John Hartigan, chairman and chief executive of News Limited (left) with Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League David Gallop (centre) and Melbourne Storm Chariman Rob Moodie. AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy
2009 saw the game’s administrators telling players that their behaviour was the key to the game’s survival, that fans wouldn’t tolerate poor behaviour off the field and that they had to think of the future game when they considered their actions.
Well 2010 has shown us that it’s actually the behaviour of the those lecturing administrators that can land a hammer blow on the game. But the result is the same, it’s the players who will be asked to pick up the pieces while Brian Waldron and the rest of the mugs slink off into the sunset for an early but well funded retirement.
Walking around the streets of Melbourne CBD this weekend it was impossible not to notice all the advertising for the ANZAC Test. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
My first thoughts were, “How friggin’ typical”, we finally spend some serious bucks marketing the game the advertisements are like a bunch of expensive wedding photos after a divorce.
But after attending the Storm game I remain convinced that the NRL must preserver with rugby league in Melbourne.
23,906 rolled up. Right, so this is what we need to get people to show up to rugby league in Victoria.
Full credit to the fans, many of whom seemed far more knowledgable than their reputation gives them credit for. It’s the fans and the players that I feel most sorry for.
However, whether how many will continue to show up as the depressing reality of their current punishment plays out.
Their have plenty of plenty who have worked hard for the game in Melbourne and they must feel angry firstly with the actions of Waldron and secondly if the NRL who looks to have sent the current squad into competitive limbo.
No points for 2010? The only winners are the sports psychologists, they must be rubbing their hands together.
In this instance I agree with Phil Gould and the solution he proposed on Friday night (although thanks to the decision makers at Channel Nine I watched it very early on Saturday morning).
The Storm lose all the points they have accrued so far in 2010.
They then work with the NRL to come up with a list of players from their current squad of 25 to play out the season under the salary cap.
Those discarded are paid in full and are free to play for another club here or abroad, fancy Cronulla boys?
The competition then moves on rather than having a weekly reminder of this farce.
One set of bean counters have let the Storm players down, but another have come down too hard on them.
Sherlock
Guest
If Waldron is the ONLY person involved and News knows nothing then that would be incredible. News Limited is either incompetent or implicated.
mushi
Roar Guru
The draft would be a great idea, already been tried and failed though because the players association lacks the ability to unite the players on anything other than negative issues.
Hansie
Guest
The trouble here is that nobody yet knows how far over the salary cap Melbourne Storm have gone. At a minimum, it's $700,000. To move that talent out of the cap, Melbourne will have to shred at least two internationals. And those guys will be either too expensive for other clubs (eg Cronulla) or cannot fit under the salary caps of the other clubs. So we'd only end up losing two international players. I'm not sure Gould (Agenda Man) has thought that through.
karlos
Guest
I believe that News knew all about it and Waldron was selected by News for these very skills. Remember that News are behind Rugby Union as well as The Storm, so a small loss on The Storm might very well be offset hansomely by bigger ratings etc profits from The Rebels/ Union. Despite the distance being kept at the moment The Rebels will start to circle Storms players to give The Rebels a higher profile in Melbourne. Lets hope Gallop or someone gets the next TV deal right to stop the plundering of our code.
berra boy
Guest
Steve, usually love your stuff but have to disagree on this one. The Storm situation ISN'T about getting a current squad under the cap, it's about years of systematic rorting that can't go unpunished. When will someone from that organisation (like the players and coach) actually apologise for being part of a club that has brought the entire league into disrepute. If Craig Bellamy could do that - I'd give 'em 2 points - but it will never happen.
Lemon
Guest
Just slightly amused that Brian Waldron is the sole one to be responsible here and the players who took the money are defiant in the fact that they have done nothing wrong. Yes I believe that they should be able to receive 'presents' etc as monies deemed to be outside the salary cap, but hang on, yet again the media/public make excuses for the players to break the rules as they stand. The edict that they wouldn't know where there money comes from is just an absolute joke. Can one sportsperson actually stand up and say "hang on i was wrong"? They made an ethical decision to take that money unlawfully but I can hear the words/excuses of every other case of sexual/drug nature from the past 10 years.... it wasn't my fault, she wanted it, it was consensual, someone handed me, etc etc. Salary cap changes need to be made by the NRL but the blatant disregard for all things lawful by players, media, administrators and some of the public are what concerns many about the game. At least Waldron has taken responsibility for his actions but then again as he has been reminded by the league spin doctors about his guilt, he is from AFL!
oikee
Guest
Steve, it is to late now to tamper with the Storm situation. Now is the time to get strong leadership, dump the dinosaurs, (you know the ones i keep telling you about?) that cant be done, its not possible, it wont work so lets not try it, put it in the too hard basket, i am the boss and i say dont change anything.? Like i said Steve, 12 months ago now, we need new leadership, people who know business, and people who know how to fix salary caps and a point system, even introduce a draght system if it helps the game. (i read a story by Ricky Stuart this morning) saying it will help the game. Hand it over to the New commission, and tell them to get it done, no if's, but's or maybe's. This game is a joke, it needs leadershiop, and i will keep saying it until we get leadership. Employ a NFL ceo or something, bring in the yanks, They seem to know how to get things done.
Hanzo
Guest
I'm sick of people proposing the "get under the salary cap" solution for the Storm. How is it fair to the 6 clubs that played them before the scandal broke. Or the teams that have to play before they get under the cap such as the Warriors or the Cowboys. Also getting under the cap isn't as easy as cutting squad members. They can't just take paycuts because the team would still have been brought together initially using illegal means. They can't just pay players out then expect them to go elsewhere. According to media reports only 1 or 2 clubs have room under thier own salary caps. How is that fair to the player ( he won't get his market value if there's is no competition for his services) or the other clubs if the can't even make an offer to begin with. The punishment handed out for the 2010 season to the Storm is the only fair one to the OTHER 15 clubs in the NRL. Sure I feel for the storm players and we are reminded of the whole situation each week but Gallop and his admin had no other choice.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Its ironic how the Storm rorted the cap to keep players at the club and in the game, the same week Folau has massive offers from rival codes and Gallop and co have said nothing on it. I dont care how they rorted the cap, but we all know why they did.