Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[GNR4LIFE]

I could be( and hopefully am) wrong, but if things keep going the way are then in time there could be 5 or 6 clubs that would last through a financial crisis in the game through monopolising the talent, success and all the benefits that come from success.
With TPAs continuing in the fashion they are then a day may come where sponsors, financial backers and maybe even fans won’t see the value in supporting a team or game that’s only benefiting the elite.
Wouldn’t be much of a competition with half a dozen sides going around each week.
I know there’s always going to be stronger clubs than others and that’s part and parcel of a competition.
It seems to me that some clubs get privileges that others don’t.

Gee I hope we belt those roosters ? in round One!!!

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

That's right Hobbo - Top Clubs sign players like Cameron Smith and Andrew McCulloch to play ISP?????

And on minimum wage too.

 

[swag_tiger]

I could be( and hopefully am) wrong, but if things keep going the way are then in time there could be 5 or 6 clubs that would last through a financial crisis in the game through monopolising the talent, success and all the benefits that come from success.
With TPAs continuing in the fashion they are then a day may come where sponsors, financial backers and maybe even fans won’t see the value in supporting a team or game that’s only benefiting the elite.
Wouldn’t be much of a competition with half a dozen sides going around each week.
I know there’s always going to be stronger clubs than others and that’s part and parcel of a competition.
It seems to me that some clubs get privileges that others don’t.

Gee I hope we belt those roosters ? in round One!!!

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

They paid Nikorima $370k. They've got more dollars than sense.

We are paying Suli 1.3 million for 3 seasons.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

They paid Nikorima $370k. They've got more dollars than sense.

We are paying Suli 1.3 million for 3 seasons.

Which is just over 400k a season. Also had half a dozen other clubs throwing cash at him too. What were we supposed to do? I'd say he showed enough this year to justify that investment.

 

[gallagher]

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

They paid Nikorima $370k. They've got more dollars than sense.

We are paying Suli 1.3 million for 3 seasons.

Thats my point. They dont manage their cap well, they just have lots of TPA's.

 

[Mac_tiger]

I like Paul Kent's notion.
TPA's to go….no need for them now as Salary Cap has increased so much over last 5 years or so. TPA's were originally bought in before the game could "afford" million dollar contracts and to deter players going to UK in times when they had the $$$ to splash around and Rugby.
Now we have the likes Ben Hunt on 1.2 million.
I can't see why the Salary Cap and a capped TPA Club limit (same at every club) cannot be enforced.
Oh wait...there's politics and politis.

No level playing field here.

100%,

In all honesty I think it’s quite simple.

Third parties go, if business’ want to invest money, it goes into directly into a club. It Makes every club stronger and more financially viable.

Whilst Clubs can still only spend the salary cap on players. If club sponsors wish to use players for adds and marketing etc, and the club and player agree, that’s great as all parties benefit from this, but these is no extra cash outside of the cap at any time.

Anything paid at any time outside of the salary cap, is technically cheating.

Much easier to enforce and there are no excuses if you get caught, because the rules are black and white.

Still restraint of trade isn't it? You cannot outlaw players earning money from their own brand or representation, and you have to prove a link between the sponsor and the club to decline a TPA.

I'd be all for dumping TPAs but you'd be setting yourself up for legal challenge by the RLPA.

It is correct that you can't restrain a player from exploiting his brand, which is why TPAs are allowed. But the rub is very few NRL players have a brand of any value, otherwise people like Harry M Miller, Max Markson would be exploiting it. I can only think of Teddy (Nike) and Slater (Suzuki) doing any sort of meaningful promotional activity in recent times.

I'm sure there are a few others, but i'd wager if you added up the number of registered TPAs across the NRL and then went looking for evidence of what said player does in exchange for his 'arms length' arrangement, there would be a mighty disconnect.

The exploitation of TPAs has killed off the purpose of the salary cap as others on here have said. The problem is Greenburg has no interest in addressing it. He would be on his last sports admin gig atm, unless some other sport which doesn't care about its reputation (UFC, cock fighting) needs a CEO. He'll want to stay at the NRL trough as long as he can, and the rich clubs will allow him to do that as long as the status quo is maintained.

