NRL CEO David Smith has revealed in the past 24 hours that high on the agenda moving forward will be the possibility of the code implementing a marquee player system that's goal will be to keep the best talent in the NRL in the future. Much has been made in recent months of what the code can do to keep Sonny Bill Williams in the NRL. A lot has also been said about what could've been done to keep Benji Marshall in the NRL, or to lure a former league product Israel Folau back to the game.
Honestly, all the points are valid. It's certainly a discussion the game needs to have. We MUST keep the best talent the game has to offer. However, whilst the NRL ponders which move to make, I d question wether this one is the right way to go. The current system being suggested would be similar to that that is already in operation in the Hyundai A-League. A system where money outside of the salary cap can be used to obtain a star/high profile player. This essentially means you can pay this one player whatever you wish and it would not count towards the salary cap. It basically would allow a team to pay a key member what he's worth whilst not hurting the ability to keep others.
I still believe the focus from the NRL needs to be rewarding and encouraging clubs in junior development. This is more than just having the Holden Cup or Harrold Matthews and SG Ball competitions.The grassroots is a massive battle ground against football (soccer) and AFL, so it makes a lot of sense if we get all clubs to focus on their junior development, ensuring we have a strong, healthy and vibrant junior league. From this comes the ability to produce a better standard of juniors who walk the pathway toward an eventual NRL career.
How do we then keep them?? To me it's simple. The NRL should provide clubs with discounts towards the salary cap for players that are local juniors. An often used example is to have a discount apply on a player who has spent 10 years in the system. As an example, a player who comes through the ranks starting at Harold Matthews (under16's) would start his first season. By the time he hits 25, a 10 year discount should apply. This could perhaps be a 10% discount on his wages. By the time he brings up 10 years in first grade the NRL should then apply another 10% for his long service. In the case of say Robbie Farah, he could be eligible for a 20% discount on his wages towards the salary cap.
It may seem unfair on some clubs, but when is a system ever fair on all? In the case of a marquee system, do you really think all clubs are going to have the same success attracting players? No, of course not! Sydney clubs would have an advantage. Same as the successful clubs. A marquee system doesn't really help a struggling club. By focusing and rewarding clubs who develop their own talent, I believe it's realistic that we could begin a sound and vibrant production line for all clubs. Even a club like the Melbourne Storm, in AFL central, could successfully develop their own talent so long as they have adequate resources at their disposal. The Sydney Roosters however would need to be focused on here due to their small junior league. Whilst their junior league is small, I am aware of past players looking to rekindle the Eastern Suburbs junior league. If you throw in high school affiliations and feeder clubs from the Queesland Cup, their situation is not as dire as some would suggest. However the NRL needs to work closely on developing the junior league for the Roosters best interests.
What I don't understand about the NRL is the continual cold shoulder it delivers towards the idea of salary cap discounts??? It preaches so many good values this system. It preaches loyalty, hard work and solidarity. With the resources spent it would strengthen the grassroots level. Most of all, we would see the likes of Robbie Farah, Cameron Smith and Nathan Merritt soundly play for the one club. On top of that a system like this may've been enough to persuade the likes of Benji Marshall and hopefully would be enough to keep Sonny Bill Williams at the Roosters.
The game always has and always will produce star players but it's sad when they feel they need to leave code to get what they're looking for. Some players leave for challenge, I know, but we need them to be wanting to stay. When a player has no reason to want to leave the code, this is when we'll know we're back on the right path.
No comments:
Post a Comment