The Panthers have reportedly signed Michael Jennings to a four year $2m contract. He has proven himself to be one of the best centres in the game, an elite attacking weapon who regularly breaks the line and is a proven try scorer.
So why do I think with this decision the Panthers have made a grave mistake?
Realistically, unless they have an absolute glut of cheap quality juniors, a team can only afford to have one 500k player.
A team can stretch to two, but you are looking at having at least three or four journeymen priced players in your starting side when your top two players account for almost 25 percent of your cap.
Of course, some clubs manage to get around this where veterans agree to sign on for less to either stay close to home, with their team mates, or with a successful team.
The Broncos, for instance, get a good home team discount with their premierships and single team town status.
Generally the key players for any team are the two or three forwards who get the metres and make the bulk of the tackles, the halves, the hooker and the fullback.
Centres and wingers score the tries, but these are the guys who will handle the ball the most, get you the most metres, make the most tackles and organise the team in both attack and defence.
If I’m putting together a team, it would make sense that when allocating funds, I want at least the top three or four paid players to be amongst those six or seven positions and the remainder should be above the average wage.
I’d hand over two 400k contracts to two top level props without batting an eyelid.
A centre, by contrast, has a relatively limited role.
Now for Greg Inglis, I can understand paying above the 350k mark. He handles the ball more and for an outside back is quite involved.
Folau I can also get reasonably comfortable, but not happy, with 400k-ish, because you can build a kicking game around him.
But Jennings is a centres centre. He’s very good at it, no doubt, but the consistent impact he can have on a game is limited by the position he plays.
By paying him key position money, they are basically committing to having a journeyman at one of their actual key positions.
Now I’m not saying you can’t win with that structure, stranger things have happened. But you are certainly hamstringing yourself to a degree.
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