 

[Nelson]

I could be( and hopefully am) wrong, but if things keep going the way are then in time there could be 5 or 6 clubs that would last through a financial crisis in the game through monopolising the talent, success and all the benefits that come from success.
With TPAs continuing in the fashion they are then a day may come where sponsors, financial backers and maybe even fans won’t see the value in supporting a team or game that’s only benefiting the elite.
Wouldn’t be much of a competition with half a dozen sides going around each week.
I know there’s always going to be stronger clubs than others and that’s part and parcel of a competition.
It seems to me that some clubs get privileges that others don’t.

Gee I hope we belt those roosters ? in round One!!!

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

Actually hobbo if you look at the Roosters top 30 they have about 10 nevilles like Pita Godinet on minimum contracts. ..

 

[Tacky]

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

They paid Nikorima $370k. They've got more dollars than sense.

We are paying Suli 1.3 million for 3 seasons.

Except, Suli is playing consistent first grade for us and doing a good job. Whereas, Nikorima was playing reserves for the Roosters.

 

[851]

I could be( and hopefully am) wrong, but if things keep going the way are then in time there could be 5 or 6 clubs that would last through a financial crisis in the game through monopolising the talent, success and all the benefits that come from success.
With TPAs continuing in the fashion they are then a day may come where sponsors, financial backers and maybe even fans won’t see the value in supporting a team or game that’s only benefiting the elite.
Wouldn’t be much of a competition with half a dozen sides going around each week.
I know there’s always going to be stronger clubs than others and that’s part and parcel of a competition.
It seems to me that some clubs get privileges that others don’t.

Gee I hope we belt those roosters ? in round One!!!

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

They paid Nikorima $370k. They've got more dollars than sense.

That is how much he was on now he has gone, ask them last year how much he is on and it's $100k that is how they roll.

 

[newtiger]

I could be( and hopefully am) wrong, but if things keep going the way are then in time there could be 5 or 6 clubs that would last through a financial crisis in the game through monopolising the talent, success and all the benefits that come from success.
With TPAs continuing in the fashion they are then a day may come where sponsors, financial backers and maybe even fans won’t see the value in supporting a team or game that’s only benefiting the elite.
Wouldn’t be much of a competition with half a dozen sides going around each week.
I know there’s always going to be stronger clubs than others and that’s part and parcel of a competition.
It seems to me that some clubs get privileges that others don’t.

Gee I hope we belt those roosters ? in round One!!!

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

They paid Nikorima $370k. They've got more dollars than sense.

I think this is what Politis was saying in that SMH article, if we make an error it is corrected quickly.

 

[gallagher]

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

They paid Nikorima $370k. They've got more dollars than sense.

That is how much he was on now he has gone, ask them last year how much he is on and it's $100k that is how they roll.

No doubt

 

[jadtiger]

The NRL will be very similar to the English Premier League very soon, if not already, where realistically only a handful of teams can win in any one year.

Already the NRL covers each club’s running costs so why isn’t the competition fair and even at this point? Well no club should fold ever again because of the funding so why are the top clubs almost always playing finals football?

It’s because the playing contracts are not publicised. Imagine the uproar if people could see the Rooster and Bronco contracts and Darius Boyd was on less than Naiquama? Or JWH was on less than Alex Twal?

Unless there is transparency with player contracts nothing will change. Gossip and inuendo will rule…just like now with Politis and his cronies just laughing their butts off.

Other major sporting codes provide clarity on contracts but they are much better run by strong administrators.

Yes it would be great to have power brokers like Politis and Bouris in our corner ….
But then again Top clubs don't give plodders like Tim Grant one year extensions in favour of the player ..

Top clubs don't sign nevilles like Pita Godinet .

We need to get smarter !

They paid Nikorima $370k. They've got more dollars than sense.

