Should a Draft be introduced in the NRL?

[Foordy]

the question has been on the table this off season, probably due to the record number of blowouts in the 2021 season. the main obstacle to introducing a draft is the High Court ruling in the Terry Hill case in 1991, where it was the draft was ruled a restraint of trade

Wayne Bennett is a supporter, he says:

“I am a fan of the draft because it’s another way of levelling the competition up and the fans deserve that,” Bennett said.

“The current system is just not right. It has to change.

“We are the only sport in the world that operates with a salary cap but no draft. They have to go hand-in-hand.

“The fans don’t deserve what they have copped over the last decade or so.

“Players just leaving clubs mid-season and all this rubbish ... pulling up stumps midway through the year and they go and play for another club.

“The NRL has to start making a move now. It will clean up a lot of the things in the game in regards to player movement.

“If the discussion for a draft is back on the table, I’m happy.”

“I would see a rookie draft, I would see a state league draft and then there are those players already in the NRL who are seeking releases or being cut, so I’d see a draft for them as well.

“You could have the drafts at different stages of the year.

“The NRL player draft might be in October before pre-season, but whatever the timing, we need a system that governs how players get into the NRL, and once players are in the NRL, how do they move clubs?”

Asked about the belief players should not be forced to relocate to a club they don’t wish to play for, Bennett said: “Stop it. That’s bloody rubbish.

“That is the greatest load of crap I’ve ever heard.

“That’s the easy line the anti-draft people can throw at this argument.

“These guys pack their bags all the time and relocate.

“Tom Dearden left the Broncos midway through this season and moved to Townsville (to play for the Cowboys) in a few days. He was a 20-year-old kid.

“Tevita Pangai went to the Panthers (from the Broncos). Did he have any trouble going to another club?

“The only people who will whinge about the draft are the player managers because it will restrict them and the deals they can do to move players around.

“Player managers would not be able to manipulate the draft system.

“Under the draft, the best kids will get shared around the clubs.

“I believe it would equalise the competition. It would certainly help.

“The biggest thing about any team is its management. If you have poor management, you are in trouble, it doesn’t matter if you have drafts or have the best players.

“If you are a well-managed club, the draft is not something clubs should fear, but it will prevent the best players always being picked up by the best clubs.

“We need to look at the benefits to the game, we want better contests between talent that is distributed better. It can work for us.

“There is a lot to happen with the draft and it can’t happen overnight. A lot of discussions have to be held with the NRL and the players association, but it needs to happen.

“If it’s about you, and being selfish, the draft won’t work. But if you care about the game, the draft can work in the NRL.

“They do it in all the American sports. It’s the best way for a sport to thrive and survive.”

 

[Foordy]

Personally I'm torn on this ... i'm not as against it as I once was. it would definitely add some excitement to the off season

Should the NRL decide to introduce a draft, then it is imperative that they also take control of the development rather than relying on clubs to do it (like Vlandys said about us and the Titans when the Jets missed out on the licence) ... no club will spend the money for another club to take advantage of.

just of interest, if there was already a draft in the NRL:

• Payne Haas would likely be playing for someone else
• we would have gotten either Sam Walker or Reece Walsh after the 2020 debacle

 

[Xzei]

Just what we need clubs tanking for draft picks

 

[Foordy]

Just what we need clubs tanking for draft picks

does that happen in other sports?

@Sproj you're an AFL fan, does it happen frequently in that comp?

 

[Xzei]

does that happen in other sports?

@Sproj you're an AFL fan, does it happen frequently in that comp?

Happens in the nba every year unfortunately

 

[Scorchie]

No from me.

But we do need an end of season trade week to stop this whole-of-season is he going or staying ridiculousness

 

[Sproj]

does that happen in other sports?

@Sproj you're an AFL fan, does it happen frequently in that comp?

The AFL has implemented safeguards against it (as best they can anyway) and if a team is clearly starting to field inferior than their best team or start seemingly throwing in the towel, they could lose the number 1 pick. This has never been enforced though.

The reality is, this is a great idea in theory but the NRL will totally screw it up and one of those reasons is mentioned above that there would need to be a trade period.

There are several other issues though and these include:

- The salary cap needs to be tightly run (third party deals basically out the door)
- Clubs that have academies / develop talent still need to have access to these players as priority picks and so club management need to be very careful with this and limitations need to be implemented in terms of trading draft picks
- Players need to be drafted and signed for a minimum of two years and agents / clubs cannot entice them to break contract
- If a player does leave, the origin club needs to be compensated
- There needs to be a very limited trade window

These are some of the big points about the draft but at the end of the day, it needs to be managed professionally and carefully, the NRL is not capable of this, so although a great idea in theory, it will blow up massively when it is implemented as a half-baked idea with no consultation with anyone that actually matters or is affected by it.
-

 

[Dash]

does that happen in other sports?

@Sproj you're an AFL fan, does it happen frequently in that comp?

In the AFL, Melbourne were punished for tanking in 2009, and there has been suggestions of others doing it over the years. It's not super common though.

 

[1910]

AFL had priority draft picks if you could only win four or less games before 2012 then change it to they pick who gets the first draft picks, based on wins, injuries over years so teams couldn't make sure they stay on four or less- which was what the Demons did in 2009.

Brisbane were given one in 2016 because they'd won seven games in two years, but they traded it away.

