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THERE probably isn't too much sympathy for the Bulldogs over Mark O'Meley's defection to the Roosters. The Bondi club forked out massive money for "Shrek'', which led to Dogs coach Steve Folkes reportedly telling O'Meley that he would be crazy not to take the deal. The Bulldogs are probably the only club to stick stringently within the NRL's salary cap after being docked 37 points in 2002 for breaching the system. They have been bleeding for the past five seasons as a result, losing player after player.
Missing from the Dogs' 2004 premiership-winning team are Johnathan Thurston, Roy Asotasi, Braith Anasta, Steve Price, Jamie Feeney and Hutch Maiava. They also turned Nate Myles into an Origin player, only to lose him to the Roosters. They bought all those players as kids and developed them - some into international stars and others into very good first graders. Like the Broncos, the Bulldogs have a history of developing their own talent, of turning unknowns into household names.
Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Mason were scouted and now command massive contracts. To keep them at the club, the Dogs had to off-load the likes of Anasta, O'Meley and Myles. The Bulldogs aren't the only ones to suffer - look at the Dragons - but they are a glaring example of what is wrong with the salary cap. Clubs simply aren't rewarded for developing their own talent.
The Dogs spot players such as Thurston, Asotasi and Anasta, bring them along and watch them blossom, only for clubs that are too lazy to develop their own talent to come along with big-money offers and steal them away. Where's the justice in that?
The NRL says the cap is about having an even competition, using as evidence of its success the fact six different teams have won the competition since 2000. But it's an even competition at the expense of loyalty. The fact is, great eras are defined by great teams, such as the Dragons' reign in the '60s, the Eels in the '80s and the Raiders of the late '80s and early '90s. Teams these days don't get a chance to build a dynasty.
Price, Asotasi, Thurston and Anasta should have been Bulldogs for life but that can't happen under the present system. Which means the Bulldogs have to turn another kid into a star and watch as in three, four or five years the unfair process repeats itself. Next time around it may be Mason or Williams they are forced to off-load.
And that's just not fair.
THERE probably isn't too much sympathy for the Bulldogs over Mark O'Meley's defection to the Roosters. The Bondi club forked out massive money for "Shrek'', which led to Dogs coach Steve Folkes reportedly telling O'Meley that he would be crazy not to take the deal. The Bulldogs are probably the only club to stick stringently within the NRL's salary cap after being docked 37 points in 2002 for breaching the system. They have been bleeding for the past five seasons as a result, losing player after player.
Missing from the Dogs' 2004 premiership-winning team are Johnathan Thurston, Roy Asotasi, Braith Anasta, Steve Price, Jamie Feeney and Hutch Maiava. They also turned Nate Myles into an Origin player, only to lose him to the Roosters. They bought all those players as kids and developed them - some into international stars and others into very good first graders. Like the Broncos, the Bulldogs have a history of developing their own talent, of turning unknowns into household names.
Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Mason were scouted and now command massive contracts. To keep them at the club, the Dogs had to off-load the likes of Anasta, O'Meley and Myles. The Bulldogs aren't the only ones to suffer - look at the Dragons - but they are a glaring example of what is wrong with the salary cap. Clubs simply aren't rewarded for developing their own talent.
The Dogs spot players such as Thurston, Asotasi and Anasta, bring them along and watch them blossom, only for clubs that are too lazy to develop their own talent to come along with big-money offers and steal them away. Where's the justice in that?
The NRL says the cap is about having an even competition, using as evidence of its success the fact six different teams have won the competition since 2000. But it's an even competition at the expense of loyalty. The fact is, great eras are defined by great teams, such as the Dragons' reign in the '60s, the Eels in the '80s and the Raiders of the late '80s and early '90s. Teams these days don't get a chance to build a dynasty.
Price, Asotasi, Thurston and Anasta should have been Bulldogs for life but that can't happen under the present system. Which means the Bulldogs have to turn another kid into a star and watch as in three, four or five years the unfair process repeats itself. Next time around it may be Mason or Williams they are forced to off-load.
And that's just not fair.
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