How much is Michael Jennings worth?
Roar Guru By planko, 18 Jan 2013 planko is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Ivan Cleary, Michael Jennings, NRL, Penrith Panthers, Rugby League
Michael Jennings makes a break for the Panthers. AAP Imgae/Action Photographics, Renee McKay
Related coverage
Ivan Cleary is absolutely correct in saying Michael Jennings is not worth $650,000. Simply put, no centre is worth that much.
I am waiting for the chorus of Roarers hounding me about Souths and Greg Inglis. But he is not a $650,000 as a centre, he’s a fullback well worth that and then some.
In modern rugby league, unless you are truly sensational, big dollars are not coming your way unless you are a number 1, 6 or 7. One could debate this is not new.
Most of the greats were forwards with an ability to offload or played 1, 6 or 7. Cameron Smith is a modern exception but in another team or era he would have played in the halves.
Getting back to Jennings, the Panthers have cleared the decks for their coach to be able to get ‘his team’.
I am not saying Jennings will not perform, but you need to understand something about the coach at Penrith. Cleary was no exceptional talent, he was a toiler. He put in a 100% every week. He was a Jason Taylor or a Greg Florimo, not an Andrew Johns or Bob Fulton.
This does not mean he dislikes players with natural ability, he just would not understand players that don’t give a 100% all the time.
Jennings would need hot wind and ego stroking. Cleary does not offer this and Phil Gould would laugh it.
Still, I think Jennings will thrive with the change. Some players need one to re-ignite their passion and career.
Sport, all day long. Does this sound too good to be true? We're searching for a Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. If you're a sales star who doesn't mind a hit, kick, throw, or cycle, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
- Explore:
- Ivan Cleary, Michael Jennings, NRL, Penrith Panthers, Rugby League
January 18th 2013 @ 4:12am
peeeko said | January 18th 2013 @ 4:12am | Report comment
i think his words were “But the bottom line is when your highest-paid asset is not giving you the returns you need, something has to be done.” i don’t think that he quoted the actual salary – if the figure of 650k is true then the guy who actually agreed to pay him that amount should be fired (or already is) and every player should get isaac moses as a manger if he got jennings such a big contract for a centre
January 18th 2013 @ 7:41am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 7:41am | Report comment
Inglis, Slater, Cam Smith, Gallen, Thurston, Lyons, Hayne etc.
These are million dollar players. They not only can change your season, they also bring huge amounts of publicity and attention to your club.
Falou, Jennings, Hurrell, SKD, Hodges, Morris twins, Lawrence, Tate etc,,,, not as important or talented as the first lot, but gee whiz, your not going to get very far in the comp if the first lot of players have not got the second lot(centres) to finish their good work off.
So the second lot are worth around 500 to 600 thousand. Jennings was just above 600, maybe he should have been at the lower end, 500 thousand. No matter, he is still worth at least 500 thousand,.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:15am
peeeko said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:15am | Report comment
worth 500k ? by what means- its all in relation to the level of the salary cap. gallen is a great player but not worth 1 mln of even a 5.8 mln salary cap
January 18th 2013 @ 8:18am
Will Sinclair said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Thank God Oikee wasn’t in charge of helping Billy Beane with the Oakland A’s!
January 18th 2013 @ 8:33am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:33am | Report comment
Gallen is a leader of men, same as Cam Smith, i would happily follow Gallen into the valley of death.
If i owned a club, i would happily pay Gallen 1 million to Captain and lead my Club.
If you dont like him or want him, that is your problem, not mine.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:43am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Captain what, a bunch of rookies? If you spend 20% of your entire cap on 1 player, heaven forbid what the other 24 in the squad will make.
January 18th 2013 @ 10:25am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:25am | Report comment
Matt,
Whether or not we believe a player is worth $1million, if he can earn that much due to ability and it takes up 20% of the cap well good luck to them. Others will, either have to raise their game or fight for the scraps. It’s a career and they don’t have long.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:09am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Lucky oikee doesn’t own any clubs
The only group of players I can think of that are worth a ton, are the storm’s “big 3″.
$500k, sure. $1,000,000… no.