 

[Sproj]

AFL had priority draft picks if you could only win four or less games before 2012 then change it to they pick who gets the first draft picks, based on wins, injuries over years so teams couldn't make sure they stay on four or less- which was what the Demons did in 2009.

Brisbane were given one in 2016 because they'd won seven games in two years, but they traded it away.

The Suns have been given multiple priority picks and gave pretty much traded all those away too.

 

[Crazy Sam]

I've got no issues with the current system, except maybe the situation of TPJ joining a club for the last few weeks to help them win a premiership.

However, every team (including Storm and Roosters) needs to be allocated catchment areas of a similar size to one another and given responsibility for developing juniors and pathways in their allocated area.

 

[Socnorb]

AFL had priority draft picks if you could only win four or less games before 2012 then change it to they pick who gets the first draft picks, based on wins, injuries over years so teams couldn't make sure they stay on four or less- which was what the Demons did in 2009.

Brisbane were given one in 2016 because they'd won seven games in two years, but they traded it away.

Clearly part of the Demons 12 year plan.

 

[1910]

Clearly part of the Demons 12 year plan.

Yeah it's certainly not a golden ticket, you still still have to select well and coach well and if you're coming last you are more than likely not doing those two things well.

The Suns had first selection in each round and eight additional picks in 2010 and still are terrible.

 

[BroncsFan]

I just dont see a draft working in Australian sport in general.

AFL use one, but a lot of the issues are Vic, SA, WA, etc. kids being relocated, but as soon as their rookie contract is done they're looking for a way home.

It works in the US because kids already travel for college... it's almost a right of passage to relocate from your home town to whichever giant college wants you, then you go off to the pros and relocate again... but even then when the rookie contract ends they can still leave (Simmons currently, AD, Kyrie, etc.).

In NRL when the contract is up (or even if it's not) juniors already leave (Walsh, Fifita, Burton, etc.) ... so drafting a Haas, Walsh, Walker is fine, but you dont get ownership over them for the next decade.

Drafted players may have no affiliation with whichever club picks them up, which means loyalty to that club would be low to non-existent. In the end it would probably just strengthen whichever team is already at the top when players come off contract, like it has been in the NBA where players generally look to the big markets (NY, LA, Miami, etc.).

Say Fifita was drafted by dogs or tigers, when he comes off contract they're still a basket case so he wants to leave. He's already in Sydney so he could look for whichever team is strongest is Sydney and go there (Rooster or Souths) or just go to Melbourne, because he's relocated already (so it doesnt phase him anymore)... or he could return home to Brisbane or GC. Either way the dogs/tigers probably only get Fifita for a few years before he pisses off.

In AFL when a Brisbane, GC, GWS rookie is off contract and wants to head 'home'... it's usually the big clubs they want to head to, because they want success and prestige.

Removing the club affiliation from junior development and pathways systems just creates a franchise based competition where players have zero loyalty to any club.

In the current format, we as fans can connect to junior players coming through, as they have chosen to stay loyal to the club that we support (Cobbo, Katoni, etc.). This may be short lived if they choose to leave, but my support is geared to the Broncos because the players are largely developed and come through the systems. In a draft system it could be like "Broncos have drafted Kyle Flannigan from Sydney"... but who the **** is he when you draft them and there is no coverage of the lower grades.

A franchise like the warriors might end up being perennial losers in a draft world, because they are in a smaller market than Sydney, Brisbane/SEQ, Melbourne... except in that situation there will be no reward at all for development because drafts would take away any gun NZ kids they find in their region.

It will be interesting to see how Walsh plays out when he's off contract. Will he stay in NZ or will he move on??

He could be a case study of how a draft might play out in NRL. Does he leave the team that 'drafted' him as soon as he can or does he stay loyal to a team that he had no affiliation with coming through the juniors.

 

[Socnorb]

Yeah it's certainly not a golden ticket, you still still have to select well and coach well and if you're coming last you are more than likely not doing those two things well.

The Suns had first selection in each round and eight additional picks in 2010 and still are terrible.

Also , sad for those talented kids to be shoehorned into an undrperforming team.

 

[Sproj]

Also , sad for those talented kids to be shoehorned into an undrperforming team.

But that is the theory on how it works.

 

[Cult]

If done well and for the right reasons, yes. If done to hinder the Broncos even more or created by the brainless idiots that run this competition because they feel like it, absolutely not.

 

[Foordy]

Drafted players may have no affiliation with whichever club picks them up, which means loyalty to that club would be low to non-existent. In the end it would probably just strengthen whichever team is already at the top when players come off contract, like it has been in the NBA where players generally look to the big markets (NY, LA, Miami, etc.).

Say Fifita was drafted by dogs or tigers, when he comes off contract they're still a basket case so he wants to leave. He's already in Sydney so he could look for whichever team is strongest is Sydney and go there (Rooster or Souths) or just go to Melbourne, because he's relocated already (so it doesnt phase him anymore)... or he could return home to Brisbane or GC. Either way the dogs/tigers probably only get Fifita for a few years before he pisses off.

In AFL when a Brisbane, GC, GWS rookie is off contract and wants to head 'home'... it's usually the big clubs they want to head to, because they want success and prestige.

although, and correct me if I'm wrong ... but even once a players AFL contract expires, they can't just go to whichever club they want.

they either have to get traded or enter the pre-season draft (with no guarantee you wont end up at another basket case)

unless, you've been in the AFL for a long time