Rookie draft

[Snapper]

Foxtel sports

Bennett said the expectation on young players was continually increasing and an external draft would keep the playing field level.

In the past two years, four young NRL contracted players have committed suicide.

The NRL are investigating the need for a draft this year with under-fire new appointee Shane Richardson tasked with finding a workable model.
It would mean the NRL would also take over all development for rugby league players who would not have managers or be aligned to NRL clubs until drafted post high school.

Bennett said the AFL’s development pathways were superior to the NRL’s.

“The AFL has a much better model than we have, in terms of what happens below the elite level,” he said.

“Clubs are carrying too much weight now to be honest with you.

“I have always been in favour of an external (rookie) draft.

“It would be the fairest thing for the comp and the best thing.

“It would take a lot of issues out of the game … young players getting too much money too early.

“I remember at the Broncos, we had four kids taking up $450,000 and if we put all four of them on the park we would have lost games.

“They were overpaid but we had to pay that because others were willing to pay that.

“In a draft situation that is gone. Everyone’s on the same fee.

“If you come in through the draft you are on x amount of money.

“There is a lot of pressure on young players at the moment and through the draft and other things we can take pressure off them.

“They are out negotiating big contracts at 17, 18 years of age and their manager is talking them up, their parents are talking them up but no one is talking them down.

“What can we do to keep them 18 and let them be 18 instead of being under the microscope because some aren’t geared to handle it.”

Bennett said the draft would also level the playing field of junior development.

“You have clubs in Sydney paying an awful lot of money to their junior leagues. I know the Dragons pay one million dollars to their junior leagues a year,” he said.

“There are clubs that aren’t paying anything, such as the Cowboys, Broncos, Titans, Storm and Warriors.

“Clubs are paying one million dollars plus but there is no reward because anyone can take your players. That is unfair.

“The game has to come in and say we will come in a take it over and we will have the draft.”

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[TrueTiger]

I agree with what Bennett says about the draft…
The main thing I would like to see is pressure taken off the young ones,we don't need them to face the pressures of the ones we have lost already.As he says,if their 17 or 18,let them be that and enjoy life as well as football....at the moment the money offers speak volumes,and they are to young to manage the huge amounts they receive.....just my thoughts......

 

[2041]

How on earth can it be better for young players to pay them less? The implication in the article, which is frankly disrespectful, is that these guys are literally killing themselves because of the pressures of negotiating $110,000 a year contracts, and that it would therefore be better to collude to refuse to pay them more than, say, $50,000\. It's borderline insane if it's not totally disingenuous.

Obviously it's the latter, right? Bennett wants more room in his cap so he can carry more of the 30+ year old players he so loves. But he is also vaguely aware that he needs to keep a few kids hanging about "for the future". He certainly doesn't want to pay them any money, but at the moment other clubs with slightly more long-term views might offer them a fair salary. What's the solution? Don't allow anyone to pay kids anything, but dress it up as "for their own good".

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

What about when he was offering Luke Brooks $250k a year as a 17 year old, with a handful of NYC games under his belt? Or did he conveniently forget about that one?

Newsflash Wayne, if the market is prepared to pay good money for the juniors, then they are not overpaid. If you think they are being overpaid, let them go. As 2041 has said, if these kids are necking themselves over the pressures that the game puts on them, why drive the nail further in by paying these kids FA?

 

[Jerry_Seinfeld]

How on earth can it be better for young players to pay them less? The implication in the article, which is frankly disrespectful, is that these guys are literally killing themselves because of the pressures of negotiating $110,000 a year contracts, and that it would therefore be better to collude to refuse to pay them more than, say, $50,000\. It's borderline insane if it's not totally disingenuous.

Obviously it's the latter, right? Bennett wants more room in his cap so he can carry more of the 30+ year old players he so loves. But he is also vaguely aware that he needs to keep a few kids hanging about "for the future". He certainly doesn't want to pay them any money, but at the moment other clubs with slightly more long-term views might offer them a fair salary. What's the solution? Don't allow anyone to pay kids anything, but dress it up as "for their own good".

