i got up early to do this as i wont be home til hlf hour b4 yor game ends an dont wanna be tryn to organse then. i have matthews bp passwrd. shuld i post his artcle with it or wot? if u wan u can pst it for him if rules allow or i can or can with his name. will post below an check bck here when i get home. his artcle a bit on old news side now.
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The Backpacker #11 for Easts
Running on empty but prepared for a big hit
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The Silly Season
Thats right folks; the silly season is upon us. The time of year when cashed up clubs line up with chequebooks in hand, ready to offer a big name player the right amount of money to put in the yards for their club. Arguably, the biggest name coming off contract this year would have to be Brad Fittler and the rumour mills are rife as to where he is likely to put his autograph, should the Roosters fail to reach an agreement, acceptable to both Fittler and his manager, Wayne Beavis. Minor coronarys are in the pipeline as fans of the Roosters wait for that all-important official announcement. But have clubs really got the worries of past seasons, as June 30th approaches?
Season 2000 saw the end of the Super League hangover for most clubs, with grossly inflated player payments arguably a thing of the past as the salary cap starts to bite those clubs that choose to play within the rules (The Craig Wing payments were approved by the previous NRL administration ;-)). Whilst there is still a certain amount of greed apparent with some players, it appears that a new (or is that old) phenomenon is starting to take hold. Loyalty. More and more players are choosing loyalty over the almighty dollar and staying with their clubs for considerably less money than they could get if they put themselves on the open market and this could see a return to the glory days. The days where teams werent one-season wonders, where back-to-back premierships werent an anomaly and total domination brought fevered hatred by rival clubs trying to derail the juggernaut. Loyalty that meant playing for your mates, playing for your emblem emblazoned over your heart and playing for pride rather than the highest bidder. The kind of loyalty that has seen the likes of Luke Ricketson become a one-club man, with the reward of a salary cap dispensation in place from next season for his services.
Loyalty. Does Brad Fittler have it or will his reasoning behind signing with an ARL club during the initial Super League race for names become a hollow memory? I would say yes, he does have it and one of two events will transpire over the next couple of days. He will re sign with the Roosters, finishing his career on the least amount of money he has seen since 1995 or he will retire. While Fittler has been good to league, league has been just as good to Fittler and, despite the well utilised catch cry of I have to look out for the future, he is in such a position that all he has to base his decision on is whether the money on offer from the Roosters is enough to warrant getting out of bed in the morning, not whether it will pay for a long retirement.
And retire he will, one day. If that day comes on October 5th 2003, it wont be the travesty for the Roosters it once would have been. Loyalty has seen the big Pom sign for another three years on half what he could have earned at home. Loyalty has seen a number of other players coming off contracts re - sign and I have full faith in the fact that loyalty will see the core components of this Roosters side remain in red, white and blue throughout future silly seasons. These boys know what its like to win a grand final. They know what its like to bleed for their mates and see them lift when they pull off an impossible tackle or bone rattling hit. They have pride and passion for their club but, most importantly, they have been built into a tight unit. A unit that has been nurtured and prepared for the day when the name Brad Fittler isnt listed as one of those players coming off contract. A day when the silly season turns its attention to another big name player and its the turn of another clubs fans to sweat it out as rival clubs come knocking. Loyalty or money? I reckon loyalty will win this race, whether on the sad note of a great player retiring or another season or two strapping on the boots with the Roosters.
Words 716 including title. :lol:
Unlike the JGG whose always happy. Mind, you know what they said about the bloke who was always happy........ ;-)
