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It is 2013. A new frontier for the NRL as players, officials and fans alike stand ready to see in a new age where everything we ever wanted will be put on a platter.
Players are going to be paid ridiculous amounts of money and as they do, we as the public are going to expect to see them more and more. In a world of professional athletes, endless money and cut throat businessmen, you cannot blame rugby league hierarchy for expecting more and more from our players.
It’s simply the nature of the beast.
The more players make, the more we want from them.
You can feel for Australian captain, Cameron Smith. The inspirational leader turns up for his club, state and country year in and year out.
But unfortunately for him, this is the price you pay for being in the upper echelon of this wonderful sport.
Smith has questioned player welfare in the media time and time again.
A World Nines tournament to be played prior to the annual All Stars clash is in the works. If it goes ahead, NRL clubs will earn a hefty pay packet. Clubs have already rubber-stamped the $2.2 million tournament proposal.
We are seemingly destined for a World Nines tournament. This off course means more football to be played prior to the season proper.
Well boo hoo, Mr. Smith.
”What the fans want, they want to see the elite players in the game for as long as they can,” Smith told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Do you want Greg Inglis to play five or six years and be burnt out? Or do we want to give him an opportunity to be in our game for 10 years?
”That’s what I want to see. I want Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Benny Barba, to play as long as they can. You keep throwing these games on, on top, I think you’re asking for trouble … without giving somewhere else.
“If you want to have a nines tournament, if you want to play an all-star game, take some games out of the season, make it 20 rounds, play your Origin series, play your Test series and you can have these extra four or five games at the start of the year.”
Ask the players. Should they expect to be paid inflated prices and be paid well for a six or seven year career? Or do they want to be paid drastically less and have a decade or more in the game?
That answer is pretty simple.
The salary cap has never been higher. In years to come, it will skyrocket.
In 1990 by comparison, rugby league players were paid a pittance. But in that year, Raiders legend Mal Meninga played a staggering 37 games. The much loved centre represented the Canberra Raiders on 24 occasions, played two games for Queensland and turned out for Australia 11 times on the Kangaroo Tour.
Interestingly enough, Melbourne hooker Smith only played 30 games in 2012.
Sure you can argue that this is a different era and the competition is much stiffer.
But ask Meninga, ask any retired player, if they could have what these players have today, they sure wouldn’t be complaining.
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