What the Roosters do is sign the best 16-18 year olds on money other clubs can’t afford outside the salary cap. Bring these players through each year ie: Mitchell, Manu, Radley.
They then top up marquee signings Keary, Tedesco, Cronk with third parties 200k + each. Their last trick is to have no morals and sign people with atrocities. Ferguson, Tetevano on the cheap.
It’s the Golden State Warriors Warriors of the NRL the rest of the players take a small haircut to play on a winning squad.
They and their families are also looked after off the field which no team can match in the corporate world.
They are a blight on the game and have no juniors alll their best players are from other clubs.
Well said.
I don't know how true it is, but I've been told a similar type of story. Roosters sign you to a decent cash contract, but then everything else you need is taken care of by "friends" of the club.
So if you need a ride, some food, apartment, a tailor, travel - you just go see the "friends" and they sort it out. Stay with the Roosters long-term and these arrangements last long-term.
So for example Tedesco, he is earning a less at Roosters than Tigers and Bulldogs offered him, but he has nil off-field expenses because everywhere he goes, "friends" look after him.
"How much for the dinner?" "Meal's on the house, go Roosters". Tedesco probably couldn't pay for a beer in the Eastern Suburbs if he tried.
