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Harry Triguboff loves 'his' dream team but is not a fan of the restrictive salary cap, writes Daniel Lane.
Property developer Harry Triguboff, who has committed to the biggest sponsorship in Wests Tigers' history, does not believe the game's players are paid enough for the punishment they endure and has raised concerns about the strength of the code's economy.
Triguboff, head of Meriton and one of Australia's richest men, said he would love to add Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater to complement ''his'' team's attacking brilliance, particularly that of Benji Marshall.
The Tigers announced on Friday that Meriton, the club's inaugural major sponsor in 2000, would back the side for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. While Triguboff described the club's stability on and off the field as ''magnificent'', he said Marshall, who he hailed as a superstar, was an invaluable asset.
''Unbelievable,'' Triguboff said of Marshall. ''The way he led New Zealand to the [Four Nations final] win over Australia was incredible; you had to admire it. He is a winner.
''I never know what he will do when I watch him. It's exciting - you see him thinking, 'Now I will do this', and something happens.''
If Triguboff had his way he would ensure Marshall, and every other league player, was paid even more for the punishment they take.
He said the AFL was misguided to think it could dramatically cut into league's Sydney supporter base but the money the rival code could offer the likes of Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt was a concern and another reason to increase league salaries.
''They should get more,'' Triguboff said. ''When I first started with the [Balmain] Tigers I used to give each player 1000 bucks after each win. One day when I was on Qantas a girl working there said the thousand dollars I'd given her husband meant a lot to them.
''The [salary cap] stopped [the payments] but the players should get more.
''We have to realise AFL will come but it will make rugby league more important. People will compare the two sports and they will prefer rugby league.
''But we have to watch the remuneration. I don't think [Benji Marshall] would go … but …
''I would also make the game less strenuous on the body too. When you look at the season Benji had, the best things was he had not been injured and could play. Yes, we need to make it easier [on the body].''
Triguboff had retained his interest in the Tigers by backing the club's under-20 side, which allowed him to observe the next generation of Tigers. He suggested more interchanges might ease the workload.
He also noted that there did not seem to be as much emphasis on lifting heavy weights as there had been a decade ago and suggested this could be helping to preserve the players.
Triguboff is the type of person the code needs to invest in the game as it prepares for the era of the independent commission.
However, he said that to help attract other investors, the salary cap would have to be increased.
Also, the real value of the game as a television product would have to be realised in the looming negotiations over broadcasting rights.
''When I go around Australia so many people know about the Tigers because they see them play on television - a lot of people are watching,'' Triguboff said.
''I think [clubs] should be allowed to spend more money to attract other players. I would like to have Billy Slater here; he'd be my No.1 choice. Yes, he would be a very good signing.''
Triguboff raised concern about the game's economy, saying it was ''not as good'' as it should be.
However, he was pleased to see that the flow of Australians travelling to England to play in the Super League, including Wests Tigers stars such as Pat Richards, Ben Galea and Brett Hodgson, had all but stopped.
''The good thing [for Australian rugby league] is England is not very strong and our players are not going there; in fact they are coming back and we are getting some of [the English], which is very good,'' he said.
Although Triguboff told the media at the sponsorship announcement that he demanded a premiership, he said he was always committed to the Tigers, win or lose.
''I am sure we will have a good year,'' he said. ''Wests Tigers has always been a good club but we have had some bad luck; injuries.
''Our problem over the years is we have not had the depth but now, at last, we are getting it.
''The club is strong.''
Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys described Meriton's sponsorship as a major vote of confidence in the club's direction.
''We have an excellent playing roster, professional coaching staff and we have our act together off the field,'' Humphreys said.
''It's going very well and for any club to do well it needs to have everything working at the same time.
''So I am delighted with Meriton's sponsorship. I think it demonstrates that the game is in good shape and that we are ready to take that next step to the independent commission.''
The Triguboff filesBorn: March 3, 1933 in Dalian (Darien at the time), China
Nickname: High-Rise Harry
Early life: The son of Russian Jews who fled to north-eastern China after the rise of Lenin. Left for Australia in 1947, became an Australian citizen in 1961.
Education: Scots College in Sydney. Graduated with degree in textiles from Leeds University.
Employment history: Worked in textile businesses in Israel and South Africa; spent time as a taxi driver and owned a milk round in Chatswood.
Construction career: Hired a builder to build his house and had bad experience resulting in him building it himself. Then built further apartment blocks which resulted in formation of Meriton Apartments.
Personal life: Married with two daughters, made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1990 and Officer of the Order of Australia in 1999; fifth on the 2010 BRW Rich 200 list with an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion.
