Manly dynasty faces salary cap challenge
Roar Guru By Steve Kaless, 7 Oct 2008 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Des Hasler, grand final, Manly, Matt Orford, Melbourne Storm, Rugby League, salary cap, Sea Eagles, Storm
Related coverage
Well, the dust has settled on another rugby league season and while the autopsy has already been well and truly completed on the Storm’s capitulation, it also didn’t take long on Sunday for people to ask whether the Sea Eagles could do it all again.
The nature of their victory coupled with the dominance during the regular season for the past two years has certainly given the club a look of one with a dynasty in mind and they look ready to take Melbourne’s crown as the team to beat just as the Storm deposed the Roosters before that.
Of course the Sea Eagles will now face stiff competition from other clubs both on and off the field.
On the field everyone will lift when playing them, everyone does whenever they play the premiers, but it is off the field that some of the greater challenges lie when it comes to building a dynasty.
Much has been made of the fact that Manly have rebuilt themselves in five years, but the forces that helped them rebuild may just start to tear them apart.
During their dark years the Sea Eagles were able to stay close to competitive because the big guns of the competition were reigned in by the salary cap and the talent remained more evenly spread.
Once they had money in the bank again the former silvertails were again able to get into the market because there were always plenty of players being shopped about and the Northern Beaches lifestyle is always a good selling point.
Of course, credit should go to Des Hasler and Noel Cleal for many of the shrewd decisions in their recruitment and retention, they have spent their money well. The big money has gone on players that have earned it, Matt Orford, and they have also got plenty of value out of others on smaller contracts, Glen Stewart.
But this is where things will start to get tricky.
Bearded winger David Williams was probably close to the find of the season and may well end up in the Australian squad, but that will mean that come next contract he maybe able to command more than double his current salary.
The salary caps eats at your depth.
The Sea Eagles had excellent cohesion around the rucks through Matt Ballin and Heath L’Estrange but they may soon find they can only afford to have one instead of the other.
And will one be as effective without his foil?
Brent Kite and Josh Perry, who arrived on big money, may soon be due even more and this may force out the likes of Glenn Hall and Adam Cuthbertson.
And of course when you trim your side, injuries and suspensions bite even harder.
Just ask the defeated Grand Finalists.
Of course, this has happened to most sides that have won the competition and it is nothing new, it is also well known that players will often be happy to stay at clubs for less if they think they can win a comp or play rep footy and the prospects of both look good at Brooky.
But in reality some players will always leave for more money or maybe more game time.
You just can’t keep everyone.
There is no coincidence that no side has won competitions back to back since Brisbane in 1997-1998, Manly will start from pole position in 09 but it is a long, long race.
Recommend this story.
Jim Beam Devil's Cut
As bourbon ages, a portion of liquid is lost from the barrel due to evaporation. This is known as the Angel's Share. When the bourbon is taken from the barrel, a certain amount is left trapped within the wood. It's that extracted liquid, and the rich flavours from deep within the barrel that are in Jim Beam's Devil's Cut.
Click here to learn more about Jim Beam's wicked new bourbon.
- Explore:
- Des Hasler, grand final, Manly, Matt Orford, Melbourne Storm, Rugby League, salary cap, Sea Eagles, Storm
October 7th 2008 @ 4:06pm
oikee said | October 7th 2008 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
And also ray, i think the doggies will make the top 8. Fingers crossed.
October 7th 2008 @ 4:09pm
oikee said | October 7th 2008 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
Agree Skull, but how do you think brisbane will go without lockyer, they all retire sometime. And the game still goes on, to me it gets better. The beaver will be back in some capicity one day.
October 7th 2008 @ 4:18pm
Mick of Newie said | October 7th 2008 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
The Manly dynasty will go the same way as the Penrith, West Tigers, Newcastle versions. 8 different premiers in 8 years says the most likely outcome is someone else will be premiers in 09. I’d bet on it.
October 7th 2008 @ 4:22pm
Millster said | October 7th 2008 @ 4:22pm | Report comment
Oikee – I genuinely don’t understand you with “the quality never differs” line and also the reference to the World Cup. The World Cup is an international tournament and so has little to do with club level sports. Socceroos players can be drawn from any club in any league in the world, as long as they are Aussie. So I just don’t understand what you are saying.
As for wanting clubs to dissapear trust me I don’t have it in for any particular club (though in the NRL’s case I think there are maybe 2 too many clubs in Sydney). Its not that I want clubs to disappear, its not that strong. Its what I dont want which is for clubs to be propped up by things like salary caps, drafts and other concessions when they may not actually have the financial or playing strength to survive if they were left to their own devices. Look at Manly. However glorious they were on the weekend, reality is that in a competition without so much protection they probably would have gone under some years ago. So while I celebrate their win I also ask myself whether it is such a ‘real’ win given it came about from them being propped up, and also from other clubs not being able to ram their own advantages home because of restrictions like the salary cap. I know its a different world to football and I know what you’re arguing and can see your point, but can you also see mine that under so much protection sometimes people can wonder whether success is maybe sometimes a bit fake in some ways.