Im not sure but for the majority it may actually be a slight pay rise but certainly for the top end of young stars it will be a big pay drop.Which Im not all that uncomfortable with cause quite frankly your average 20 year old footballer on $500,000 a year only spends it on crap anyways.The too much too soon is very real sadly.

As they have said player welfare is very important for our youth and they need funds set up for those that become longterm injured aka Simon Dwyer etc so they dont become another Mosese Foutaika(god bless your soul bro).

 

[Jerry_Seinfeld]

I agree with what Bennett says about the draft…
The main thing I would like to see is pressure taken off the young ones,we don't need them to face the pressures of the ones we have lost already.As he says,if their 17 or 18,let them be that and enjoy life as well as football....at the moment the money offers speak volumes,and they are to young to manage the huge amounts they receive.....just my thoughts......

Knew Id agree with you on this one TT. :wink:

 

[pHyR3]

What about when he was offering Luke Brooks $250k a year as a 17 year old, with a handful of NYC games under his belt? Or did he conveniently forget about that one?

Newsflash Wayne, **if the market is prepared to pay good money for the juniors, then they are not overpaid.** If you think they are being overpaid, let them go. As 2041 has said, if these kids are necking themselves over the pressures that the game puts on them, why drive the nail further in by paying these kids FA?

so adam blair on 500k in 2012 wasn't overpaid in your opinion?

yea, if there was a draft then he wouldnt be able to offer Brooks 250k at 17 y.o. that's the point. similarly, if you removed the wrestle then he wouldnt be able to coach it. he's an advocate to remove it, but until they do he has to keep using it.

$50,000 as an 18 year old definitely is not 'FA'

youd probably be looking at around 100k for round 1 picks, and 30-50k for round 6 picks. It's paying them similar amounts on average, its just taken out those crazy offers you occasionally get for hyped up rookies.

 

[balmain boy]

4 suicides? I haven't heard of any other than Mosese. A couple of accidental deaths of NYC players but no suicides.

It's a largely stupid point regarding a draft. Penalises clubs who develop players, sends kids all over the country away from their families.

Yes clubs should have more protection for juniors they develop. Clubs buying other clubs juniors should have to pay a development fee for every player. The fee would increase for every year they spent developing at that club/district. As an example, say the Roosters wanted to sign Funaki and say Funaki has spent 5 years in the Balmain development system the Roosters would have to pay $10k a year, 50k total, to secure his services. So if other clubs poach juniors at least the club is compensated whereas at the moment they get nothing.

Obviously a very rough idea, but much better than what's there now. And in football there are already rules like this. If a player under a certain age gets taken by another club, even if there is no transfer fee they have to pay a certain amount to the player's junior club as a development fee.

Or else clubs like the Roosters can start developing their own talent.

 

[phil1986]

4 suicides? I haven't heard of any other than Mosese. A couple of accidental deaths of NYC players but no suicides.

It's a largely stupid point regarding a draft. Penalises clubs who develop players, sends kids all over the country away from their families.

Yes clubs should have more protection for juniors they develop. Clubs buying other clubs juniors should have to pay a development fee for every player. The fee would increase for every year they spent developing at that club/district. As an example, say the Roosters wanted to sign Funaki and say Funaki has spent 5 years in the Balmain development system the Roosters would have to pay $10k a year, 50k total, to secure his services. So if other clubs poach juniors at least the club is compensated whereas at the moment they get nothing.

Obviously a very rough idea, but much better than what's there now. And in football there are already rules like this. If a player under a certain age gets taken by another club, even if there is no transfer fee they have to pay a certain amount to the player's junior club as a development fee.

Or else clubs like the Roosters can start developing their own talent.

I'm pretty sure the 2 recently were.

They have only been reported as sudden.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[Demps]

Bennet = Stale.
Rookie draft = destined to fail.

If it ain't broke… don't fix it.

 

[happy_tiger]

4 suicides? I haven't heard of any other than Mosese. A couple of accidental deaths of NYC players but no suicides.

It's a largely stupid point regarding a draft. Penalises clubs who develop players, sends kids all over the country away from their families.

