melon.... said:
Who here actually believes that the NRL is a charity?
Anyone?
The NRL, moreso the franchises that make up the teams in the NRL are businesses. They arent here to do their oppositions any favours. Wests Tigers are emerging as a good side, and I will be the first to say they have purchased well and will be a force in a couple of years if not sooner. They are cleaning out their sh*t and doing what is required to survive and remain competitive. It is their charter.
The Melbourne Storm, again are consolidating thanks to the Salary Cap. They are releasing what they need to and again will hire good replacements that will fit into their business plan.
South Sydney are trying hard, to do a Newcastle and land all their eggs in one basket. They have the biggest chequebook in the league yet they cant get encouragement to attract the bigger names. There is another factor to this that people cant see. They screwed over the NRL when they won their court appeal after getting kicked out. Now dont get me wrong, Souths were kicked out, and teh courts found that that was a wrongful action and re-instated them. But the NRL will be covering some legal scars from that, and I would expect their attitude towards Souths is one of "Welcome back...youre on your own". The Gold Coast entry is another kick in the guts to Souths. Why? Because it highlights the NRL are willing to bend over backwards to ensure you are a viable entry, and can attract or rather be "given" quality signings.....as long as you are not South Sydney.
Now the Roosters are doing what they have done for the past 20 years to survive. Lack of juniors has seen them develop a strong recruitment policy. And for all the young talent that has developed into a representative presence at The Roosters, finally to be released, the criticism that The Roosters are receiving in regards to their recruitment is completely unfounded and only comes from the mouths of those who dont really understand the way ALL NRL teams strive to remain competitive and run a successful business.
These poor folk see the NRL as park footy, still think its 1972, and have no idea why these NRL clubs persist with mergers, home ground changes and the need to attract big names. Its business. If it wasnt before, it is now. Changing home grounds sees teams like Souths, The Tigers, etc get paid to do so. Recruiting big names lifts the profile of clubs which in turn attracts good sponsorship.
People wave off the fact The Roosters have released or are releasing the following players:
Jason Cayless - International
Mick Crocker - SOO and International
Chris Walker - SOO
Stuart Webb
Brett Firman
These are known. Others that may follow possibly include: Catic, Shillington, Rose, Lester.
The only confirmed signing to-date is Ashley Harrison. Everyone's expecting the announcement of Braith Anasta to Bondi. There are no other high profile expectations to Bondi. Yet the simple minded cannot understand how the Roosters have released 2 high profile players, a bunch of lower profiled ones, and the impending retirement of Ricketson to gain 1 high profile player (if/when Anasta signs) and 1 with huge potential (Harrison) to become one. They cant see that Anasta and Harrison does fit into Cayless, Crocker, Ricketson, Webb, Firman plus the others, with change left over.
There is nothing illegal about not having a huge junior base. Their is nothing illegal about a good recruitment policy. There is nothing illegal about releasing players and signing others, provided its withing the guidelines of the cap.
every other team does it and its "a good move" or "well done". The Roosters do it and its "How can they afford it" and "there is no cap for them".
I can guarantee you now, if there was no salary cap, the Roosters would be unbeatable. They have enough money to keep everyone they need and then hire some more. But the proof shows we release players of good value, because we do what every other club does. We are bound by the cap.
You dont have to like my club. You dont have to applaude their signings like you do other "less fortunate" clubs. But at the same time you cannot bag my club for doing exactly what other clubs are doing. That would make you a complete idiot.
The NRL is big business. Clubs exist to profit, and if they can give their fans a kick then thats a bonus. Their priority is to keep the doors open. To remain competitve and to remain in business.
