CEO - Shane Richardson

Telltails said:
Stefano is not in the same league as Jarome Luai - vastly different scenario. An elite player with options, in his prime, in a key position ,4 time premiership winner.
Stefano - achieved little at this point. Totally different situations.
If that's what it took to secure him then so be it because there has definitely been a role on because of it.
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As I said, if this is true (it may not be by the way), he has built a house of straw.
If you’re happy with that, fill your boots. Ignorance is bliss.
 
Telltails said:
If that's what it took to secure him then so be it because there has definitely been a role on because of it.
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The issue I have isn’t so much the clause, it’s the club not being up front about it and duping supporters, by stating matter-of-factly that he is here for 5 years. Set in stone, when it actually isn’t set in stone. If they’d announced the clause when he signed, I probably would have been annoyed, but in the end probably would have shrugged and said “well, whatever it takes”. My issue is the club not disclosing this stuff until it becomes an issue. And before anyone comes back with “they can’t disclose contract information”. Bullshit. They do that anytime they announce the length of a contract. No one is asking for financials, just the circumstances that may make him decide to bounce 3 years early. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.
 
Tucker said:
I’m not calling you that, but you certainly spend a lot of time defending everything the club does. They don’t deserve the level of your commitment to this.
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I don't see myself as harsh as you but have been more than critical of the way this club has consistently failed it's fans.
I'll take any recruitment wins given the position we are in. The contract news is not what I wanted to hear but I understand how and why it may have ended up that way.
I expect noticeable improvement next season - and if not I will have little cause for defending anyone.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
The issue I have isn’t so much the clause, it’s the club not being up front about it and duping supporters, by stating matter-of-factly that he is here for 5 years. Set in stone, when it actually isn’t set in stone. If they’d announced the clause when he signed, I probably would have been annoyed, but in the end probably would have shrugged and said “well, whatever it takes”. My issue is the club not disclosing this stuff until it becomes an issue. And before anyone comes back with “they can’t disclose contract information”. Bullshit. They do that anytime they announce the length of a contract. No one is asking for financials, just the circumstances that may make him decide to bounce 3 years early. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.
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You’re just being controversial to get attention. Show me the Pascoe press conference where he announced Stefano’s clauses. No club does it.
 
I'm not sure why the Luai contract is getting so much air or causing so much angst. Luai will play for us for two seasons at least. If we don't turn the joint around and be in the title window come 2026 then why wouldn't a player of his calaibre want to protect his earnings. While there has been plenty of negative "click bait" in the media, if you look at it from a different perspective it is a non issue.

Richo (and Benji) are clearly confident we will be competitive and that Luai will want to stay. The other thing not made public is what the nuances of the clauses are; I would expect that they aren't as simple as Luai waking up one morning and deciding he wants to leave.

I think that if you could access the NRL contract database you would find plenty of undisclosed player options. Some of the standard player options that are included in contracts include:
  • Player Option Year: Allows the player to extend their contract for an additional year(s) at their discretion.
  • Third-Party Agreements: Players may negotiate external sponsorships or endorsements, provided these comply with NRL salary cap rules.
  • Performance Incentives: Players might receive bonuses for meeting specific targets, such as try-scoring, playing a certain number of games, or achieving representative honors (e.g., State of Origin or international matches).
  • Release Clauses: Allows a player to terminate their contract early under agreed-upon conditions, such as signing with overseas leagues or switching codes (e.g., rugby union).
It didn't take much of a search with Dr Google to find recent contracts with Luai types of clauses in the player's favour.

David Fifita Similar deal to Luai, he was contracted until the end of 2024 with player options for 2025 and 2026. Fifita's deal includes flexibility to leave based on team performance and coaching changes.

Dylan Brown Similar deal to Luai, contract runs until the end of 2025, with annual player options through to 2031.

Mitch Moses Similar deal to Luai, contract runs until the end of 2026 with annual player options for 2027 and 2028. The Eels are reportedly working to eliminate these clauses to secure his long-term future

If Luai's contract was announced as 2 plus 3 this would be a non-issue. What we don't know is why it wasn't. Were conditions put on the release of contract details by Luai or the club? Given how tight the club has been in relation to recruitment I don't think the club would be leaking it, Luai is not likely to be the leak given he has yet to arrive at the club. The big issue is who released the detail and for what purpose? If they are part of the club - what job do they no longer have?
 
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Jolls said:
I'm not sure why the Luai contract is getting so much air or causing so much angst. Luai will play for us for two seasons at least. If we don't turn the joint around and be in the title window come 2026 then why wouldn't a player of his calaibre want to protect his earnings. While there has been plenty of negative "click bait" in the media, if you look at it from a different perspective it is a non issue.

Richo (and Benji) are clearly confident we will be competitive and that Luai will want to stay. The other thing not made public is what the nuances of the clauses are; I would expect that they aren't as simple as Luai waking up one morning and deciding he wants to leave.

I think that if you could access the NRL contract database you would find plenty of undisclosed player options. Some of the standard player options that are included in contracts include:
  • Player Option Year: Allows the player to extend their contract for an additional year(s) at their discretion.
  • Third-Party Agreements: Players may negotiate external sponsorships or endorsements, provided these comply with NRL salary cap rules.
  • Performance Incentives: Players might receive bonuses for meeting specific targets, such as try-scoring, playing a certain number of games, or achieving representative honors (e.g., State of Origin or international matches).
  • Release Clauses: Allows a player to terminate their contract early under agreed-upon conditions, such as signing with overseas leagues or switching codes (e.g., rugby union).
It didn't take much of a search with Dr Google to find recent contracts with Luai types of clauses in the player's favour.

David Fifita Similar deal to Luai, he was contracted until the end of 2024 with player options for 2025 and 2026. Fifita's deal includes flexibility to leave based on team performance and coaching changes.

