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Why Williams, O'Meley can go
By Steve Mascord
March 04, 2007
BULLDOGS chief executive Malcolm Noad has defended the club's retention policy that has given Sonny Bill Williams a week to re-sign and most likely forced Mark O'Meley out of Belmore.
In a stunning loss of talent, nine players who featured in the 2004 grand final have since departed, with two more from the squad, Brett Oliver and Dennis Scott, also gone.
The Sunday Telegraph spoke to Dogs officials, player agents and rival clubs in a bid to find out why Noad was adopting a hard-nosed stance and whether the team can survive another round of big-name departures.
"The club and Steve Folkes put a lot of emphasis on loyalty," said Noad who has previously refused to discuss recruitment this year.
"Steve firmly believes that players certainly have the right to look after themselves with regard to their financial future.
"But he wants players in his team who want to perform for more than money."
It's understood Dogs directors have rubber-stamped the deadline placed on Williams because of two recent debacles: Williams announcing his last deal while on crutches, months after the club's final offer; and former skipper Steve Price keeping the club waiting for much of 2005 before signing with the Warriors.
Dogs powerbrokers believe the only other club that could afford Williams is Cronulla - and only if Brett Kimmorley is released.
"We lost all those players since 2004 and yet we were only half a game away from a grand final last year," one club insider said.
"No one can bring players through like us and no one can identify talent at other clubs like we can."
O'Meley's agent, Wayne Beavis, said the club's salary cap disgrace of five years ago was another reason the Bulldogs had to be pro-active in determining their playing roster.
"I haven't really detected any arrogance from them," Beavis said. "With everything that has happened with them, their ship has got to be pretty tight, they've really got to toe the line.
"Once young players come through, they are hard to retain under the salary cap. You've got to make tough decisions."
Noad added: "We don't think it helps either side for the negotiation process to be a drawn-out affair. This is probably a little different to how things were handled a few years ago, but I think managers are now coming to understand how we work."
Despite the departure of so many stars in the past three years, the Bulldogs have always retained forward "grunt". And that is now being eroded. Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters) and Roy Asotasi (South Sydney) will be missing this year, while O'Meley and Williams could follow.
"The club's highest priority with regard to supplying NRL players is junior development," Noad said. "A look at our player roster this year backs that up with nine local juniors in our top squad of 29.
"We (also) have a history of buying players who improve immeasurably at the Bulldogs. Just look at Luke Patten, Willie Tonga, Andrew Ryan, Chris Armit and Daniel Holdsworth."
<A class=image href="http://www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au/?from=ni_story"">
In teresting quote from Dogs, wondering if they are trying to get us to raise stakes on SBW, and want Noddy, to join dogs, who knows, it goes round and round like musical chairs.
By Steve Mascord
March 04, 2007
BULLDOGS chief executive Malcolm Noad has defended the club's retention policy that has given Sonny Bill Williams a week to re-sign and most likely forced Mark O'Meley out of Belmore.
In a stunning loss of talent, nine players who featured in the 2004 grand final have since departed, with two more from the squad, Brett Oliver and Dennis Scott, also gone.
The Sunday Telegraph spoke to Dogs officials, player agents and rival clubs in a bid to find out why Noad was adopting a hard-nosed stance and whether the team can survive another round of big-name departures.
"The club and Steve Folkes put a lot of emphasis on loyalty," said Noad who has previously refused to discuss recruitment this year.
"Steve firmly believes that players certainly have the right to look after themselves with regard to their financial future.
"But he wants players in his team who want to perform for more than money."
It's understood Dogs directors have rubber-stamped the deadline placed on Williams because of two recent debacles: Williams announcing his last deal while on crutches, months after the club's final offer; and former skipper Steve Price keeping the club waiting for much of 2005 before signing with the Warriors.
Dogs powerbrokers believe the only other club that could afford Williams is Cronulla - and only if Brett Kimmorley is released.
"We lost all those players since 2004 and yet we were only half a game away from a grand final last year," one club insider said.
"No one can bring players through like us and no one can identify talent at other clubs like we can."
O'Meley's agent, Wayne Beavis, said the club's salary cap disgrace of five years ago was another reason the Bulldogs had to be pro-active in determining their playing roster.
"I haven't really detected any arrogance from them," Beavis said. "With everything that has happened with them, their ship has got to be pretty tight, they've really got to toe the line.
"Once young players come through, they are hard to retain under the salary cap. You've got to make tough decisions."
Noad added: "We don't think it helps either side for the negotiation process to be a drawn-out affair. This is probably a little different to how things were handled a few years ago, but I think managers are now coming to understand how we work."
Despite the departure of so many stars in the past three years, the Bulldogs have always retained forward "grunt". And that is now being eroded. Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters) and Roy Asotasi (South Sydney) will be missing this year, while O'Meley and Williams could follow.
"The club's highest priority with regard to supplying NRL players is junior development," Noad said. "A look at our player roster this year backs that up with nine local juniors in our top squad of 29.
"We (also) have a history of buying players who improve immeasurably at the Bulldogs. Just look at Luke Patten, Willie Tonga, Andrew Ryan, Chris Armit and Daniel Holdsworth."
<A class=image href="http://www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au/?from=ni_story"">
In teresting quote from Dogs, wondering if they are trying to get us to raise stakes on SBW, and want Noddy, to join dogs, who knows, it goes round and round like musical chairs.
