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By Dean Ritchie
July 03, 2007
THE National Rugby League will consider imposing the same financial punishment on players who defect to Super League as it does to those who switch to rugby union.
In a step that shows Australian rugby league's increasing concern about English clubs poaching local players, the British rugby league competition could be upgraded to the status of enemy after a flow of elite talent has left the NRL this decade.
Under an agreement with the Players Association, the NRL currently withholds all money from a player's "retirement" fund if he signs with rugby union. But it could be extended now to take in the English Super League - if the NRL and RLPA can agree on the move.
The development comes after Manly legend Steve Menzies devised a plan to stop the NRL's elite players shifting to Britain by rewarding loyalty with cash.
Players have 50 per cent of their representative money placed in a retirement fund. That money however cannot be accessed if the player signs with rugby union - such as Craig Gower, who now has to forfeit his money.
Menzies said the game must draw up a plan to stop the talent drain, proposing that stars would also forfeit their money by signing for a Super League side.
"There's got to be incentives to stay," Menzies said. "We need to do something to give players that option of staying.
"Maybe there could be dispensation if a player has no genuine offer here and has to go overseas.
"It is a complex situation and people may think it's a bit rich coming from me but we need to devise something for the players to stay here. This idea could be the tip of the iceberg in discussions."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said the plan was worth investigating.
"Certainly if the players were open to it being extended to Super League, we would be prepared to look at it," Gallop said.
Menzies said the funds for retiring players needed to be increased for them to stay in Australia. Aside from the representative cash, Menzies said the NRL could give players around $25,000 for every 50 games they play. "The money gets invested and it builds and builds," he said.
"There could be some huge money there for when a player retires. Players go to England for the money. This would fight fire with fire."
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr was cautious about the idea.
"The issue for us is to keep the elite players and 'Beavers'' (Menzies) idea is worth running past the Players Association," Carr said. "But you also have to be careful.
"When a player gets to the back-end of his career, as a professional footballer, he shouldn't be prevented from continuing his livelihood.
SOURCE: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22006903-23214,00.html