But you know Gareth I will keep saying it. The cupboard out there is losing stock. the Super clubs that are cash strapped with 3rd party arrangements will constantly have the best squads (e.g. deals with betting agencies and TV). You see how much Tedesco is popping up on TV advertising lately.
They will buy and retain the better players but it is stretching thin. Roosters & Souths, Melb, Brisbane, Warriors and maybe Newcastle, Eels, Sharks? & Penrith are well funded.
Lets look at the teams who are looking and need to rebuild sectons of their rosters including depth and getting rid of a lot of current 1st graders to elsewhere.
Us, Tigers, Titans, Dogs, Manly, Eels, Cowboys..just for starters. If all the players that are supposed to be getting shipped out to god knows where or apparently not up to scrtach....
Where are all the replacement players going to come from?. No one wants reserve graders.
Super League is the only other as not enough junior talent to really fill the void.
Players via managers dont care..as long as they are getting 1st grade big $$$ somewhere around the globe. Talent can only go so far when junior numbers are dwindling
We are fastly becoming a NRL mimic competition to the Super League regardless of a so called even salary cap. NRL will be about a reduced 10 team survivor comp (forget the lower stuff and rest) the way we are going in time, how and where the money is spent by NRL to run and maintain 1st grade product to attract TV money.
Look at the Weidler article $15K spent on Cam Smiths posh 400 celebration dinner. What is wrong with hiring out a function room at a local hotel for 20% of that cost for 30 people including budget flights
Sunday rant over...off to do my thing for our club and CRL..and a few tit bits from the Mary coaching manual.
Have a good day all!