Buzz: Roosters masters of managing cap

[Super Freak]

WHY can’t rugby league fans just appreciate the Sydney Roosters for being one of the great teams of the modern era?

This club is on the verge of becoming the first side to win back-to-back titles in a united competition since Wayne Bennett’s Broncos back in 1992-93.

Yet whenever anyone talks about the Roosters these days they refer to their salary cap.

It dominates discussions on social media whenever they play.

On Friday I had a phone call from a prominent NRL coach, the morning after the Roosters beat the Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium.

The conversation started along these lines.

Coach: Why don’t you write a story about the Roosters salary cap. Everyone in the game is talking about it.

Buzz: Yeah, great idea. We’re about to go into the finals. I’ll get barred.

But here goes anyway.

The NRL salary cap is $5.5 million plus another $600,000 for the marquee player allowance. That makes the total spend $6.1 million for 2014.

Somehow the Roosters have squeezed an estimated $8 million worth of talent into their squad. And I’ve rated them conservatively.

I’m not saying they are cheats but what we do know is their roster is far superior to any other club in the competition.

Check out their star-studded line-up against the Canberra Raiders or Parramatta, or the Titans, or the Wests Tigers. It’s like comparing caviar to fish fingers.

To come up with the $8 million salary cap estimate, I spoke to the prominent coach and a leading player-manager.

They also point out the Roosters won the grand final last year but, unlike other premiership-winning outfits, didn’t lose a significant player to a rival club, outside of Martin Kennedy to the Brisbane Broncos.

Luke O’Donnell retired and Daniel Mortimer was released mid-season.

They also picked up the hottest young halfback in the game, Jackson Hastings, winning a bidding war with St George Illawarra and other clubs.

So how do they do it?

The Roosters are subjected to exactly the same scrutiny as other clubs by the NRL integrity unit.

Obviously their stars are playing each week for under their real market value.

There can be no other explanation.

ROOSTERS SALARY ESTIMATES

Anthony Minichiello $400,000

Daniel Tupou $250,000

Michael Jennings $750,000

Shaun Kenny-Dowall $350,000

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck $250,000

James Maloney $600,000

Mitchell Pearce $800,000

Sonny Bill Williams $1,000,000

Boyd Cordner $450,000

Aidan Guerra $400,000

Jared Waerea Hargreaves $450,000

Jake Friend $375,000

Sam Moa $250,000

Bench

Mitch Aubusson $275,000

Dylan Napa $200,000

Jackson Hastings $150,000

Frank Paul Nu’uasala $250,000

The rest: $800,000

Total: $8 million

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Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[vertigo]

All that counts towards the salary cap is base salary and base salary ≠ total salary.

Slothfield knows this but chooses to ignore it.

 

[Porthoz]

Pearce @ $800K???
That's more outrageous than Sandow at $550K!

 

[Socnorb]

Pearce @ $800K???
That's more outrageous than Sandow at $550K!

I think that's per decade.

 

[Cult]

I had a phone call from a prominent NRL coach

Shane Flanaghan is hardly a prominent NRL coach.

 

[jarro65]

Why even bother reading a Slothfield article ??

The guy is the worst league journo running around

 

[Broncoman]

Rothfields a crook and possibly the worst sports journo I've seen. I find this article a whinge because other teams are performing better than his lowly Sharks. His always been anti-roosters so it isn't any surprise to see something like this from him.

 

[Foordy]

In the CM, it has said that a Roosters official claims that Dan Tupou is on only 40k a year ... how the **** is that even possible, isn't the minimum wage about 65k a year.

the other claim i thought was laughable is that They managed to sign Sonny Bill Williams, James Maloney and Michael Jennings last year after being $300,000 under the cap in 2012.

Even if the Panthers are paying a big portion of Jennings wage there is no way any club can sign those three players for 300k. $BW in particular, doesn't get out of bed for 300k

 

[broncos4life]

In the CM, it has said that a Roosters official claims that Dan Tupou is on only 40k a year ... how the **** is that even possible, isn't the minimum wage about 65k a year.

the other claim i thought was laughable is that They managed to sign Sonny Bill Williams, James Maloney and Michael Jennings last year after being $300,000 under the cap in 2012.

Even if the Panthers are paying a big portion of Jennings wage there is no way any club can sign those three players for 300k. $BW in particular, doesn't get out of bed for 300k

What's even more laughable is no one is doing anything about what is obvious rorting

All Dave smith et al do is open their collective throat so they can fit more of uncle nicks **** in there

 

[Ari Gold]

Personally I don't think the Roosters are over the cap. A lot of their big names were signed before they became big names.

