Griffin wants better pay for NRL players

[kh_canada]

Griffin wants better pay for NRL players
Ian McCullough - AAP
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 - 11:51am

Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin has urged the ARLC to ensure NRL players are the first to benefit from the new billion-dollar broadcast deal.

This week, the ARLC agreed on a new lucrative five-year deal with the Nine Network and Fox Sports, and Griffin said it is important that not only the game's superstars are looked after, but also the lesser lights, many of whom are not earning six-figure salaries.

"I've read this week that that we're worth more per minute to Channel Nine than what the AFL is in their bid," Griffin said in Sydney on Thursday.

"But our salaries don't reflect that. As far as rugby union and AFL go, we are still third on the list as far as salaries go, but we are making top dollar in television deals."

Griffin fears that unless more is done to improve the pay of young players, then there's a danger they could be lost to the game.

"Something has to be done to line it up," he said.

"I am talking from a Queensland point of view. A young guy can get an apprenticeship in the mines and earn $120,000.

"We're asking them to become an elite sportsman and play in those games that generate the highest TV dollars in any code in Australia and you want to pay them $60,000 minimum.

"There is a disparity there that we need to fix up first before we do anything else."
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[kh_canada]

I love my league, but to suggest players are underpaid is outrageous. Blokes getting paid 6-figures for working the mines deserve every cent.
Men playing football aren't all deserving of that money compared to other people doing different careers and getting severely underpaid.
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[Cultured_Bogan]

I love my league, but to suggest players are underpaid is outrageous. Blokes getting paid 6-figures for working the mines deserve every cent.
Men playing football aren't all deserving of that money compared to other people doing different careers and getting severely underpaid.
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They're overpaid compared to the average Joe, but consider the following from an article in the Guardian regarding the AVERAGE yearly wages of players playing for premier sporting teams around the planet, I've put down the highest paid teams based on the sport:

- Football: Barcelona - $8.68m
- Basketball: LA Lakers - $6.27m
- Baseball: The Yankees - $6.18m
- Cricket: Kolkata Knight Riders - $4.16m
- Ice Hockey: Washington Capitals - $2.67m
- NFL: Dallas Cowboys - $2.52m

Seven of the top ten teams are football clubs. By contrast, considering Rugby League is one of the most physically demanding sports anywhere in the world, they're grossly underpaid compared to their fellow professional sportsmen.

 

[happy_tiger]

Griffin is right Its the low end players that really need to be looked after when the Salary Cap increases

But with the seven deal with 4 FTA games live , can you imagine how much more sponsorship dollars would of been generated for both the clubs and the players themselves

And I thought the people on the ARLC commitee might have had a brain

Happy is wrong again obviously :brick:

Forgot to add , wouldn't the idea be for the ARLC to try and help the clubs to learn to stand out their own 2 feet and not rely on TV rights handouts to survive and then the money can go to the grass roots and regional areas where it is desperately needed

 

[Rambo2714]

Incorrect Moltz …..

Griffin is talking about the guys who aren't getting 6 figures. Not the guys who are already on 6 figures
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the minimum wage needs to be at least $120k , you won't more professionals in the game , you have to pay for them
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[kh_canada]

You all have a valid point, especially compared with other sports who are getting paid millions. But for guys who are young and aren't playing 1st grade football every week have no need to be on hundreds of thousands.
It's especially frustrating when guys like Blair are getting paid more than guys like Bell and BMM. So I agree with Griffin there.
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[jsmith]

Just like to point out that major league baseball players in America can play upwards of 170odd games in a season, so considering that I don't think they are over paid at all!!
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[Cultured_Bogan]

Just like to point out that major league baseball players in America can play upwards of 170odd games in a season, so considering that I don't think they are over paid at all!!
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They'd want to, they throw a bat at a ball anywhere between 1-3 times an innings and stand in a field. Not nearly as physically demanding as Rugby League/Union, American Football and to a lesser extent Football where they run for 90 minutes.