NRL stars on verge of revolution

[Huge]

I think(possibly incorrectly) the 40/20 rule too. The problem from my perspective was the Sydney clubs who would have had to change their way of business. They would not be in the competition by way of right but solely on their fitness to compete. That meant a business plan, new direction and new leadership. None of which was palatable. When the new look comp was proposed Ken Cowley, he approached the clubs openly and honestly. They came to the front door, nothing underhanded in their initial approach. His/their approach was being listened to with frank and unabashed interest by the clubs until Kerry Packer heard of it and marched in screaming with rage. HIS competition was being tampered with !!!!

Outrageous he screamed. He had BOUGHT Rugby League for an unbelievable piss poor 5 million. That's how much he offered and was accepted by the RL heirachy !!! What back-room deals were done. It was Packers way of business. It's how the big man operated. He kicked the door of it's hinges and screamed...I'll sue the arse of anyone who screws with MY competition. He really thought he ran it and he did. Quayle Artharson and co were terrified of him and kowtowed to him every step of their snivelling way.

The threatened clubs very quickly stepped in behind him most especially the ones who felt they would not be able to compete. I tell you, there is a Sydney clique/cabal and they pull the strings but there is light at the end of the tunnel because the players are leading the fight this time.

 

[Coxy]

I think(possibly incorrectly) the 40/20 rule too.

Was introduced that year, but in the ARL competition.

The problem from my perspective was the Sydney clubs who would have had to change their way of business. They would not be in the competition by way of right but solely on their fitness to compete. That meant a business plan, new direction and new leadership. None of which was palatable. When the new look comp was proposed Ken Cowley, he approached the clubs openly and honestly. They came to the front door, nothing underhanded in their initial approach. His/their approach was being listened to with frank and unabashed interest by the clubs until Kerry Packer heard of it and marched in screaming with rage. HIS competition was being tampered with !!!!

Outrageous he screamed. He had BOUGHT Rugby League for an unbelievable piss poor 5 million. That's how much he offered and was accepted by the RL heirachy !!! What back-room deals were done. It was Packers way of business. It's how the big man operated. He kicked the door of it's hinges and screamed...I'll sue the arse of anyone who screws with MY competition. He really thought he ran it and he did. Quayle Artharson and co were terrified of him and kowtowed to him every step of their snivelling way.

The threatened clubs very quickly stepped in behind him most especially the ones who felt they would not be able to compete. I tell you, there is a Sydney clique/cabal and they pull the strings but there is light at the end of the tunnel because the players are leading the fight this time.

^^^ Very accurate summary of how the initial approach was met (that was in late 1994, the eventual hostile takeover happened, ironically, April Fools Day 1995).

 

[Professor47]

I didn't really understand the Super League war at the time but read up about it later as I got older.

To me it always sounded like one of those ideas that look perfect on paper but never really work when you try to implement it in the real world. I've always said privatisation is a step forward in RL. There is no doubt RL is a traditional sport and some traditions should be kept and signified but we have to move with the times also.

I'm no businessman but I do think the answer lies somewhere in between.

1) Privatisation (Corporate as well - so you might have teams called Samsung Cronulla Sharks and so forth)
2) IC - The game needs its independence, no doubt about that
3) Salary Cap loyalty/marquee incentives - FINALLY the NRL seen to be looking into this
4) Ease on 3rd party deals - discounts, separate caps etc but not the way it is now... this will go a long way to keep players in the game
5) Better funds distribution - this would come with the IC and would need really smart suits to figure it out... but I'm talking bigger rep payments, financial incentives for clubs, financial help for struggling clubs etc etc
6) TV deal - it isn't the Messiah but get the next one RIGHT

The game needs a lot of work but there is no reason why they can't begin to take the right steps forward. I would love to see the game 10x better 10 years from now... that would be awesome...

put it this way - imagine the comp still had all the players that have left... you can only imagine how juicy the comp would be... seriously you only get about 1 or 2 really good games a week ATM... its rubbish

 

[Huge]

When Super League was first proposed an unfortunate over excited person uttered a statement about SOO standard games every weekend. This was picked up and peddled by the established orders pr machine. An attempt to ridicule that which was a very good concept. The media in Sydney were particularly vicious because they perpetuated the untruth that the whole concept was an attempt by the Broncos and friends to overtake the authority of the game.

The Broncs (Ribot in particular) were demonised. Autharson said at the time that if the Broncos did not like the rules they could bloody well go and play in their own comp. So we did, or at least tried to have our own comp !! When we did try to get a comp up and running, following Autharsons advice ! he amazingly tried to stop us from doing that . They took out court proceedings to stop us even though they'd suggested we do that very same thing !!!

We did get a comp going, enough clubs had the courage of their convictions. The ones that stayed aligned with the Arl/Nrl is where the issues are festering.

 

[Professor47]

Look, it is about time something needs to be done.

Sad that it took such a sad event for the NRL to even consider it.