I think this is what Politis was saying in that SMH article, if we make an error it is corrected quickly.

Only when it suits them to say it, undoubtedly much is a smokescreen or cover up.There is a reason Politis sells cars he is a conman of the highest order like the rest of them.They are equal with politicians in the credibility stakes

 

[Sabre]

With all this cash the Rorters are splashing about and 4 players taking up nearly 44% of the Sombrero some body there would have to be missing out which hopefully will lead to disgruntled players in the group.We should immediately target Latrell Mitchell and go in with a big offer he is supposedly on a small contract compared to others and appears to be a players of the future .The NRL
need to show some kahoonas here and open an investigation and have the Rorters disclose how they can offer these large contracts and also all clubs should have to disclose there TPA providers and these providers should be verified legitimate before any contracts are registered. ITS OUR GAME AND WE DESERVE TO KNOW

Of course he is on a small contract (same as most of their signings) but a huge TPA.

**Surely they must be over their TPA limit? (Is there one? How much? Maybe one should be introduced).**
Good ol' Rorters - how do they "lie" straight in bed?

This is the problem Russell, there is a TPA limit for those that are "organised by the club" however there is no limit for TPA's that aren't "organised by the club". Problem is that teams like the Roosters and Broncos have that many corporate friends that aren't involved directly with the club and therefore are able to offer TPA's to certain players as a "commercial" agreement. The whole system sucks!!

I never understand how this is policed.
If a club approaches a clang about a TPA for one of their players and a deal is reached surely it's pretty easy to just lie and say the company approached the player…how would it even be possible to disprove?

 

[supercoach]

I like Paul Kent's notion.
TPA's to go….no need for them now as Salary Cap has increased so much over last 5 years or so. TPA's were originally bought in before the game could "afford" million dollar contracts and to deter players going to UK in times when they had the $$$ to splash around and Rugby.
Now we have the likes Ben Hunt on 1.2 million.
I can't see why the Salary Cap and a capped TPA Club limit (same at every club) cannot be enforced.
Oh wait...there's politics and politis.

No level playing field here.

100%,

In all honesty I think it’s quite simple.

Third parties go, if business’ want to invest money, it goes into directly into a club. It Makes every club stronger and more financially viable.

Whilst Clubs can still only spend the salary cap on players. If club sponsors wish to use players for adds and marketing etc, and the club and player agree, that’s great as all parties benefit from this, but these is no extra cash outside of the cap at any time.

Anything paid at any time outside of the salary cap, is technically cheating.

Much easier to enforce and there are no excuses if you get caught, because the rules are black and white.

Still restraint of trade isn't it? You cannot outlaw players earning money from their own brand or representation, and you have to prove a link between the sponsor and the club to decline a TPA.

I'd be all for dumping TPAs but you'd be setting yourself up for legal challenge by the RLPA.

It is correct that you can't restrain a player from exploiting his brand, which is why TPAs are allowed. But the rub is very few NRL players have a brand of any value, otherwise people like Harry M Miller, Max Markson would be exploiting it. I can only think of Teddy (Nike) and Slater (Suzuki) doing any sort of meaningful promotional activity in recent times.

I'm sure there are a few others, but i'd wager if you added up the number of registered TPAs across the NRL and then went looking for evidence of what said player does in exchange for his 'arms length' arrangement, there would be a mighty disconnect.

The exploitation of TPAs has killed off the purpose of the salary cap as others on here have said. The problem is Greenburg has no interest in addressing it. He would be on his last sports admin gig atm, unless some other sport which doesn't care about its reputation (UFC, cock fighting) needs a CEO. He'll want to stay at the NRL trough as long as he can, and the rich clubs will allow him to do that as long as the status quo is maintained.