Yes clubs should have more protection for juniors they develop. Clubs buying other clubs juniors should have to pay a development fee for every player. The fee would increase for every year they spent developing at that club/district. As an example, say the Roosters wanted to sign Funaki and say Funaki has spent 5 years in the Balmain development system the Roosters would have to pay $10k a year, 50k total, to secure his services. So if other clubs poach juniors at least the club is compensated whereas at the moment they get nothing.

Obviously a very rough idea, but much better than what's there now. And in football there are already rules like this. If a player under a certain age gets taken by another club, even if there is no transfer fee they have to pay a certain amount to the player's junior club as a development fee.

Or else clubs like the Roosters can start developing their own talent.

I'm pretty sure the 2 recently were.

They have only been reported as sudden.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

Cowboys have had two players commit suicide in 2014

This would be the worst thing possible for the Tigers

Spend seasons developing , finally get a heap of our own young guns and then have to loss the rest to clubs who have little or no development programs

No Thank You

 

[Russell]

This is the most stupid idea ever proposed!

Bennett is really passed it - obviously has had a brain seizure,

Let us reward the clubs who do not develop juniors.
Let us reward clubs who do even put money into junior development in their area.
Let us take payments away from those juniors who deserve it. e.g. Brooks / Moses etc.
Let us force youngsters to play for someone they don't want to, get disillusioned and leave the game altogether.
Let us force youngsters to move away from home in their teens (could be to North Queensland); away from family and mates to a place where they know nobody, get depressed, get into drugs, drinking or even top themselves.

This is all to shore up The Roosters, Souffs, Melbourne, Brisbane etc. who try and buy premierships. If they can't develop their own, then maybe they get cut from the NRL or have to merge.

Clubs that develop juniors should be rewarded and those that don't should be penalised.

I am really getting tired of the rich getting richer, because they are a protected species and feeding off clubs who do develop and are not as financial - because they are putting money into the future of the game.

If this is the best they can come up with - God help us all, especially the youngsters.

 

[Geo]

Wayne only ever does what's best for Wayne….

Why should Clubs that develop Juniors like Wests Tigers bother if they go into a pot...No Thanks...Identifying the talent is the Art....

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Wayne only ever does what's best for Wayne….

Why should Clubs that develop Juniors like Wests Tigers bother if they go into a pot...No Thanks...Identifying the talent is the Art....

exactly - stuff wayne

 

[Jerry_Seinfeld]

Wayne only ever does what's best for Wayne….

Why should Clubs that develop Juniors like Wests Tigers bother if they go into a pot...No Thanks...Identifying the talent is the Art....

Its true we'd suffer but surely so would waynes broncos who have virtually a whole state to currently pick from.You could also perhaps introduce a franchise tag where say your 3 best juniors in your district could come with franchise tags meaning that they were exempt from the draft.Im sure a rookie draft as per the NFL etc would also open up the game to the south pacific nations like Fiji,Samoa,Tonga and also the PNG as kids could get scholarships to schools then apply for the draft when school was done.

 

[alexaki]

Wayne Bennett will crash from his pedestal this year. Bennett is IMO the most overrated figure in the NRL… He acquired the tag of " SuperCoach" when he was in charge of the Bronco team of superstars ...he quit the Knights after his 3rd year as it became clear he was heading toward becoming their worst coach ever... Watch the Broncos struggle in 2015\. Bennett is dated..... And will fall from his pedestal

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[Geo]

Wayne only ever does what's best for Wayne….

Why should Clubs that develop Juniors like Wests Tigers bother if they go into a pot...No Thanks...Identifying the talent is the Art....

Its true we'd suffer but surely so would waynes broncos who have virtually a whole state to currently pick from.You could also perhaps introduce a franchise tag where say your 3 best juniors in your district could come with franchise tags meaning that they were exempt from the draft.Im sure a rookie draft as per the NFL etc would also open up the game to the south pacific nations like Fiji,Samoa,Tonga and also the PNG as kids could get scholarships to schools then apply for the draft when school was done.

