Are some NRL players revolting? You bet they are. I am sick to death of players talking about their entitlements. Let’s hear more about their responsibilities to the game, the fans and their team-mates.
While the player’s managers are busy manipulating their gullible commodities in one ear, let’s all yell in the other that there is more to life, and men, than money.
With the future of league in Australia under threat from rival codes and league and union doing well overseas, my concern is that “marquee” players and their managers may hold the game to ransom.
Mark Gasnier’s defection to French rugby might just be a glimpse into the future. He felt disgruntled, his options were plentiful, and he took advantage.
One gets the impression poor Mark felt the game had let him down, taken advantage of in some way.
Let me tell you, the game does not take advantage of its players. Players take advantage of the game to nurture their talent, develop a profile and display their skill whilst climbing the market ladder.
It seems in these competitive times, as soon as a player’s stock rises so too does the intensity of their managers in pursuing a better deal elsewhere.
These so-called better deals are done at the expense of the very game that developed them and the fans that supported them. And they know it.
Mark Gasnier’s weak attempt to justify his decision by telling us all how hard done by he felt that third party agreements had not been met was pathetic. He then acted the martyr and went to bat for his comrades by saying they should get a cut of the footy card empire, and so on.
Maybe he’s right, maybe they should but to parade a selfish decision as a decision for the greater good is less than pathetic.
I agree that contracts must be met and players should get a fair and equitable slice of the action, what bothers me is the haste in which players are prepared to jump ship at the first sign of rough weather.
He saw the gap (in his contract) and ran like the clappers, without, it seems, one ounce of thought for who and what he was leaving behind and the damage he would leave in his wake.
Footballers don’t decide to be career footballers until they are, until then they play for love and glory.
I have a new revenue stream for the NRL.
All future contracts should include a ‘Nurture’ clause that states:
“If the player mentioned in this contract has been coached and/or undertaken any other form of skills development training provided directly by the NRL, an Associated Training Academy, Junior Leagues Club or Authorised Third Party, the NRL will be entitled to 10 percent of all income that is generated outside NRL salary payments, including future contracts, wages and sponsorship deals.”
Players would be classified as a “Product of the NRL.”
This would secure a residual value for the NRL, a “return on investment” if you will.
This additional revenue could go back to the grass roots and help combat the rival codes some players seem so willing to assist. Although presumptuous, this would help relieve the players guilt, and negate any need for exposing themselves or the game to unnecessary public humiliation.
I have a feeling the war of the codes is about to hot up, as in business, the rich will get richer and the weak will wither away.
midfielder
Guest
spud Football has had to deal with this on a world wide basic, essentially a player signs a contract, if another party wants that player the club holding the contract can see the player, if the player is happy to leave. So my advice for what its worth ....... is SG should be paid some fee........ that they set for releasing him to another team.
hoy
Guest
I must say I have just been reading about the poor darlings in soccer where a contract is not worth SH*T. Ronaldo signed a 4 or 5 year contract JUST LAST YEAR and is now looking to leave. Now we can talk about the poor player not getting enough money, but the fact is these players are on a vast amount of money compared to the average punter. Ronaldo was claiming to be nothing but a slave for gods sake. He was claiming he was hard done by that Manchester United wouldn't let him go to Real Madrid. He was on something like 200 000 pounds a week at United. A slave indeed. I guess my point is this: What is the point in contracts, if players are going to start weaseling out of them willy nilly at will? Will league end up like the soccer in Europe? I dearly love some principle in sport these days. Everyone says it's business, which it is no doubt, however loyalty goes a long way with fans surely. Lets not forget the money these players are on is what some would deem astronomical, to play a game that 9/10s of the registered players in Aus would be doing for love and actually paying to do it. I pay increasing costs to play club ruggers and love it. If someone offered me the chance to play for my state or club, then I would jump at it. Maybe that is just cause I was bought up old fashioned, not gimme gimme. Last thought, is it me, or is it only the high paid stars who whinge and whine about money? Not the average doer at each club. Just those like Gaz, Mason et al. Claim they are poor "slaves".
LeftArmSpinner
Guest
I agree that contracts must be met and players should get a fair and equitable slice of the action, what bothers me is the haste in which players are prepared to jump ship at the first sign of rough weather. nope. I am With Matt. There were undertakings that were not met. I seem to remember reading that the third party agreements were as follows: Channel 9 would pay Shimmy Shimmy Whosh an amount but it was directly connected to Shimmy's manager bringing to C9, the same amount in advertising revenue. manager didnt deliver!! Shimmy is gone. The reality is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. not of this generation but in the next 5 years, and it will be closer to home. private investors will bring more money into the s14 teams and then the league players dont even have to leave home. Meantime, have a look at the thread on NRL being too predictable. Even those "welded on" spectators are struggling with a combination of: 1. poor player behaviour, 2. ANZ stadium's lack of atmosphere, 3. artificiality (salary cap, uncontested scrums, no contest for possession) 4. predictable tactics (one out runs followed by a kick) and games 5. a standardising of players, shapes and skills (Half to hooker to 5/8 to fullback; e.g. Luke Lewis: fullback to wing to centre to 2nd row to 5/8 to half) 6. unpredictable, blow out week to week team performances (Roosters, Cronulla, etc.) due to attitudal failings. 7. a compressed competition where just a 6 points separate 9 teams and only 7 of 16 teams have a positive points difference. 8. Meaningless games during the State of Origin series complicated by byes. I just gave up on the tipping fantasy comps-too hard. 9. Finally, SOO III was a great contest, but also had the effect of showing that the last 8-10 SOO games have not been anything like as intense as they are "marketed" to be.