That has to be close to the best post in years

 

[Plato]

I think this whole sad situation comes down to a complete lack of leadership, and short term greed objectives by the NRL rather than those of long term growth. Rugby League isn't the only game in town, and attendances will certainly drop unless something is done to correct the public profile now. As it stands the media is calling the shots, players are dishonestly signed for less than their true market value, and the NRL simply turns a blind eye. For goodness sake, how hard can it possibly be to give each player a deemed value by whatever means you would prefer, add up the team total at the start of the season or at predetermined intervals, and decide by completely mathematical means whether the team is under or over the cap? Players would then be free to supplement their incomes with as many TPA's as they can rake in and it wouldn't matter one iota because TPA's would have been taken completely out of the equation, but if the total team deemed value is over the cap then tough titties, changes will need to be made. What really irks me is that we are force fed programming schedules based on media predictions of viewer numbers rather than being given an honest random draw. If you were to simply pull the schedule out of a hat and it didn't work out well, then that's just plain bad luck, but no team should have to tolerate media interference deciding their ultimate position on the ladder.

 

[Telltails]

The Roosters are a smart operation. The team we all love to hate historically is usually the most savvy - and currently the Roosters are it.
We are in our position because we have a history of poor financial management. If we had built on the success of 2005 we would be a lot closer to the Roosters model and in fact with a larger fan base could have been a power house in the Sydney market
The Sharks are getting closer to it, Parra have steadied the ship, Penrith have identified with the West. If we want to survive in Sydney instead of wanting the NRL to shackle the strong/financial clubs we would be much better off concentrating on how we get into a similar position.
If not - we are and will continue to be the vulnerable ones IMO.

 

[Geo]

Not true….I hate all other teams the most equally..

 

[happy_tiger]

Not true….I hate all other teams the most equally..

So No 30 has been announced ??

511 pages and it comes down to 1 signing

 

[Geo]

Not true….I hate all other teams the most equally..

So No 30 has been announced ??

511 pages and it comes down to 1 signing

Powder dry on No.30 with the new CBA teams have until June 30 next year to finalise the Top 30,,,if not from outside probably one of the ISP guys who impress will get an upgrade to an NRL contract..no rush …rather wait for the right player..

There was some murmur about Grant going to the Pamfers which means we would have 2 spots to fill but I don't think that's happening..

I still suggest we sign Taumalolo, Cordner Gillett or Crichton...

 

[yeti]

The Roosters are a smart operation. The team we all love to hate historically is usually the most savvy - and currently the Roosters are it.
We are in our position because we have a history of poor financial management. If we had built on the success of 2005 we would be a lot closer to the Roosters model and in fact with a larger fan base could have been a power house in the Sydney market
The Sharks are getting closer to it, Parra have steadied the ship, Penrith have identified with the West. If we want to survive in Sydney instead of wanting the NRL to shackle the strong/financial clubs we would be much better off concentrating on how we get into a similar position.
If not - we are and will continue to be the vulnerable ones IMO.

I agree this club has in the past been terribly managed. It appears this has changed to a large degree under the new CEO/Board. However, your comments regarding shackling the strong/financial clubs is not, from my reading of the situation, what most people want. What is wanted/needed is the rules to be applied equally across all teams in the NRL and to be seen to being applied equally. At the moment this does not appear to be the case. As I and others have said again and again, the current rules surrounding the whole TPA situation is open to corruption and exploitation.
There needs to be a better way of managing it. I don't know what that is, but something needs to be done because it essentially undermines the reason for having a salary cap. Whether a points system is used, or whether ALL TP Agreements need to be managed by the NRL itself rather than clubs and individual players, I'm not sure. But the wheels have fallen off the current system and they need to be fixed.

 

[happy_tiger]

Not true….I hate all other teams the most equally..

So No 30 has been announced ??

511 pages and it comes down to 1 signing

Powder dry on No.30 with the new CBA teams have until June 30 next year to finalise the Top 30,,,if not from outside probably one of the ISP guys who impress will get an upgrade to an NRL contract..no rush …rather wait for the right player..

There was some murmur about Grant going to the Pamfers which means we would have 2 spots to fill but I don't think that's happening..

I still suggest we sign Taumalolo, Cordner Gillett or Crichton...

No Taumalolo ,Smith , Thurston and Morgan