Saying they are over the cap because they have quality players is basically the same as when people said we were over the cap for havin origin reps.

 

[broncos4life]

Personally I don't think the Roosters are over the cap. A lot of their big names were signed before they became big names.

Saying they are over the cap because they have quality players is basically the same as when people said we were over the cap for havin origin reps.

I don't think they are rorting the cap because they have good players, I think they are rorting the cap because it has been said they have players on amounts that are less than minimum wage and apparently managed to sign Maloney, Jennings and $BW with a lazy 300k they had lying around

 

[Super Freak]

Why even bother reading a Slothfield article ??

The guy is the worst league journo running around 

I was bored.

Like, lay down in my chair and stare at the ceiling fan type bored.

 

[Cult]

Personally I don't think the Roosters are over the cap. A lot of their big names were signed before they became big names.

Saying they are over the cap because they have quality players is basically the same as when people said we were over the cap for havin origin reps.

Nobody is saying they're over the cap. They're just cheating it.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Personally I don't think the Roosters are over the cap. A lot of their big names were signed before they became big names.

Wot??

SBW, Jennings, Maloney were well established marquee players prior to being recruited to the Rorters.

Minichello ......established

Pearce ......established and signed on a new deal last year.

Yeah I don't think so Ari......the numbers might not be quote what Rothfield is making out, but there's something not quite right there.

 

[Morkel]

I wish someone of integrity would actually investigate it. It begs to be looked at, but not by Slothfield.

What still sticks in my head is when a Roosters official said that they used some of the money that was available from 2012's cap to pay Maloney (who was joining them for the 2013 season onwards). Which, I thought you weren't allowed to do ??? And no one with authority even batted an eyelid.

 

[Ari Gold]

Maloney was signed when he was in his last year at the Warriors. He wanted to move back to NSW. He was hardly the player he is now back when he was a Warrior. To say he was A marquee player back then is just ridiculous.

 

[Morkel]

Maloney was signed when he was in his last year at the Warriors. He wanted to move back to NSW. He was hardly the player he is now back when he was a Warrior. To say he was A marquee player back then is just ridiculous.

That's not how it was portrayed back then. Remember, he'd taken the Warriors to the Grand Final. According to a bunch of articles (including the below) he was being courted by 7 clubs, with the Rabbitohs one being quite substantial.

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THE Sydney Roosters have beaten off six other clubs to sign red-hot Warriors playmaker James Maloney on a three-year-deal.


The Warriors five-eighth will join the Roosters in 2013, meaning the club will now have Mitchell Pearce, Daniel Mortimer and Maloney on their books in 2013 with Braith Anasta off contract at the end of 2012.


A standout performer in 2011, the 25-year-old former Melbourne Storm understudy to Cooper Cronk, was one of the hottest commodities on the open market after helping the Warriors into this year's grand final.


Sydney Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan said he believes Maloney will become an even better player at the Roosters.


"2011 was a breakthrough year for James and we see him taking his game to the next level at the Roosters, forming a strong long-term partnership in the halves with Mitchell Pearce, " he said.


Coach Brian Smith added: "James has a style of play that will complement the Roosters and has a high goal kicking percentage as well.


"He will be in his prime across the seasons he has signed with us and we look forward to welcoming James to the Roosters in 2013."


The Maloney signing is an indication that Roosters stalwart Anasta will leave the club at the end of next season.


Anasta was extremely frustrated at being moved to lock at the beginning of the 2011 season to the point that he was linked with a move to the Cowboys before signing a contract extension.


Anasta said signing Maloney was a smart move by the Roosters following his breakthrough year for the Warriors this season.


"It's a great signing for the club," Anasta said.


"He'll be a huge asset for the team in 2013. Obviously he and Pearcey have a lot of potential together.


"It's no issue for me at all at the end of the day. As long as I'm with the Roosters."

 

[subsbligh]

I don't think they are rorting the cap because they have good players, I think they are rorting the cap because it has been said they have players on amounts that are less than minimum wage and apparently managed to sign Maloney, Jennings and $BW with a lazy 300k they had lying around

I understand that can't happen because the salary cap auditor determines the player's value, so effectively a floor price in the deal.

So they have to have the auditor on the take or very convincing arguements as to players values.