With all these player movements happening in our backyard I just wanted to say that people can blame whoever they like about players coming or going but the cold hard facts are that the mechanics of the salary cap in it's current form is the reason behind all these player movments.
Let me use Adam Blair as an example.
He has been with the Storm since he was 17\. The Storm did all the hard work in scouting him, developing him through their junior grades and bringing him through into the top grade. He's come to the end of his current deal and on his form he deserves an increased contract. The Storm want to keep him, he wants to stay but unfortunately for Adam Blair and the Storm, all the money and time they spent into developing Adam Blair as a footballer is now wasted because it looks as though the Wests Tigers will be enjoying the fruits of Melbourne's hard work.
How is this right for the player who prefers to stay where he is, the club who did all the work into developing him, the Storm fans who have grown to love him and the game? It's not right is it?
It's sad that in this day and age that one club players are a rarity. Gone are the days when a young boy or girl admires a player who plays for their favourite team. The way the salary cap is set up now, the hearts of the little boys and girls who love Adam Blair will be disappointed when he leaves their favourite club Melbourne to play for someone else because of a set of rules.
The only way to make something so wrong into something so right is to exempt a player like Adam Blair from the Melbourne Storm's salary cap. I think clubs like Melbourne who have brought players like Adam along from their junior grades along into first grade should be rewarded for their hard work. Players like Adam Blair should be exempt from the cap and The Storm should be entitled to pay whatever they think Adam Blair is worth. In saying that, I believe the NRL should lower the salary cap to prevent other clubs from stealing players like Adam Blair and forcing clubs into throwing all their resources into junior programs. Of course there would have to be a set of rules and a structure put into place to make sure NRL clubs dont exploit talented kids that they may discover.
How will this benefit the player, club and the game?
The player will get to be a one club player and will get to stay where he wants to spend his entire career. The club will enjoy the fruits of their hard labour and make it all worth while for their investment. The fans will be able to enjoy having their favourite players stay at their favourite club. As well as that, it will force clubs into scouting young kids and make it harder for other codes like AFL and Rugby to steal these special talents from us. It could also help stem the flow of players leaving here to play in the UK. It's win/ win situation for all.
Let me use Adam Blair as an example.
He has been with the Storm since he was 17\. The Storm did all the hard work in scouting him, developing him through their junior grades and bringing him through into the top grade. He's come to the end of his current deal and on his form he deserves an increased contract. The Storm want to keep him, he wants to stay but unfortunately for Adam Blair and the Storm, all the money and time they spent into developing Adam Blair as a footballer is now wasted because it looks as though the Wests Tigers will be enjoying the fruits of Melbourne's hard work.
How is this right for the player who prefers to stay where he is, the club who did all the work into developing him, the Storm fans who have grown to love him and the game? It's not right is it?
It's sad that in this day and age that one club players are a rarity. Gone are the days when a young boy or girl admires a player who plays for their favourite team. The way the salary cap is set up now, the hearts of the little boys and girls who love Adam Blair will be disappointed when he leaves their favourite club Melbourne to play for someone else because of a set of rules.
The only way to make something so wrong into something so right is to exempt a player like Adam Blair from the Melbourne Storm's salary cap. I think clubs like Melbourne who have brought players like Adam along from their junior grades along into first grade should be rewarded for their hard work. Players like Adam Blair should be exempt from the cap and The Storm should be entitled to pay whatever they think Adam Blair is worth. In saying that, I believe the NRL should lower the salary cap to prevent other clubs from stealing players like Adam Blair and forcing clubs into throwing all their resources into junior programs. Of course there would have to be a set of rules and a structure put into place to make sure NRL clubs dont exploit talented kids that they may discover.
How will this benefit the player, club and the game?
The player will get to be a one club player and will get to stay where he wants to spend his entire career. The club will enjoy the fruits of their hard labour and make it all worth while for their investment. The fans will be able to enjoy having their favourite players stay at their favourite club. As well as that, it will force clubs into scouting young kids and make it harder for other codes like AFL and Rugby to steal these special talents from us. It could also help stem the flow of players leaving here to play in the UK. It's win/ win situation for all.