Off the top of my head... some players (not all quality) that would have stayed in the comp to make the competition stronger:

Budurus
Menzies
Fitzgibbon
King
Richards
Hodgson
Rooney
SBW
Gasnier
Gower
Berro
Gidley
Whatuira

These are only off the top of my head - obviously there are more.
Some of them aren't great players but they would have all contributed to depth in the competition and that would REALLY result in talent being spread out throughout the comp. We wouldn't have so much youngsters who are still very RAW - you're only meant to have like 1 or 2 in the 1st grade side to develop them... not 6 or 7.

 

[Bucking Beads]

What happens to all the young players that would never get a game if we kept all our ageing talent in the NRL.??

 

[Charmamba]

Some players will still go to England regardless to finish their careers. For them its not just the money but the experience.

 

[Flutterby]

What happens to all the young players that would never get a game if we kept all our ageing talent in the NRL.??

They would have had to earn their stripes in the second tier comp and been picked up into the top tier comp when they were actually ready, not just because the system, as it stands, means they often are rushed into first grade before they are ready because the alternative is a club not being able to actually have 17 men in the team.

 

[Professor47]

What happens to all the young players that would never get a game if we kept all our ageing talent in the NRL.??

They would have had to earn their stripes in the second tier comp and been picked up into the top tier comp when they were actually ready, not just because the system, as it stands, means they often are rushed into first grade before they are ready because the alternative is a club not being able to actually have 17 men in the team.

That is exactly right... as I mentioned teams should have 1 or 2 young ones (Normans, Hoffmans etc) in an experienced team... exactly like how Joey and Locky entered the game... that is the way it should be.

 

[Huge]

Spot on flutterby !....the standard goes up, what happens to younger players is what always happened, the cream rises. The standard has not depreciated to any great degree but if the current system continued that would be different in time. We need a second tier and it can be done with determination. Some clubs would not be able to meet the criteria and would fall by the wayside but how can a supporter of the fallen club say, we have a 'right' to play in the top level. Just because they have in the past does not guarantee them admittance to the highest league in perpetuity .

Clubs have disappeared before from the Sydney league without any support from top management. Newtown springs to mind. They were'nt a bottom placed team, quite the opposite in fact. The season before they were punted was a successful one but that never hindered their demise.

Yeah, I reckon some real tangible benefits have come and will continue to flow from Melbournes administrations deceit. The NRL knew that dodgy deals were being done, everyone within the clubs apparently did so there's no way the NRL did'nt know. From the heavy hand been shown recently they can act powerfully when it suits. At any time they could have demanded that all CEOs, players,player agents,coaches sign statutory declarations about any and all dealings relating to the league. They have that power and rights.

Call me cynical or whatever but I believe it suited, actually suited them to have the situation as it was. The pay-off. Simple really. If publicly players were only being paid 500/600 thousand tops, and players salaries a matter of choice as to whether or not to reveal what they were on to others, then players at the beginning of their careers would be relatively cheap. A matter of scale. It served their purposes. It kept the rich clubs in check, at least the appearance of that, and the poorer clubs could buy players at reasonable prices.

The NRL never wanted this discussion Melbournes forced upon them, not at least for a few more years.

 

[Charmamba]

He's regarded by many as the face of rugby league, but Parramatta Eels superstar Jarryd Hayne warned his legion of fans he might not finish his career in the NRL.

In a startling attack on the game's administrators, Hayne accused the NRL of not caring about its star players and said he could not rule out following the path of league deserters Sonny Bill Williams and Karmichael Hunt when his contract expires in 2014.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 66,00.html

Something needs to be done asap. I don't like Hayne but the kids do and if he was to go would the kids follow him?

 

[gUt]

I think this bloke has earned the right to comment:

Australian skipper Darren Lockyer has implored the NRL to take immediate action to protect the game's top stars from being poached by rival codes.

Lockyer fears the two-and-a-half year gap between now and the next television rights deal - and its resultant financial certainty - leaves the game wide open to poaching.

With Brisbane team-mate Israel Folau seemingly poised to sign with new Super 15 franchise Melbourne Rebels and rugby union and AFL clubs salivating at the prospect of picking over the carcass that is the Melbourne Storm playing roster, Lockyer said the time to act was now.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/06/2891518.htm?site=sport&section=rugbyleague

 

[Charmamba]

Bit of news today.

The NRL has drawn up a $3 million rescue package to stop league's biggest stars swapping codes in search of bigger pay packets.

Reports in The Daily Telegraph say the NRL will look at increasing the grant to each club by $100,000, lift the salary cap by $50,000 through either cash or concessions and increase representative match payments.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 66,00.html

Raise the cap by 50g? Is that all.....

 

[Coxy]

LOLZ! 50K? That's like saying to home owners "Look, we know interest rates are going up and hurting you, so here's a $5 a month tax break...merry christmas".

What a joke.

 

[Bannermania]

f*ck yeah. Go NRL. 50k. THAT'LL SOLVE IT!

 

[Fozz]

50k! Wow, nice work Neville Chamberlain!

 

[Emma]

The prospect of Hayne leaving the code........... how sad. [icon_shady

 

[Fozz]

Oh, little guy! The tears aren't coming, they just aren't coming!