Westy
Guest
Gasnier did not get paid his third party payments. I do not understand why those third party sponsors are not named. St george has honoured all its committments. We have a short memory span ......in the 1950's Australian League was under attack from English League, then League in the 60's and 70's had its time in the sun relative to Australian rugby..........and is now under attack from French rugby. My own regret is that it would have to be French club rugby a competition that has always been professional in both financial terms and political with its backing of the facists and compulsory confiscation of all league ovals and clubs in the 1940,s.Pity it was not the Irish or even English but the the rugby club competition with a most despicable history. I have no problem with Australian rugby getting its revenge. However I must point out that French First division and Second division club rugby is very much pick and drive with a healthy dose of brawling. It is pretty bad. Gasnier will not touch the ball much but he will have a good time. Does anyone know who the third party sponsors were? I know they were definitely not StGeorge club sponsors.
Phil
Guest
When was the last time Gasnier played a full season? Has he ever?
spud murphy
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your input Matt and others. Matt i appreciate your point of view but, Gasnier playing Rugby League is more than a job in many ways, not the least of which is the fact that Gasnier did not arrive at the NSWJRL with something to offer, he was coached and developed by them. Now in mainstream business this could be paralleled with an apprenticeship, however this not the mainstream market, it is a specialist and very public market. The point is that Mark Gasnier leaving the NRL for a competitor is much more impactful than Bob Smith leaving the factory. Non-disclosure and non-circumvention agreements between partners and employees is standard business practice. These agreements are put into place to protect intellectual property and the financial and resources investment that goes toward developing a highly skilled and knowledgeable partner/employee. It also also ensures trust, trust that means, if i help create a future for you, you wont use this knowledge to leverage yourself to my competitors and/or hold me to ransom, and if you do it will cost you. Let me ask you something Matt, if a family owned business gave you a go, nurtured you, honed your skill until you became close, would you walk out because unmitigated circumstances lead to a short-term contractual problem. I hope for your sake and those around you your answer would be no. The thing that bothered me was the haste with which he left, I'm sure there was a compromise or solution somewhere. Managers that successfully promote clean-skin acts or previously unknown artists factor in a loyalty clause that if not met can mean a slice of future earning, why not the NRL , "celebrity"or "brand" is what attracts third party sponsors to marquee players. As far as managers agreeing to loyalty or future earnings clauses, players will accept any reasonable deal early on to get a start, because without the support and participation under the NRL banner they are worth ZIP. If players want to kick off their careers in Rugby due to unfair NRL contracts, good, enjoy the excitement of club Rugby, just hope you get good enough to to make the Wallabies if its excitement, adulation, money and "brandpower" you seek. Take your chances in France or England as an unknown if your game, but do a butchers course before you go. What Gasnier did hurt the game in many ways, whats worse is, he knows it. To quote Mr Spock, "the needs of the many out way the needs of the few or the "one". Lets try and keep some dignity, shall we.
Matt
Guest
And as for the clause, I don't think you can put clauses in a contract to claim any future earnings of a person that is no longer employed by your company can you? Clubs can claim compensation if the guy is still on contract (ie Gasnier says 'I want out' but still has 3 years to go. St George puts him on the transfer market with a Transfer value of $500,000). But I think that's as far as you'd get away with. PLayer agents just simply wouldn't agree to it, and I'm sure they'd be fairly united and powerful against any clause of that nature coming to fruition. Just out of interest are any aware of a contract system that claims a slice of future earning potential through previous associations? I think the problem is that people as fans of a sport believe they own the players and their rights just like you do with the footy cards.
Matt
Guest
Tough call to slate Gasnier for doing what he did. He signed a contract and they didn't meet their end of the deal. They told him " you will get X amount of $ if you sign on for 5 years" and then paid him about 60% of what he was contracted to recieve. If the company you worked for tried to pull this what would you do? Would you stay 'loyal' and accept the lower rate because you had worked there for the last 5 years? Or would you look to move on to new challanges and a new location and lifestyle? This is work to these guys, they do it every day of their lives, not just for the 80 odd minutes on the weekend that we watch them. The clubs (mainly the fans) talk about player loyalty and how you should honour the contract you sign as a professional athlete, but then the club don't pay you what they said they would. If it was me, the first thing I'd do would be to look at another job. And if it turns out there is another job paying twice as much money I'd seriously consider taking it. I don't believe that if they had paid Gasnier what they agreed to, when they convinced him to sign the contract, then he would have stayed in the NRL for a lot longer.
sheek
Guest
Spud, "Hand over the money, or the game gets it". This has got to be one of the best headlines I've read for decades!!! What we are witnessing here is human nature at its less best, rather than worst, because there is surely much worse behaviour than is available. That's life I guess, man at his best & worst hand in hand. It's happening in league, union, you can be sure it is happening in all the professional sports. Apart from loving the headline, i don't have any answers>
Robert
Guest
Spud, what you say is very true. However they have had excellent tuition from our politicians regarding feathering your own nest and b----r the rest. Get as much as you can for as long as you can from as many as you can. Applies to far too many scenarios doesn't it these days ?
Warren Goldsmith
Guest
Mr Gasnier says le coque is how do you say...fat, and ready to spurt some sauce.