January 18th 2013 @ 10:30am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Oikee,
I personally believe if anyone is going to earn that sought of dough they need to be match winners. Now if you deem them to be match winners then that’s fine, in fact I don’t dispute, but it’s a shame this money rolled around now, the likes of Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns, Allan Langer, Brad Fitler would have earnt way more.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:06am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:06am | Report comment
Oh i agree, and i only mentioned match winners in my line-up.
I dont think those players you have mentioned are any better than the ones we have now.
Even Lockyer could not win the Broncos a tital after 2006.
He was worth every penny, i got to a point where i was just happy to see him play, win or lose.
I still think you need all the right ingredients to win a tital. Manly had this, the Storm had this, other teams are very close. I think the Roosters are putting everything in place to win a tital.
Same as the Doggies, my smokie is the warriors, but those 2 teams, Dogs and Chooks, are the ones to beat.
Oh, and the Sharks also look good as well, and the Knights, did i mention the knights, come to think of it the Titans dont look bad, hold on, the Ciows are stronger this year.
Mate it is hard, but the cream always rises to the top.
Those players are the cream.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:10am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:10am | Report comment
My expectations are now to make the eight.
If my team makes the top 8 at the end of the year, my team has won, because it is such a hard fought comp, it is so close and brutal it is now a matter of one or two mistakes can hurt you.
I have looked at every team roster, and every team looks stronger this year, time will tell.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:55am
EASTS said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:55am | Report comment
No way Hayne is anywhere near a million. 500k. Cronk is worth probably 700k
January 18th 2013 @ 9:28am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 9:28am | Report comment
I would pay Hayne 1 million to the Broncos.
I go by what i would pay these players. I would be happy to have Hayne and Gallen at the Broncos for 1 million each.
They are class players. And class leaders, none better.
In the world. ?
As a matter of fact, anything under that and your club got a bargain. What are they on, anyone know. ?
January 18th 2013 @ 10:13am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Hayne? Haha. 2009 Hayne is worth a lot, single handley won games. 2010 on isn’t worth much at all.
January 18th 2013 @ 10:32am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Oikee i’m a Broncos supporter and wouldn’t want either.
No one is better than Gallen, but Hayne! Really?
Ben Barba, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis!
January 18th 2013 @ 10:44am
Sir Lemon Goat said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:44am | Report comment
Matt Bowen
January 18th 2013 @ 10:47am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:47am | Report comment
Funny thing about all those names is they are all Queenslanders… All things point to an 8th series win in a row!
January 18th 2013 @ 11:10am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:10am | Report comment
Yet last origin was very close. The team is ridiculous, I mean fark, BARBA?! When he can’t even make a squad, you know you’ve got a pretty damn good lineup. They didn’t gel last year that well in comparison to previous years for some reason.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:17am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:17am | Report comment
I like all them players as well, but i also like Hayne, i think his talent is unreel.
Any of those players i would have at the Broncos, but i also think the Eels are lucky to have Hayne.
The guy would be a god in Brisbane Broncos, think about that, we would have worshipped the guy.
And Gallen has won me over, i did not like him a year or two ago, but the way he has turned himself around has really impressed me.
Maybe i am going soft. ?
Come Origin the gloves are off.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:51am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:51am | Report comment
As long a the gloves come off at Origin i’m all for liking them.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:24am
Terry Kidd said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Jamie Lyon or Reg Gasnier maybe worth $500K but Jennings is not.
January 18th 2013 @ 1:23pm
planko said | January 18th 2013 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Oikee this one got you running didn’t it. Firstly I would have Cam Smith and Gallen as exceptional and are worth 650 plus to most clubs. Inglis , Slater are worth alot but they do fall into the 1 , 6 , 7 category. Lyons was worth money but got paid in Pharoh credits (his favourite poker machine)… Just kidding cliffy. Back to my point no centre Oikee is worth 650k playing centre. If you are paying a centre a 650 to 1 million your spine will be hurt. Having the best dummy half is a lovely luxury for melbourne but a second stringer like Balin is probably better cause one they are on I would say 60% less and he plays club games during SOO.
The Morris twins were great last year but the year before you would have struggled to fit them in reserve grade at certain points. IMO you get your 500 to 600 per year contract once in a career at 24-26 when you have played 100-150 first grade games. You might get it earlier if you are exceptional and you play 1, 6 or 7.
