T
talanoa
NRL Player
- Jan 16, 2014
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Pre-season work-out: Cronulla's Ben Barba trains at Remondis Stadium. Photo: John Veage
"Animal spirits", was, however, a term used by the great English economist, John Maynard Keynes, to describe irrational, emotion-driven monetary behaviour.
Barba's payments by the Bulldogs, Broncos and Sharks over four years demonstrate how clubs can make bizarre decisions, even within the constraints of a salary cap. The salary ceiling works at a macro level, distributing talent around the NRL, provided it is forensically policed, but at a micro level it is subject to what Keynes called "spontaneous optimism rather than mathematical expectation".
New surrounds: Ben Barba with Sharks coach Shane Flanagan. Photo: John Veage
But Barba's payment has more than doubled after two seasons when he went backward at the Bulldogs (2013) and failed to impress at the Broncos (2014).
There has been considerable speculation in coaching circles about what Barba received at the Broncos, with some believing he was paid $950,000 last year and was set to receive $1m this year and $1.05m in 2016.
However, it is mind-bending to believe Barba's salary jumped from $250,000 to nearly a million dollars, especially when it is understood Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle had a handshake deal with her Broncos counterpart, Paul White, that Barba would not be rewarded by breaking a contract.
It's more likely the Broncos paid Barba slightly below half the rumoured money and less than what he will be paid at the Sharks, which is $550,000 this season, $600,000 in 2016 and $650,000 in 2017.
After all, the Sharks have room in their budget after the departure of Todd Carney.
But a payout the Broncos made Barba for him to walk away from the final two years of his contract lends weight to the theory he was on a motza in Brisbane. The enigmatic fullback/five eighth was paid $500,000 to agree to a release in order for incoming coach, Wayne Bennett, to sign Darius Boyd, the player who has followed him to St George Illawarra, Newcastle and now back to Brisbane. It has ended up being a great deal for Barba, even if the lower estimation of $450,000 to $550,000 per season at the Broncos is correct.
Firstly, he will be paid more at the Sharks. Secondly, he has an additional year of big money (2017) and thirdly, he receives a $500,000 payout.
He was also able to escape the salary strait jacket of players with long-term contracts spread over the two broadcasting deals when the NRL's TV income more than doubled.
The salary cap jumped from $4.4m in Barba's first season at the Bulldogs to $5.85m in his second season, yet his contract was set to stay at $250,000.
Unless NRL players had a clause written into their contracts guaranteeing an adjustment in accordance with broadcasting fees, they are stuck on the same money.
Had Barba stayed at the Bulldogs, he would have received $1m over four years. Now, when he is half the player he was in that first season, he will be paid approximately $2.7m, the sum of his year at the Broncos, his termination payment and his three years at the Sharks.
This certainly is "spontaneous optimism" under Keynes's definition of "animal spirits".
So, too, is the $500,000 bonanza to Barba for Bennett's loyalty to Boyd. It is a big hit on the Broncos salary cap, although it can be spread over two seasons, included in their 2015 and 2016 payments.