October 7th 2008 @ 5:36pm
The Link said | October 7th 2008 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
Mick – Penrith (in 03), Tigers and Newcastle didn’t already make a GF in the year before when they took it out.
Time will tell but its hard to see Manly not making the Top 4 at least again next year.
Millster, can’t tell the Manly story without referencing Super League.
October 7th 2008 @ 8:07pm
cosmos forever said | October 7th 2008 @ 8:07pm | Report comment
Millster, hard to tell the Manly story without referencing NSWRFL tyranny
October 7th 2008 @ 9:50pm
Tom said | October 7th 2008 @ 9:50pm | Report comment
Robertson isn’t leaving, don’t know where you heard that from. One of the most under rated finishers in the game, Manly would do well to hold onto him, especially considering that under rating will mean he probably isn’t on huge money.
October 8th 2008 @ 8:05am
Steve Kaless said | October 8th 2008 @ 8:05am | Report comment
Thanks for all the comments gents, looks like a real mungoes forum.
Does anyone know the just how long a dynasty is meant to go for, or how many victories you need to become one?
Greg, I think you certainly raised some excellent points, you do need a bit of luck to win a comp, and Manly had theirs but it is hard to argue against them deserving their title.
I’m clearly in the majority though you believes next year will be just as tight as previous years.
Manly fans should just hope their title defence does follow the likes of the Bulldogs and Tigers.
October 8th 2008 @ 9:31am
oikee said | October 8th 2008 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Millster, let me explain myself and then we wont have any misconseption, “the quality never differs” , watching soccer from england way back in the late 70′s i had followed the game for awhile, the skill level back then is on par with the skill level now, maybe a couple of fancy overhead kicks but on a whole it has not changed that much. The one thing that really gets under my skin is when the game at any level, local or international, might be even score with one team the better side and then you have a player who looks to be knocked down as he is running for the ball in the penalty goal. As you know what happens is a penalty and the game is decided on that one result, not that the better side might have won. The crowd goes into raptures and the losing team are devistated. To me this is not a result, never will be so hence my saying, the quality never changes, theres that element of uneveness.
This is why i dont bother watching the game anymore, theres always a element of doubt, but theres always next year for the fans, but you might have to wait 20 years for your next chance, hence different teams winning each year at international level. At club level its the opposite because of the non salary cap, so you get the top 2 – 4 clubs that normally win.
With rugby league its the same but reversed. At club level all the teams are equal so to speak, so you have a good fair comp that being of such high quality we dont really worry to much about the international level. Now at international level you know the senario, australian kangaroos are that good that most people expect them to bring home the trophy, not from lack of trying by other nations, its just because our local game is that strong. And what i am getting at is because they win all the time people seem to get a cob-on, saying how lop-sided the international game is, so to speak this is because there is no salary cap at international level and the best team keeps winning, try and explain that to people and you get your head bitten off. Not the kangaroos fault, there just that good. Its not like they play against weak nations, we all know that england and new zealand are 2 of the best, france is getting stronger, but as you can see in league its a backwood step if you stay at the top, or are just to good without a salary cap involved.
Now imagine if we had no cap at club level. The same would apply, people would lose interest because only 2-3 teams can win, the english soccer is going through a simalar problem over there, people are waking up,(took them long enough) and starting to lose interest. This is why they have discussed the idea of salary cap.
The super league in england has woken up to the fact that by having relagation has broken clubs backs, why invest millions only to go broke. The cap is having a possitive effect on there game. I also have said if money was not a issue then we would not need a cap, but then like english soccer the wages would get out of control, and no player is worth the sort of money that some get in soccer. Unless your superman, and thats fictisous. Thats my veiw.
So by having a strong local comp with salary cap involved helps each team get stronger, so by doing this you also help your international game because like you have said, you get more players right across the board to choose from, have alook at the kangaroos, you will see that nearly every club has a represebtative of their club in the squad.
Now think about at club level without a cap, you would have the bulk of players from 1-4 clubs and the rest would lose interest. Its win, win by having caps in league, and soccer will do well by having their cap, maybe in 20 years you will see the players from the local teams more involved. Also in league we only pick players who are playing in our local comp, this is another area that might fast-track the a-league.
You will give me your arguments but i dont think money should be a motavating factor, lets keep greed out of it, thats another thing that erks me. Please dont take any of my comments as a insult, its just the way i see the games and what good there is about them. Thanks millster.
October 8th 2008 @ 9:34am
oikee said | October 8th 2008 @ 9:34am | Report comment
The Kangaroos are a dynasty Steve,
lets hope that does not change too soon. Cheers.