I would also for Cronulla fans put Luke Lewis very high cause he could play pivot very easily he would be a great 6 if Carney gets injured or is needed in 7.
January 18th 2013 @ 1:48pm
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Hehe, see this is where your wrong, so very wrong.
Let me explain,,, first of all, your working and thinking under old money terms.
You need to up-date your thinking, cash wise and growth wise.
Outside centres and playmakers,! Who, ,,,, who are the next biggest paid players. ???
Wingers, ? no way.
Second rowers???
Frontrowers???
maybe a good lock ??? Bird.
So outside those playmakers, who is going to finish off the play, with speed and the skill of a surgeon.???
Centres my man. And good centres are also hard to find. Fullbacks are already up in the million dollar bracket, i am only and have only ever said 500 to 650 thousand for good centres.
Without them, i dont know who are going to score your tries, maybe the front rowers, ??? last time i looked Bricey Gibbs hadn’t scored one for 5 years, dont hold ya breath buddy.
January 18th 2013 @ 2:08pm
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
“already in the million dollar bracket”
You talk such nonsense. The current cap is 4.whatever million, no fullback is paid anywhere close to a million a year.
January 18th 2013 @ 2:10pm
planko said | January 18th 2013 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Why do you use phrases like this “Hehe, see this is where your wrong, so very wrong.” Then you go and basically agree with me. Centres are not worth a million dollars and it would have to be an exceptional talent to get the 650k. LYON does not get it and he is worth more than Jennings. Penrith were paying what is commonly called the average club premium. Lets get serious players do value winning the competition. It would cost a team a fortune over and above their current contracts to get any of the storm boys away but it will interesting what happens it Belly ache goes.
Good centres are hard to find but I dont know a coach who would choose a great centre over a great half. All I have said all along is get your 1, 6 , 7 & 9 if you are lucky organised and they could make Terry Hill look good. When Manly were struggling in the halves T HILL retired. A current example is your very own Hodges. I still can’t stand him but he would offer more with DCE , Foran or G Stewart putting him through holes.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:04am
The no. Three said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:04am | Report comment
Oh well, the Roosters now have SBW, who wishes he stayed in Rugby, and Jenno, who wishes he was still at Penrith. I would like them to switch on and perform or they can go elsewhere. I wish my marriage didnt collapse. Life isnt easy boys.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:24am
jamesb said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Jennings has done bugger all in the last couple of years. I think he’s worth around 250 to 300K
January 18th 2013 @ 8:44am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Exactly. He’s quick, that’s about it. He’s not a marquee player by any stretch.
January 18th 2013 @ 10:50am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:50am | Report comment
I wonder what goes through the heads of club administrators etc. who look to sign these players to these sorts, of contracts after usually only one strong season where they performed like a superstar, hayne isn’t worth the money he is earning at the moment either, one great season and a flop since, though he does play state of origin well.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:11am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Hayne, Sandow, Tonga. Poor Parra.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:53am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:53am | Report comment
One thing I commend Parramatta for is their supporters! But still poor decisions are continuously being made, I wonder if Ricky can turn them around?
January 19th 2013 @ 12:03am
ScottWoodward.me said | January 19th 2013 @ 12:03am | Report comment
kellett
Ricky was the poorest of poor decisions made.
January 19th 2013 @ 12:54am
kellett_1992 said | January 19th 2013 @ 12:54am | Report comment
I won’t dispute it as a poor decision but he has shown potential of what is required as a coach i.e. roosters.
January 23rd 2013 @ 1:54pm
Mushi said | January 23rd 2013 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
He inherited a elite team and slowly ground it into the dirt.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:31am
Pot Stirrer said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Bit hard to judge given the Drams at the panthers last season. Lets see what he does this year but i do agree 650k was way to much.
his value imo should be around the 400k mark but be a soo centre prob raises that to 450k. Any more than that is paying overs. Hopefully the panthers are paying the roosters around 50k a year.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:37am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:37am | Report comment
Look, put it this way, if the Panthers had a half decent team and made the finals, Jennings pay packet would not even be a issue. It is only because they picked up the wooden spoon did Gus get cranky and look for a scape goat.
I would take Jennings at the Broncos for 550 thousand, not blink a eye at that. I would happily pay Falou 650 to 700 thousand, i think he is that good.
