That is going to be no mean feat seeing three of them are normally labelled “the best player in the world” a couple of times a week from different judges.
The thought that any of them could be tempted away has meant that most clubs have looked to square away a fair chunk of cash for next year in the hope to entice one of them to their place.
Whether any of them are sacrificed will depend largely on how far over the cap the club currently finds itself and how quickly they can unload other players who are also chewing up room.
But for the sake of an argument, let’s imagine it was open season and each club could put in a bid for one of them.
Who would be your club’s best target?
Brisbane Broncos: The Broncos efforts to land Inglis are already dead in water. I’d opt for Cameron Smith to lead a very young Broncos outfit, particularly once Darren Lockyer moves on.
Canterbury Bulldogs: Greg Inglis. The Bulldogs have already looked to secure the spine of their team for the next few years, but Inglis would be a massive signing for the centres now Jamal Indris looks to have moved into the pack.
Canberra Raiders: Cooper Cronk. The Raiders have plenty of grunt, lots of pace out wide, but seemingly lack direction in attack. When Adam Mogg is playing with jersey number seven on, you know your priority must be to find a halfback.
Cronulla Sharks: Cameron Smith. The Sharks need a complete rebuild, so you may as well start with the bloke you’ll have his hands on the ball most of the time.
Eastern Suburbs Roosters: Greg Inglis. Like the Bulldogs the Roosters have a young spine in place which has their best years ahead of them. Inglis would be terrific luxury to have out wide, and the chefs at Bondi could also probably cook the books accordingly.
Gold Coast Titans: Billy Slater. Scott Prince to Billy Slater, it’s probably one of the few ways they could make the Prince to Campbell combination even more effective.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles: If the Sea Eagles keep Steve Matai, I’d say the Sea Eagles would do well getting Cronk to replace Trent Hodkinson. If Matai goes, then it’s GI. However, that’s all based on the fact that Brett Stewart will return to play fullback. If that’s not the case, hello Billy Slater.
New Zealand Warriors: Cameron Smith. The Warriors would excel with the steadying influence of Smith in the rucks.
Newcastle Knights: Greg Inglis. Inglis with Aquila Uate outside him would be a fearsome combination him. He is the game breaker the Knights need.
North Queensland Cowboys: Inglis (and anyone else keen for a game). I’d question the sanity of anyone who wants to go there at present, but “on paper” (and that’s a term you need to use with the Cowboys) who think they would be best suited to Greg Inglis playing in the centres outside Jonathan Thurston. He’d be someone else for Thurston to swear at, shake his head at and throw his arms in the air at when things don’t work out.
Parramatta Eels: Cooper Cronk. After re-signing two young halves, less than twelve months later Parramatta decide they need an experienced halfback. Cronk could be the player to get out of the shadow of Peter Sterling at Parramatta.
Penrith Panthers: Greg Inglis. With the greatest respect, Adrian Purtell is probably the one player the Panthers fans would find expendable and slotting Inglis in that position would certainly be one way to win the battle for Sydney’s west.
St George Dragons: Cameron Smith in for Luke Priddis. The obvious improvement to an already quality side.
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Billy Slater. I thought about Cooper Cronk to give the Rabbitohs some maturity in the halves, but I reckon Slater would be the man to get Russell really exicted.
Wests Tigers: Greg Inglis/ Billy Slater. I’d argue the Tigers are either one centre or a fullback away from having a really red hot team, so take your pick.
jus de cochon
Guest
Cmon the Storms greatest misstake was getting caught. All sport is run by money now.
Mr Cool
Guest
Now that the documents are made public, I respectfully ask all you decent living, pure NRL fans to send petitions to your clubs demanding that they do not approach the cheating players from Melbourne. failure to do this will show your REAL COLOURS. DO IT NOW!!!!!
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
I wouldn't move Cronk into hooker unless needed. He is a utility player, utility players get moved to places they are needed. Lockyer moved from FB to 5/8th, ppl move when the club need them to move and Cronk has shown he can do that. I would keep the spine of the Knights as such: 1: Gidley 6: Mullen 7: Cronk 9: De Gois. But if any of them got injured you could easily move it around, very easily. It would be the most versatile spine in the competition.
Mr Cool
Guest
STABILITY -- all you non believers please look up this word in your dictionary. You will find it under S.
