WAYNE Bennett has reignited calls for NRL transfer windows after labelling the current free-for-all system a lawless rort that is bad for the game.
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The most stunning off-season of upheaval in NRL history has resulted in at least 20 confirmed player transfers since the end of the season six weeks ago, breaking contracts signed with their teams for next season.
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On Thursday, Titans hooker Matt Srama defected to the Sydney Roosters on a one-year deal, adding his name to the broken contract list that includes Ben Barba, Anthony Watmough, Adam Blair, Martin Kennedy, Brett Morris, Gerard Beale, Tariq Sims and Josh Hoffman.
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The NRL club trade market has featured at least 84 players movements for next season, but it is the growing number of broken contracts that equates to roughly a quarter of all movement that is leaving fans disillusioned.
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Bennett’s call for greater clarity and control around transfers comes after his own exploitation of the rules, releasing four players from deals and securing three players who were contracted to other clubs.
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Bennett said he “didn’t want to be missing out on the rort” when he overhauled his Broncos roster by helping players to break contracts, but said the NRL must do something about the lawlessness of the situation.
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He was “elated” such a system enabled him to reshape his roster in two months, not two seasons, but said the game should not allow a coach coming in and being able to make such drastic changes immediately.
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“It’s got to be bigger than that, there is a game out there that the fans own really and they’re the ones seeing their players moving every second day,’’ Bennett said.
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“It’s not the image that I want for the game and I don’t think it’s the image they want.
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“It’s not about having new coaches come in. We all take our jobs and I didn’t expect to have Adam (Blair) sitting here beside me when I took this job five weeks ago.
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“That is the way the game is run at the moment so if you don’t join in on the rort then you miss out and I don’t want to be missing out on the rort.’’
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The current system is also causing massive ructions in England where Super League clubs are furious that the NRL simply allows transfers to take place without any benefit to the club which is losing a player.
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It is understood Hull KR are currently battling with the NRL and the international federation because they are upset about failing to receive any compensation for players whom they granted releases.
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Hull are refusing to release former Queensland Origin forward Neville Costigan from the final year of his deal without compensation and it may force the 29-year-old to play state league football next season.
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Costigan has interest from NRL clubs, but if a transfer fee is demanded he will probably be forced to play Intrust Super Cup.
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He began training with the Townsville Blackhawks this week as he waits for an answer on his future.
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Bennett said it was abundantly clear after the high volume of player turnover this season that the NRL needed to introduce a proper transfer window to the game otherwise the circus would only get bigger each season.
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“Every code in the world has (transfer windows) except us,” Bennett said.
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“(It happens) because they really have no rules. I’m not a fan of it what is going on. It’s only getting worse and will only continue to get worse until they finally take some action on it.”
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/broncos-coach-wayne-bennett-calls-for-nrl-transfer-windows-to-be-introduced/story-fn2mcuj6-1227129938442?nk=9a6e5c5d45c9c712f482d48ddf46748c
>
The most stunning off-season of upheaval in NRL history has resulted in at least 20 confirmed player transfers since the end of the season six weeks ago, breaking contracts signed with their teams for next season.
>
On Thursday, Titans hooker Matt Srama defected to the Sydney Roosters on a one-year deal, adding his name to the broken contract list that includes Ben Barba, Anthony Watmough, Adam Blair, Martin Kennedy, Brett Morris, Gerard Beale, Tariq Sims and Josh Hoffman.
>
The NRL club trade market has featured at least 84 players movements for next season, but it is the growing number of broken contracts that equates to roughly a quarter of all movement that is leaving fans disillusioned.
>
Bennett’s call for greater clarity and control around transfers comes after his own exploitation of the rules, releasing four players from deals and securing three players who were contracted to other clubs.
>
Bennett said he “didn’t want to be missing out on the rort” when he overhauled his Broncos roster by helping players to break contracts, but said the NRL must do something about the lawlessness of the situation.
>
He was “elated” such a system enabled him to reshape his roster in two months, not two seasons, but said the game should not allow a coach coming in and being able to make such drastic changes immediately.
>
“It’s got to be bigger than that, there is a game out there that the fans own really and they’re the ones seeing their players moving every second day,’’ Bennett said.
>
“It’s not the image that I want for the game and I don’t think it’s the image they want.
>
“It’s not about having new coaches come in. We all take our jobs and I didn’t expect to have Adam (Blair) sitting here beside me when I took this job five weeks ago.
>
“That is the way the game is run at the moment so if you don’t join in on the rort then you miss out and I don’t want to be missing out on the rort.’’
>
The current system is also causing massive ructions in England where Super League clubs are furious that the NRL simply allows transfers to take place without any benefit to the club which is losing a player.
>
It is understood Hull KR are currently battling with the NRL and the international federation because they are upset about failing to receive any compensation for players whom they granted releases.
>
Hull are refusing to release former Queensland Origin forward Neville Costigan from the final year of his deal without compensation and it may force the 29-year-old to play state league football next season.
>
Costigan has interest from NRL clubs, but if a transfer fee is demanded he will probably be forced to play Intrust Super Cup.
>
He began training with the Townsville Blackhawks this week as he waits for an answer on his future.
>
Bennett said it was abundantly clear after the high volume of player turnover this season that the NRL needed to introduce a proper transfer window to the game otherwise the circus would only get bigger each season.
>
“Every code in the world has (transfer windows) except us,” Bennett said.
>
“(It happens) because they really have no rules. I’m not a fan of it what is going on. It’s only getting worse and will only continue to get worse until they finally take some action on it.”
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/broncos-coach-wayne-bennett-calls-for-nrl-transfer-windows-to-be-introduced/story-fn2mcuj6-1227129938442?nk=9a6e5c5d45c9c712f482d48ddf46748c
