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Sorry, but $800k buys you bugger all in the Halves market these days. Chad Townsend commands at least that much or more.fucking insane deal. i'd be struggling to pay brown 800k let alone 1.x
crazy.
It's true that the $1.3 million won't look so extreme at the back end with a significantly expanded overall cap, but unless Brown goes to Cleary or Munster's level fairly quickly, then for the next 5 years at least they're attempting to chase Penrith and Melbourne by spending as much on Brown as Penrith or Melbourne do on their vastly superior respective players.Out of pure boredom, I had a bit of a gander on some knights forum I found, and they were heavily critical (for the most part) about Matty Johns not loving the deal. I guess there's the potential for some 'copium' to want to believe you are getting a good deal. But I was surprised at how many posters were saying they were happy to get him, it's only a lot of money early years until cap goes up etc etc.
Not completely convinced on the off-field stuff being as worrying, but yes, outside that, he and Mam offer similar upside and risks, perhaps with Brown slightly in front for runs on the board as he's got some experience carrying the fairly ordinary Eels side around on his own now, but frankly neither of them should be commanding anything like that sort of money, and ABSOLUTELY not for that length of time.Yeah fair enough. And it is a double whammy - size of contract and length. Even if he is better than Mam, he kind of has as many off field issues too, so it isn't like you are getting a clean skin either. Just a baffling, baffling decision.
Hard to know exactly how much Townsend is on, given the Sydney media is as usual, characteristically quiet about any Rooster's players stated contract value until AFTER they leave and the media inevitably tell us he's magically freed up $4oo billion in cap space. He gets his 'wage' plus he's paid in Roosterbucks which obviously don't count towards the cap, but yeah, that's what $800k gets you these days.If Chad Townsend is getting 800k plus in 2025, maybe there's hope for me after all to lace them up again. Halfback in a props body type, phenom.
Think Schuster, but actually talented. Can goal kick too. Surely that's worth 300k.![]()
Not completely convinced on the off-field stuff being as worrying, but yes, outside that, he and Mam offer similar upside and risks, perhaps with Brown slightly in front for runs on the board as he's got some experience carrying the fairly ordinary Eels side around on his own now, but frankly neither of them should be commanding anything like that sort of money, and ABSOLUTELY not for that length of time.
It certainly seems like a good time to be a young half coming through. Or even one that is maybe a starter but not on great money.Hard to know exactly how much Townsend is on, given the Sydney media is as usual, characteristically quiet about any Rooster's players stated contract value until AFTER they leave and the media inevitably tell us he's magically freed up $4oo billion in cap space. He gets his 'wage' plus he's paid in Roosterbucks which obviously don't count towards the cap, but yeah, that's what $800k gets you these days.
Funnily enough, you raised another great example in Josh Schuster. He was getting $800k a season at Manly, not in 2025, but as far back as 2023!
I take your point on Mam, but he didn't follow it up with a good year at all, and then the off-field stuff and the fact he hasn't laced up a boot this year, then you add in Brown's Rep Football credentials, for me that puts him in front of Mam, at least from an objective valuation on paper perspective.I'm not sure about that. Mam would be a Clive Churchill medalist if the team held out 3 minutes longer. I cannot recall a single time Brown has 'carried' the Eels without Moses being there.
Spot on, goes for any spine position really. There's a reason every gun Winger coming through that starts to cut it at NRL level instantly wants to play Fullback, 5/8 or Centre, because that's where the crazy money is. Just look at Lomax last year.It certainly seems like a good time to be a young half coming through. Or even one that is maybe a starter but not on great money.
Shortage of quality halves, and 2 new teams who'll be wanting marquees when they enter the comp.
Correct, but in the context of a 10 year deal you can expect some decent cap increases over that time to soften the blow. It's going to be an expensive first 3-5 years at a minimum in Brown's case though.People seem to be overestimating the upcoming cap increases. It's only a 1.3% increase to next year, less the year after.
A new TV rights deal is likely to help, but not on the magnitude that makes a $1.3m deal anywhere near good value. And if he does have ratchet clauses, he'll be overpaid for the entire 10 years anyway.
Plus four of the best halves in Reynolds, Hunt, DCE and Walker all likely to retire at a similar time.It certainly seems like a good time to be a young half coming through. Or even one that is maybe a starter but not on great money.
Shortage of quality halves, and 2 new teams who'll be wanting marquees when they enter the comp.
Scary that half that list currently play for us.Plus four of the best halves in Reynolds, Hunt, DCE and Walker all likely to retire at a similar time.
Difference being that we've got our next guys lined up in Ezra, Black and Walsh.Scary that half that list currently play for us.