Huge. said:
WOW...I laughed so hard at the responses I hurt my back. It seems most of the respondents are unable to consider things from any point of view not congruent with their own. Melbourne did not pay extra or buy players at high rates rather, as you all know, developed players. These players went up in value with the growing success of Melbourne. This you all know as well. By the way, calling my opinion retarded is uncalled for and I expect the admins to stamp out the abuse immediately. When I have been in error I have withdrawn my remarks and apologised so I expect to be treated the same.
Melbourne player values increased with the concomitant success they enjoyed and subsequently they were offered more money by rival clubs. Most Storm players chose to stay with Melbourne for a little extra rather than move for a lot extra. They could have earned more but stayed out of a sense of family and not having their every move scrutinised living a fish-bowl existence elsewhere. They stayed because they loved their lives where they were and playing for a club which meant a lot to them. I cannot see how you people do not understand that.
Melbournes' breaches are not major over the course of time and it did mean they paid their players a bit more than was publicly known. Those same players could have earned much more elsewhere.
Brisbane developed players who in turn were lost to other clubs however some stayed at Brisbane for less money than they could have made elsewhere. Melbourne has done the same. Brisbane retained some who stayed for the same reasons as stated previously in Melbournes case. Brisbane skirted the salary cap on occasion and poked a toe over at times as did Melbourne. The difference is Brisbane did not have a Whaldron who was prepared to push the limits so far and there's the rub.
What is retarded is thinking that my statements meant that any one person was as good as any one other person, a claim I did not make. Melbourne did not buy a team of superstars and pit them against some fat old pub junkies in thongs. Man on man. Melbourne created good players just like Brisbane did and does. Where they went wrong was at the administrative level.