Are we ready for a draft??

[Goose]

It is clear the salary cap is broken. Most likely permanently.

The draft was knocked on the head in the early 90's after Terry Hill sued the league so he could play with Wests instead of the Rooster (how things have changed)

However it works already in Australia with the AFL and is of course integral in American sports.

Even an auction works in the IPL.

It may allow for a more even competition and we can forget about the salary cap to a degree.

RL is different to alot of other sports. The clubs are fore the most part responsible for the development of players and the pathways are generally club run. Some sort of incentive would have to be developed to ensure this kept happening.

AMerican sports have colleges to develop players (who are rewarded with there own success) and AFL the pathways are run through league sponsored development, primarily the TAC cup. There are academies and clubs are somewhat rewarded for their development.

Perhaps the NRL could alter our pathways to be less reliant on clubs. This may actually improve lower level development.

There is also issues with RLPA who may be against the draft preventing players from choosing where they play.

It wouldnt be a straight forward transition but it may be worth looking at.

In this model we would have a centralised player payment system, where the NRL takes control. All payments outside of this to be paid through the NRL, no cut taken, they could easily make that part of a contract, as a right to play in the NRL, their IP comes with attachments.

What do others think.

 

[GoldXR50Leroy]

Apparently the AFL have long been aware that if their Draft system was challenged in the courts that they would lose, but for the good of the game their clubs accept it, we can't blame Terry Hill for the demise of the draft, what about Jack Gibson from the Roosters choosing him when he totally knew that Terry wanted to play under Warren Ryan.

 

[Newtown]

If the Draft works in NRL I would think that it would work in the NRL. It has to be much better than the law of the jungle, rort riddled CAP and TPA system currently being abused by most NRL clubs.

 

[Goose]

Apparently the AFL have long been aware that if their Draft system was challenged in the courts that they would lose, but for the good of the game their clubs accept it, we can't blame Terry Hill for the demise of the draft, what about Jack Gibson from the Roosters choosing him when he totally knew that Terry wanted to play under Warren Ryan.

I dont blame Terry or anyone else. I was quite young at the time and dont really understand the ins and outs of the case.

Ive heard differing opinions on the AFL and the legality of the draft….I wonder what would happen if tested?

 

[diedpretty]

But aren't the drafts in AFL and NFL generally for players who have not played at top level yet. I know in AFL they have trade periods and specific times when free agent offers can be made to players who are already in top grade. I think trying to impose a draft on players who are already established in first grade would be challenged legally.

 

[thaitiger]

The NRL should look at the NFL Draft System in the USA.
It is an ideal case that operates within a Salary Cap as well & the Draft only deals with players who have never played in the NFL before the majority are young players. Its a very good system that works well & is as fair to all as it possibly can be .
It can work in NRL it only needs people committed to it to make it work.

 

[WestsSupporter]

Screw the draft

 

[swag_tiger]

Yes i believe a draft is a good thing because it helps out the struggling teams because they get the higher picks.

 

[diedpretty]

If the Draft works in NRL I would think that it would work in the NRL. It has to be much better than the law of the jungle, rort riddled CAP and TPA system currently being abused by most NRL clubs.

There is no doubt a draft would distribute the available talent more evenly across the 16 teams. It would also encourage players to see out contracts and also look at remaining with a club long term if they know they won't necessarily go to a club of their choice.. The problems I see is a player telling the first four clubs on the draft list he wants a million a year knowing they will all pass then getting picked by the team he wanted at no 5 and signing for 700k. There would have to be really strict guidelines on salaries and this is were it would fail. Having said that i'm surprised no one has tested the legality of the salary cap - its definitely a restriction of trade which is the same reason the draft was thrown out years ago.

 

[happy_tiger]

The fans and the game are ready for the draft , but the players aren't

 

[Newtown]

The fans and the game are ready for the draft , but the players aren't

The game and fans must take precedence over players such as Watmough who earn $750,000 per year without having to lace on a football boot. r

 

[Goose]

The fans and the game are ready for the draft , but the players aren't

I was speaking to a couple current players last night and the prospect of a draft came up, amongst a number of other equalisation options, the players in question were happy to consider

 

[happy_tiger]

The fans and the game are ready for the draft , but the players aren't

I was speaking to a couple current players last night and the prospect of a draft came up, amongst a number of other equalisation options, the players in question were happy to consider

Unfortunately it will be like last time , the first person to question it and it will fall over

 

[palms]

It's an idea that definitely has merit Goose. If blokes love the sport enough and want to earn a career playing Rugby League then they are going to have to just deal with the fact they may have to get up and move. Otherwise there will be another bloke behind him who will take his spot.

If the clubs are still going to be developing their juniors only to have them drafted to another club, would they then be compensated? Will there be even juniors from every club going into the draft? It would be interesting to see how this aspect of it would work.

 

[supercoach]

I have been a great supporter of the draft idea for years. I even like the old transfer system, but it is highly unlikely many clubs would agree to it and as others said, the first guy who challenges the system in court would probably bring it down.

What ever system they go with in the future,clubs who develop juniors have to get a better deal than they do now, because at present you are better off buying a certainty rather than developing players

 

[Goose]

It's an idea that definitely has merit Goose. If blokes love the sport enough and want to earn a career playing Rugby League then they are going to have to just deal with the fact they may have to get up and move. Otherwise there will be another bloke behind him who will take his spot.

If the clubs are still going to be developing their juniors only to have them drafted to another club, would they then be compensated? Will there be even juniors from every club going into the draft? It would be interesting to see how this aspect of it would work.

The incentive to develop players would be reduced by a draft.

If clubs are somehow rewarded for developing players that are drafted it may offer too much benefit to Penrith, Parra and Brisbane who between produce just over half the players.

Something could be worked out though.