Dylan Brown Similar deal to Luai, contract runs until the end of 2025, with annual player options through to 2031.

Mitch Moses Similar deal to Luai, contract runs until the end of 2026 with annual player options for 2027 and 2028. The Eels are reportedly working to eliminate these clauses to secure his long-term future

If Luai's contract was announced as 2 plus 3 this would be a non-issue. What we don't know is why it wasn't. Were conditions put on the release of contract details by Luai or the club? Given how tight the club has been in relation to recruitment I don't think the club would be leaking it, Luai is not likely to be the leak given he has yet to arrive at the club. The big issue is who released the detail and for what purpose? If they are part of the club - what job do they no longer have?
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I’m on Lee or Justin dropping this info , I think Luai was only coming with these clauses included , Benji , Richo , Romy would not drop this info , or the NRL has a bad person working in the office
 
Jolls said:
I'm not sure why the Luai contract is getting so much air or causing so much angst. Luai will play for us for two seasons at least. If we don't turn the joint around and be in the title window come 2026 then why wouldn't a player of his calaibre want to protect his earnings. While there has been plenty of negative "click bait" in the media, if you look at it from a different perspective it is a non issue.

Richo (and Benji) are clearly confident we will be competitive and that Luai will want to stay. The other thing not made public is what the nuances of the clauses are; I would expect that they aren't as simple as Luai waking up one morning and deciding he wants to leave.

I think that if you could access the NRL contract database you would find plenty of undisclosed player options. Some of the standard player options that are included in contracts include:
  • Player Option Year: Allows the player to extend their contract for an additional year(s) at their discretion.
  • Third-Party Agreements: Players may negotiate external sponsorships or endorsements, provided these comply with NRL salary cap rules.
  • Performance Incentives: Players might receive bonuses for meeting specific targets, such as try-scoring, playing a certain number of games, or achieving representative honors (e.g., State of Origin or international matches).
  • Release Clauses: Allows a player to terminate their contract early under agreed-upon conditions, such as signing with overseas leagues or switching codes (e.g., rugby union).
It didn't take much of a search with Dr Google to find recent contracts with Luai types of clauses in the player's favour.

David Fifita Similar deal to Luai, he was contracted until the end of 2024 with player options for 2025 and 2026. Fifita's deal includes flexibility to leave based on team performance and coaching changes.

Dylan Brown Similar deal to Luai, contract runs until the end of 2025, with annual player options through to 2031.

Mitch Moses Similar deal to Luai, contract runs until the end of 2026 with annual player options for 2027 and 2028. The Eels are reportedly working to eliminate these clauses to secure his long-term future

If Luai's contract was announced as 2 plus 3 this would be a non-issue. What we don't know is why it wasn't. Were conditions put on the release of contract details by Luai or the club? Given how tight the club has been in relation to recruitment I don't think the club would be leaking it, Luai is not likely to be the leak given he has yet to arrive at the club. The big issue is who released the detail and for what purpose? If they are part of the club - what job do they no longer have?
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Were these other contract clauses announced publicly at the time the deal was done ? I don’t know the answer,,, just asking the question … Regardless …There is always much more media scrutiny on the Tigers compared to other teams …look at how the Stef situation played out over months of the last season …

I can only speak for myself … but the reason I have some concern over the Luia news now coming to light ..even before this was made public, there was already considerable pressure for the team to start well over the first half of 2025 in regards to both Benji and Galvin’s future … this has now been ratcheted up even further with news that the best player in the club can be signed elsewhere this time next year, when prior expectations were he was here for 5 years …

Very likely that Perth is coming into the NRL in 2027 ….do you think JL might be an attractive target for them to build a team around?

WT are still a young team mostly …with several holes remaining that need to be filled - particularly in the forwards …the road in 2025 can still be a bumpy one…and there will be a lot repercussions if they fail ….
 
426Tlgerland said:
I’m on Lee or Justin dropping this info , I think Luai was only coming with these clauses included , Benji , Richo , Romy would not drop this info , or the NRL has a bad person working in the office
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I think it was the agent …he wants other clubs to retain money up there sleeve to be able to have a crack at him in 12 months
 
Tom Shines said:
Were these other contract clauses announced publicly at the time the deal was done ? I don’t know the answer,,, just asking the question … Regardless …There is always much more media scrutiny on the Tigers compared to other teams …look at how the Stef situation played out over months of the last season …
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I don't recall so probably not - same situation as Luai. The Dylan Brown clauses came out very early though because of the lenght of the contract. The media didn't blow up too much over it over it and Parra didn't fall in a heap because of that contract (plenty of other reasons though). The point to note is that he could have bailed now but hasn't and Parra has been going pretty poorly.
 
Jolls said:
I don't recall so probably not - same situation as Luai. The Dylan Brown clauses came out very early though because of the lenght of the contract. The media didn't blow up too much over it over it and Parra didn't fall in a heap because of that contract (plenty of other reasons though). The point to note is that he could have bailed now but hasn't and Parra has been going pretty poorly.
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yeah …Brown is still there …. He is still only 24 though …so has more time up his sleeve …
 
Tom Shines said:
yeah …Brown is still there …. He is still only 24 though …so has more time up his sleeve …
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the thing is that he has player options until 2031; and Parra, nor the NRL stopped functioning bacause of it. The sky will not fall down because Luai is on a 2 plus 3 deal.
 
Jolls said:
the thing is that he has player options until 2031; and Parra, nor the NRL stopped functioning bacause of it. The sky will not fall down because Luai is on a 2 plus 3 deal.
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Never said any of those three things would happen…

you asked why some people had some “angst “ …I gave you my feedback

What happens with Brown at Parra is pretty irrelevant to what might happen with JL at the Tigers
 
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