I have a reason for this thinking as well. You can put a couple of up and coming rookie players on the wings. As long as you have a good centre to get them the ball, you be rewarded.
Centre is a very important position. As i said, no good having million dollar players if you cant finish off.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:45am
Will Sinclair said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Bit different at the Broncos though, Oikee.
All the other clubs have a Salary Cap. The Broncos haven’t had to worry about that in decades.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:49am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Here we go again. Next up they have it easy because they only play Fridays.
Ironic that no Broncos basher ever cares about Origin. Last year before Origin – on fire, right at the top of the ladder. After Origin – never got back into the rhythm, barely held onto the eight by seasons end. The constant chopping and changing of the team ruins momentum (take note Cricket Australia). But yes, everything goes the Broncos way
January 18th 2013 @ 8:47am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:47am | Report comment
Gee, maybe because they spent so much on 1 lousy player, they didn’t have enough money to field a good squad all around the park.
Storm can spend money on the “big 3″, because they are game winners. Falou scored much more than Jennings, and a lot more when nothing was on (5th tackle, up goes a bomb). It’s easy to score 10 tries a year on the wing, the question is how many of them could a $50k player have scored, how many did they have to make something happen to get it.
Interesting what the Roosters sign him on, they & sharks seem to have gone on a massive spending spree, would be interesting to know what everyone is on…
January 18th 2013 @ 9:26am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 9:26am | Report comment
I thought Jennings was injured alot last year. ?
Put it this way, Hodges only plays a few games a year. (yes that is abit over-drama) but he is always injured.
I dont want to get rid of Hodges, i think he is class when he is fit and plays. Jennings is much the same, and a origin player as well. The last thing a injured players needs is pressure put on him.
Jennings is brilliant when he is injury free. Same as Hodges, unfortunately we at both clubs only see the best of them every now and then.
Getting use to this is the hardest part to take. One game,,,, 4 off, another game or two,,,, six weeks holiday.
Cant help injuries. Pritchard if i remember was the same. Seems like Penrith is the problem maybe.
January 18th 2013 @ 10:14am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Hodges is a game winner, Jennings isn’t. I haven’t seen Jennings make anywhere near the amount of chances out of nothing as hodges does. I don’t recall Jennings being too injured last year, he was dropped for a bit, then missed a bunch of games for origin. Maybe suspended for that punch, can’t remember.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:27am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:27am | Report comment
I think he got off that punch. They normally do those cockies Matt.
If that was Hodges he gets 10 weeks.
January 18th 2013 @ 8:53am
turbodewd said | January 18th 2013 @ 8:53am | Report comment
STOP PRESS – Jarryd Hayne is NOT million dollar material. He, in fact, has been a core reason behind Parra’s recent misery. The bloke is missing in defence. All. The. Time. He is a myth that came in the wake of his awesome form of late 2009. That’s a long time ago!
Hayne only shows up for Origin, otherwise, since the 2009 GF he has been a complete pretender and done nothing. Its defence which lets him down at fullback, he was never there to make the tackle or hold up the ball carrier. Billy Slater, however, has performed more holdups than a dozen Gary Jacks which is amazing. Now if Hayne is put at 5/8th we may well see a different player coz he has nowhere to hide.
January 18th 2013 @ 9:35am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Garbage, Hayne can do what no other players can do, he is a bargain at 1 million. You build clubs around players like him.
Send him to the Broncos if you dont want him, i happily pay 1 million for Hayne. The guy is probably in the top 3 players in our code.
If the Broncos had Hayne we win 3 premierships in the last 3 years. It is Parramatta;s fault for not getting the best outta him, and also he carried the team for a couple of years.
Ricky will get him firing. You watch.
January 18th 2013 @ 10:15am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Pfft no. He had 1 super year and that’s it. If he can mentally get back to that… But that’s a big if.
January 18th 2013 @ 10:18am
turbodewd said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:18am | Report comment
oikee,
has Parra been crap for 3 seasons in a row? Has Parra conceded heaps of pts despite your Super Hayne being at fullback? Hayne was a garbage fullback. His defence back there was poor. He might be a different player at 5/8th. The guy has talent! But defensively he’s was been AWOL.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:12am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:12am | Report comment
In 2009 he was a good, a bunch of hold ups and miracle tackles. Position wise he was pretty poor even in form, though.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:33am
Terry Kidd said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:33am | Report comment
Hayne is a winger, not a FB or 5/8 …. doubt it? Why does he play SOO on the wing?