Not familiar with Keebra Park?

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

What about when he was offering Luke Brooks $250k a year as a 17 year old, with a handful of NYC games under his belt? Or did he conveniently forget about that one?

Newsflash Wayne, **if the market is prepared to pay good money for the juniors, then they are not overpaid.** If you think they are being overpaid, let them go. As 2041 has said, if these kids are necking themselves over the pressures that the game puts on them, why drive the nail further in by paying these kids FA?

so adam blair on 500k in 2012 wasn't overpaid in your opinion?

yea, if there was a draft then he wouldnt be able to offer Brooks 250k at 17 y.o. that's the point. similarly, if you removed the wrestle then he wouldnt be able to coach it. he's an advocate to remove it, but until they do he has to keep using it.

$50,000 as an 18 year old definitely is not 'FA'

youd probably be looking at around 100k for round 1 picks, and 30-50k for round 6 picks. It's paying them similar amounts on average, its just taken out those crazy offers you occasionally get for hyped up rookies.

We're talking about juniors here. Blair was overpaid, but you have to offer overs to lure players away from other clubs. And you're missing the point on Brooks. Bennett wants this system, but he was prepared to throw the kitchen sink at Brooks to get him to Newcastle. Short memory one would think.

If you're part of the NRL squad you should be getting 100k minimum a year. The average NRL player plays what is it, 40 games? Whether they are thrown on the scrapheap, or end up like Dwyer or Tuiaki, it is important that these guys earn a decent minimum wage if they are to be part of a top 25 squad.

 

[cqtiger]

I've always been an advocate of market value.
What is a player worth? What the market is prepared to pay.
I agree with that basic concept.

However, the "market" in the NRL sense is not a fair market.

Example: A young, up and coming star playing for us gets an offer of $500k from the Roosters. We can't match that offer because it takes us over our cap limit, so we reluctantly release the young star only to find that the Roosters are only paying $250k out of their salary cap for him. The other $250k is paid by Third Party Agreements.

Well you say, every club is able to offer TPA's so that's fair within market rules. Yes, but sadly some clubs have more "access" to third parties than others. For true market value, the market must be a level playing field.

TPA's?
Souths - think Crowe and friends
Roosters - think Politis and friends
Broncos - think Thoroughbreds
Storm - think News Ltd
Cowboys - think News Ltd
These clubs continually have TPAs available to help out. How can this be when TPAs must not be associated at all to any NRL club?
The NRL must control all TPAs and distribute evenly amongst all clubs.

If a draft is the way to go then grade it by the amount of money that clubs pay for to their junior leagues.
Example: if Wests Tigers or St George spend $1m on junior development then they would get to pick and keep $1m worth of juniors. If NRL draft rules consider each junior's draft value at $50k then the Tigers and Dragons would get to pick the top 20 juniors of their choice.

The trick then is keeping those top juniors when they turn "senior" and open to normal salary cap rules (go back to start of post)

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[newtiger]

This is the most stupid idea ever proposed!

Bennett is really passed it - obviously has had a brain seizure,

Let us reward the clubs who do not develop juniors.
Let us reward clubs who do even put money into junior development in their area.
Let us take payments away from those juniors who deserve it. e.g. Brooks / Moses etc.
Let us force youngsters to play for someone they don't want to, get disillusioned and leave the game altogether.
Let us force youngsters to move away from home in their teens (could be to North Queensland); away from family and mates to a place where they know nobody, get depressed, get into drugs, drinking or even top themselves.

This is all to shore up The Roosters, Souffs, Melbourne, Brisbane etc. who try and buy premierships. If they can't develop their own, then maybe they get cut from the NRL or have to merge.

Clubs that develop juniors should be rewarded and those that don't should be penalised.

I am really getting tired of the rich getting richer, because they are a protected species and feeding off clubs who do develop and are not as financial - because they are putting money into the future of the game.

If this is the best they can come up with - God help us all, especially the youngsters.

And what about the Bulldogs not one cent spent on juniors, just rape other clubs that spend a huge amount of cash developing their juniors.