[Source](http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/triguboff-id-love-tigers-to-sign-slater-20101211-18tco.html)
Property developer Harry Triguboff, who has committed to the biggest sponsorship in Wests Tigers' history, does not believe the game's players are paid enough for the punishment they endure and has raised concerns about the strength of the code's economy.
Triguboff, head of Meriton and one of Australia's richest men, said he would love to add Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater to complement ''his'' team's attacking brilliance, particularly that of Benji Marshall.
The Tigers announced on Friday that Meriton, the club's inaugural major sponsor in 2000, would back the side for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. While Triguboff described the club's stability on and off the field as ''magnificent'', he said Marshall, who he hailed as a superstar, was an invaluable asset.
''Unbelievable,'' Triguboff said of Marshall. ''The way he led New Zealand to the [Four Nations final] win over Australia was incredible; you had to admire it. He is a winner.
''I never know what he will do when I watch him. It's exciting - you see him thinking, 'Now I will do this', and something happens.''
If Triguboff had his way he would ensure Marshall, and every other league player, was paid even more for the punishment they take.
He said the AFL was misguided to think it could dramatically cut into league's Sydney supporter base but the money the rival code could offer the likes of Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt was a concern and another reason to increase league salaries.
''They should get more,'' Triguboff said. ''When I first started with the [Balmain] Tigers I used to give each player 1000 bucks after each win. One day when I was on Qantas a girl working there said the thousand dollars I'd given her husband meant a lot to them.
''The [salary cap] stopped [the payments] but the players should get more.
''We have to realise AFL will come but it will make rugby league more important. People will compare the two sports and they will prefer rugby league.
''But we have to watch the remuneration. I don't think [Benji Marshall] would go … but …
''I would also make the game less strenuous on the body too. When you look at the season Benji had, the best things was he had not been injured and could play. Yes, we need to make it easier [on the body].''
Triguboff had retained his interest in the Tigers by backing the club's under-20 side, which allowed him to observe the next generation of Tigers. He suggested more interchanges might ease the workload.
He also noted that there did not seem to be as much emphasis on lifting heavy weights as there had been a decade ago and suggested this could be helping to preserve the players.
Triguboff is the type of person the code needs to invest in the game as it prepares for the era of the independent commission.
However, he said that to help attract other investors, the salary cap would have to be increased.
Also, the real value of the game as a television product would have to be realised in the looming negotiations over broadcasting rights.
''When I go around Australia so many people know about the Tigers because they see them play on television - a lot of people are watching,'' Triguboff said.
''I think [clubs] should be allowed to spend more money to attract other players. I would like to have Billy Slater here; he'd be my No.1 choice. Yes, he would be a very good signing.''
Triguboff raised concern about the game's economy, saying it was ''not as good'' as it should be.
However, he was pleased to see that the flow of Australians travelling to England to play in the Super League, including Wests Tigers stars such as Pat Richards, Ben Galea and Brett Hodgson, had all but stopped.
''The good thing [for Australian rugby league] is England is not very strong and our players are not going there; in fact they are coming back and we are getting some of [the English], which is very good,'' he said.
Although Triguboff told the media at the sponsorship announcement that he demanded a premiership, he said he was always committed to the Tigers, win or lose.
''I am sure we will have a good year,'' he said. ''Wests Tigers has always been a good club but we have had some bad luck; injuries.
''Our problem over the years is we have not had the depth but now, at last, we are getting it.
''The club is strong.''
Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys described Meriton's sponsorship as a major vote of confidence in the club's direction.
''We have an excellent playing roster, professional coaching staff and we have our act together off the field,'' Humphreys said.
''It's going very well and for any club to do well it needs to have everything working at the same time.
''So I am delighted with Meriton's sponsorship. I think it demonstrates that the game is in good shape and that we are ready to take that next step to the independent commission.''
The Triguboff filesBorn: March 3, 1933 in Dalian (Darien at the time), China
Nickname: High-Rise Harry
Early life: The son of Russian Jews who fled to north-eastern China after the rise of Lenin. Left for Australia in 1947, became an Australian citizen in 1961.
Education: Scots College in Sydney. Graduated with degree in textiles from Leeds University.
Employment history: Worked in textile businesses in Israel and South Africa; spent time as a taxi driver and owned a milk round in Chatswood.
Construction career: Hired a builder to build his house and had bad experience resulting in him building it himself. Then built further apartment blocks which resulted in formation of Meriton Apartments.
Personal life: Married with two daughters, made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1990 and Officer of the Order of Australia in 1999; fifth on the 2010 BRW Rich 200 list with an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion.
[Source](http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/triguboff-id-love-tigers-to-sign-slater-20101211-18tco.html)
