[font=Verdana,Arial]Done deal before silly season starts[/font]
[font=Verdana,Arial] By Peter Fitzgerald Rugby league [/font]
[font=Verdana, arial]Friday, 1 July 2005[/font]
[font=verdana,arial] It's rugby league's version of the Boxing Day sales but most people going on this shopping spree secretly sneak in and take all the top bargains on Christmas Day. [/font] [font=verdana,arial] The NRL's much debated anti- tampering deadline finished at midnight last night, effectively making players coming off contract at the end of the season open slather for rival clubs. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] But don't expect any major signing announcements today. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] That would all-but be an admittance of guilt by a club that it has breached the so-called anti- tampering rules which is against NRL guidelines prior to July 1. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] Speculation has been rife in recent weeks over players negotiating future deals with rival clubs, despite being legally bound to their current club until today. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] Braith Anasta to the Roosters. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] Matt Orford to Souths. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] Both signings will more than likely be announced some time next week. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] Why? Because the anti- tampering rule is farcical. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] So much so, in fact, that the NRL itself even advised clubs recently not to announce any serious new recruits today because of the negative portrayal it would have on the anti-tampering deadline. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] Raiders coach Matt Elliott has never been a fan of the midseason trading period. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] "The reality of it is is that negotiations go on all the time and it's driven by both parties - managers and clubs," he said yesterday. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] "There's no doubt about that. I don't think that if I told you it didn't that you'd believe it [so] I think people need to accept that." [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] Trading Period 2005 has been relatively non-eventful for the Raiders. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] With the exception of Jason Smith, who is still considering his options but will most certainly remain a Raider, Canberra's management have successfully managed to re-sign all the key players they want at the organisation for 2006. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] It is quite a contrast to last year's circus which dragged on for months with Joel Monaghan and Ruben Wiki. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] In the end, both players left for rival NRL clubs. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] Elliott called yesterday for the 'silly season' to be moved to the end of the year, citing distractions to everybody involved in the game - from the players down to the fans. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] "I still think the [June 30 anti- tampering deadline] date has knobs on it, to be honest with you, for a lot of reasons that were really exemplified last year. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] "Fans start to question players' commitment to an organisation when they know they are leaving and coaches start to ask the same question. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] "You'd like to say it's not a massive distraction to the player before or after signing but history tells us that it does affect their application and their focus on the job at hand." [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] A week-long player purchasing concept after the grand final would be ideal in Elliott's eyes. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] "It would be nice and tidy and the players wouldn't be under the scrutiny they are during the season and fans wouldn't have to ask the questions they ask. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] "If there was a one-week window after the season, it would certainly prolong the interest of rugby league for another week." [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] The Raiders will announce the signing of two back-rowers in the next week or so to help cover the loss of Ian Hindmarsh, Matt Adamson, Ryan O'Hara and Tyran Smith. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] But definitely not today. [/font]
[font=verdana,arial] They need time to negotiate first, of course. [/font]
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