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Johnathan Thurston holds NRL to ransom
COWBOYS halfback Johnathan Thurston has launched a $40,000 ransom demand on the NRL, insisting he should be paid an annual ambassadors fee to keep him in the code.
The demand comes as the Test halfback prepares to sign a new $2 million-plus contract that will keep him at North Queensland until the end of 2013.
Despite mulling over a code switch to link with Karmichael Hunt's current French rugby club, Biarritz Olympique, Thurston has pledged his allegiance to the Cowboys.
However, The Daily Telegraph has learned he wants to be paid for what he considers the saturated use of his image in NRL marketing.
The 26-year-old has already agreed to a new three-year apparel deal with Asics, making him the player earning the most across both codes from endorsing boots, and has updated contracts with headgear manufacturer Madison and compression gear Skins nearly finalised.
The unprecedented demand comes less than a week after the Australian Rugby Union labelled the Test and Origin star greedy following his demand for a $700,000-a-year deal to switch codes.
NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday rejected the demand and questioned how the code could pay all players for any ambassadorial work or image use.
Gallop said all players were expected to be involved in promoting the game as part of their contract with the NRL.
Gallop admitted he was surprised by the demand, but had yet to be approached by Thurston or his management.
"That's a new one. There is a requirement in all players' contracts that their image can be used for the general promotion of the game," he said. "It's difficult to see how you could make one player an exception to the general rule."
Gallop rejected suggestions Thurston's image was overused.
"The leading players in the game tend to have a high profile, which is part of the remuneration they receive for playing football," he said.
Asked was he disappointed at such a money grab, Gallop replied: "I don't really know if it's the player or the agent at this stage. I'm happy to have the discussion with them but they have not come to us with any general request for an image rights fee from the league."
Gallop said players received third-party agreements for work with NRL sponsors, but not the NRL.
The demand comes after Tigers star Benji Marshall yesterday re-signed with the club until 2015, closing the door on a possible move to rugby.
Thurston has received pitches from the Bulldogs and Eels but will not play for any other NRL club. The Cowboys hope to ink a new deal before the season opener against Brisbane.
The Dogs' bid dates back considerably while the Warriors - who will have plenty of free funds under the salary cap after Maroons veteran Steve Price's departure at season's end - have also made a lunge.
While Thurston is poised to pledge his long-term future to Townsville, a deal with fellow off-contract star Luke O'Donnell is less likely for the Cowboys, with the NSW Origin lock likely to return to Sydney.
Thurston is yet to formally lock the door on France's Top 14 with Biarritz having tabled a whopping deal, believed to be worth double the Cowboys' offer, but a European move is increasingly unlikely.
Thurston holds deep ties to the Cowboys and its community.
- Steve Gee and Matt Marshall
- From: The Daily Telegraph
- February 27, 2010
COWBOYS halfback Johnathan Thurston has launched a $40,000 ransom demand on the NRL, insisting he should be paid an annual ambassadors fee to keep him in the code.
The demand comes as the Test halfback prepares to sign a new $2 million-plus contract that will keep him at North Queensland until the end of 2013.
Despite mulling over a code switch to link with Karmichael Hunt's current French rugby club, Biarritz Olympique, Thurston has pledged his allegiance to the Cowboys.
However, The Daily Telegraph has learned he wants to be paid for what he considers the saturated use of his image in NRL marketing.
The 26-year-old has already agreed to a new three-year apparel deal with Asics, making him the player earning the most across both codes from endorsing boots, and has updated contracts with headgear manufacturer Madison and compression gear Skins nearly finalised.
The unprecedented demand comes less than a week after the Australian Rugby Union labelled the Test and Origin star greedy following his demand for a $700,000-a-year deal to switch codes.
NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday rejected the demand and questioned how the code could pay all players for any ambassadorial work or image use.
Gallop said all players were expected to be involved in promoting the game as part of their contract with the NRL.
Gallop admitted he was surprised by the demand, but had yet to be approached by Thurston or his management.
"That's a new one. There is a requirement in all players' contracts that their image can be used for the general promotion of the game," he said. "It's difficult to see how you could make one player an exception to the general rule."
Gallop rejected suggestions Thurston's image was overused.
"The leading players in the game tend to have a high profile, which is part of the remuneration they receive for playing football," he said.
Asked was he disappointed at such a money grab, Gallop replied: "I don't really know if it's the player or the agent at this stage. I'm happy to have the discussion with them but they have not come to us with any general request for an image rights fee from the league."
Gallop said players received third-party agreements for work with NRL sponsors, but not the NRL.
The demand comes after Tigers star Benji Marshall yesterday re-signed with the club until 2015, closing the door on a possible move to rugby.
Thurston has received pitches from the Bulldogs and Eels but will not play for any other NRL club. The Cowboys hope to ink a new deal before the season opener against Brisbane.
The Dogs' bid dates back considerably while the Warriors - who will have plenty of free funds under the salary cap after Maroons veteran Steve Price's departure at season's end - have also made a lunge.
While Thurston is poised to pledge his long-term future to Townsville, a deal with fellow off-contract star Luke O'Donnell is less likely for the Cowboys, with the NSW Origin lock likely to return to Sydney.
Thurston is yet to formally lock the door on France's Top 14 with Biarritz having tabled a whopping deal, believed to be worth double the Cowboys' offer, but a European move is increasingly unlikely.
Thurston holds deep ties to the Cowboys and its community.
