he doesn't have to. We decided to sign him to a 4 year contract. Just because it hasn't worked out, doesn't mean he has to bugger off to free up cap space and a roster spot for us. He's completely entitled to see out his contract.

We complain, quite rightly, when contracted players and coaches (or their manager no like it) look to get out of existing contracts to go elsewhere. It works both ways though. When we sign someone who hasn't worked out, we must honour the contract, or as team coaches, look for ways to improve the player so things turn around. I suppose we can be honest and tell them it's not working out and they have the option to look around for a better deal. At the end of the day though, we have no right to pressure them into pissing off. If they're happy playing reserve grade and collecting their money they've done nothing wrong. As a club, we can't cry and complain about this.

The lesson we should learn is not to offer long term contracts to average / borderline 1st graders. I think most us said at the time he should have only been signed for 2 years. Or 1 year. Sure, it's going to mean a lot of work for the recruitment and retention people, but were we're at, we need to be re-evaluating everyone every year, and this leaves us in a position to be flexible with our top 30, as other player come onto the market.

 

[Tigerm]

History indicates, the more they deny something, the more it's likely to happen?

He won't lose money, whatever happens to him.

 

[Nutz]

In his defence, he doesn't have to. We decided to sign him to a 4 year contract. Just because it hasn't worked out, doesn't mean he has to bugger off to free up cap space and a roster spot for us. He's completely entitled to see out his contract.

We complain, quite rightly, when contracted players and coaches (or their manager no like it) look to get out of existing contracts to go elsewhere. It works both ways though. When we sign someone who hasn't worked out, we must honour the contract, or as team coaches, look for ways to improve the player so things turn around. I suppose we can be honest and tell them it's not working out and they have the option to look around for a better deal. At the end of the day though, we have no right to pressure them into pissing off. If they're happy playing reserve grade and collecting their money they've done nothing wrong. As a club, we can't cry and complain about this.

The lesson we should learn is not to offer long term contracts to average / borderline 1st graders. I think most us said at the time he should have only been signed for 2 years. Or 1 year. Sure, it's going to mean a lot of work for the recruitment and retention people, but were we're at, we need to be re-evaluating everyone every year, and this leaves us in a position to be flexible with our top 30, as other player come onto the market.

Exactly, I agree. It's on Benji's head so he has to wear it and find a way around it.
My dad used to say "if you work really hard at something, you have a better chance of succeeding"
I think it applies here. If a solution isn't imminent the next best thing is to knuckle down and work hard with what we've got and if something crops up we will be in a better position to deal with it.
Benji needs to coach the club to have a certain DNA and lower grades all the way down to Matt's need to buy in. This way, whenever a player transitions to the next level he knows the system.
Bud needs to know what and when to do things if he finds himself in first grade. If Bud is playing good footy and contributing then his value to the club goes up and also becomes a target for other clubs.
Atm he's merely treading water.
There's no better example of this than the Storm and Penrith. They virtually bring in unknowns who fit straight into their system.

 

[Tiger05]

History indicates, the more they deny something, the more it's likely to happen?

He won't lose money, whatever happens to him.

This is my take as well. He'll get paid. It's like Latrell and Moses and Tedesco and Stef all signing for less at other clubs. They aren't getting a cent less.

I don't blame Sullivan for the crappy contract. The recruiting team stuffed up. I also think he could be a decent first grader but we have heaps of better options in the halves. I'm surprised another club hasn't given him a shot even though we'd be screwed over in relation to paying a chunk of his salary.