January 18th 2013 @ 11:43am
Adam said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:43am | Report comment
A player who can throw a cut out pass harder, flater and faster than anyone in the league (except maybe for Benji), why would you play that guy on the wing?
January 18th 2013 @ 11:51am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:51am | Report comment
I meant fullback defensive positioning wise – he always seemed to be late to the party, compared to Slater who seems to be everywhere.
Exactly, I don’t know why more weren’t intercepted, I’m assuming on the roll people were too worried about not screwing up to think “hey, 25m pass coming my way, I should go grab it”
January 18th 2013 @ 12:03pm
Luke M said | January 18th 2013 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
Hayne is a weird case. I personally feel he is one of the most naturally gifted players i have ever seen. The guy has all the skills. There is just something holding him back, whatever it is. I can honestly say with a straight face that if J.Hayne wated it bad enough, J.Hayne could be the best player in the world.
January 19th 2013 @ 2:52pm
Damn Straight said | January 19th 2013 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Thoroughly agree. His issues are definitely psychological. If he can get that noggin of his back into his “happy place”, then his talents will shine through again. He is definitely a rare talent. But he has also developed a reputation for being a lazy, chronic underachiever.
A lot of people think that his 2009 form was a fluke, but I don’t think that’s true. I just think he got caught up in all the media hype and attention that followed his 2009 form and lost focus. Without proper mentoring, this would likely happen to any gifted 23 year old athlete. Sport is littered with the carcasses of unfulfilled talent.
But I guess rugby league isn’t the most important thing in life and the world, is it.
January 18th 2013 @ 9:00am
jamesb said | January 18th 2013 @ 9:00am | Report comment
It will be interesting to see what the Panthers do in 2013. No Lewis or Jennings, it looks like the Panthers have gone in a very different direction.
Are they saving money to get a big name player like JT, or are they trying to cater for the young juniors coming through?
We shall see!
January 18th 2013 @ 10:30am
Mike said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I agree James. Lewis & Jennings were the highest paid players at the club so they must have some exxtra cash under the cap for a marquee signing. Lets get JT!
January 18th 2013 @ 12:07pm
Luke M said | January 18th 2013 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
They are looking at big bucks on a playmaker, which is the correct way to administer the cap. They were spending HUGE on Coote, Gordon, Jennings, Grant, Mckendry and Lewis and hoping mediocre L.Walsh could lead them around. Walsh is an ok player but not capable of running a premiership winning team. I am a Panther fan and while i’m sad to see these guys leave, if it delivers us a smart play maker i will be a happy fan.
January 18th 2013 @ 10:36am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Problem with having a player paid $1 million per season will always mean a team of champions, but not a champion team, thus the reason why Melbourne storm are so consistent and successful.
Cap evenly spread with the 3 best players covering 3 of 4 most important positions.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:13am
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:13am | Report comment
It’s not the money, it’s the % of the cap. The storm big 3 deliver, deliver, then deliver again. Jennings has 1 good year, Hayne has 1 good year. Has Sandow ever had a good year, or just a good game here and there? They are players you do not want to tie so much money in. The Morris brothers are far better value then those guys, they’re not freaks but they’re damn good, very consistent, and can play a variety of positions.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:56am
kellett_1992 said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:56am | Report comment
I was astounded at the amount Sandow was thrown! My Dad supports Parra and wasn’t happy when they bought him! Don’t think Sterling has expressed his full feelings on the purchase either.
January 18th 2013 @ 12:09pm
Luke M said | January 18th 2013 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
He won’t fit Ricky’s style either. The Eels will be begging other teams to take him by the end of the year.
January 18th 2013 @ 2:10pm
Matt said | January 18th 2013 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
One of those “the only guy who thinks it wasn’t absolutely stupid is the guy who did it” things.
January 18th 2013 @ 11:48am
oikee said | January 18th 2013 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Some bad news boys, Jon Mannah just died. Sad news.
January 27th 2013 @ 7:51pm
dubbo teacher said | January 27th 2013 @ 7:51pm | Report comment
Yes, well said oikee, RIP Jon. A damn fine family he belonged to.