Mr Cool
Guest
Thanks Dan, there are a few fans on this forum, who have labelled me a silly old twit, They are so suffering from tunnel vision that they only see how things USED to be. Like it or not The actions of Storm have opened Pandora's box, players will now be wanting better deals with less restrictions on their earning power. Clubs will look at Storm's success and say, why can't we create a better team, they will find the answer in the word that we two have singled out STABILITY. Changes must come and the sooner the better for all clubs, especially the ones that are now building a good young team only to lose them again as soon as they taste success. for this reason alone we must move on. Unfortunately our games admin fall into the Tunnel Vision Brigade and I cannot see anything being accomplished in the short number of years that I have left! .
Jeff
Guest
Another point Corey, you can pay your team as much money as you will, It still doesn't make them a championship team, Many have tried, many have failed. True teams have been 'built not bought'
Col the Pom
Guest
Bit heavy there buddy. But I do agree that Melbourne fans are the losers in this crazy situation.
Col the Pom
Guest
Of course they will, Wigan are accepting the same methods that made Storm so dominant for the past 6 years, they have a 'looser' salary cap and don't be surprised if Melbourne become a Feeder club to them over the next two years.
Jeff
Guest
The bottom line is this. Any player, agent ord Manager who knowingly participated in this rort MUST NOT be allowed back into our game. ie: If Smith is guilty and knew about it, NO WAY should any other club come chasing him. If these players end up in other teams (With hideable rorts.) then it is only the Melbourne Supporters who have 'lost out!. c'mon you administrators, you imposed harsh penalties on the fans and the club. now let's see if you have the guts to keep up the work. OH I forgot, you did nothing at Bulldogs!, Parra, Broncos etc etc, maybe you already set a bad precedence
The man
Guest
To be a hooker you need to pass, something that Dean is currently incapable of.
Gob Bluth
Guest
Like Paul Harragon in the Super League war, their "loyalty" was/is well paid. They haven't taken a pay cut to stay with the Storm, they've been paid more than any other club could afford. It's hard to make their decisions look overly selfless.
Dan
Guest
c'mon mate think about it, these guys will take whatever the get offered, the get drummed into them at a young age that you've got a short career and you've got to earn all you can... they've got managers in their ear constantly about earning capacity... the blame lies with the administration, but then they have just tried to defend the CLUB from this mentality of a gordon gekko "greed is good" highest bidder money talks mentality... but that seems to be what everybody wants...
Dan
Guest
You know that depending on what happens in this court case, if the NRL are found to have done the wrong thing by not giving them a fair trial, denying the storm the right to compete for points will render the entire season null and void. By denying them the right to compete, and hence competing in the finals should they earn the right, the entire season could be struck from the record books... you want to talk about a disaster for the game? having that happen would make the super league war look like a lover's tiff...
Dan
Guest
Mr Cool, this is about the most sensible thing i've heard on on this whole topic... You want to grow the game, get some damn stablitiy into it... revolving door clubs, balancing the talent to suit the bottom clubs and not the top clubs is killing the game...
Dan
Guest
wasn't two sets of books people, Gallop use that as an analogy, which has been taken out of context by the media... the has later retracted this statement, however the damage had been done.\ oh and Gareth, cam smith has only very recently become his own player manager...
Dan
Guest
AH-HEM! the stom did not ASSEMBLE "the big four", they scouted them as juniors, devloped players who other clubs didn't want (Cam Smith was told by the broncos that he was too small to ever make... OOOPS), the looked for ways to expoit the cap to keep their (as in talent that they had created) together
Dan
Guest
The Knights could afford someone, but I think they will look for someone to complement Mullen and Gidley, and Cronk would be best, as Gidley is a utility so is Cronk, so you can move Cronk to hooker than move Gidley to 5/8th or no. 7. Why would you move argubaly the most consistant halfback of the last 3-4 years to hooker? you're a lunatic! also, Souths could afford all four of them... just ask JT, they are always looking for ways to, um, circumvent, oh, cr@p, I've said too much and I cant get my words back...
Dan
Guest
You're crazy mate... get yourself into AAMI Park and see how far design and building has come, even since SS/LP was opened... AP cost far more per seat than any other stadium, and that quality shows through (i've been to both, so wise up buddy)
M1tch
Roar Guru
20 players on $100 000 for at least the next 3-4 years, Storm will be a nursery for the other teams
M1tch
Roar Guru
Wigan will dominate the next few Super League seasons