Buying success in modern Rugby

There is a lot of discussion on The Roar about the commitment of the Wallaby players. One major distraction seems to be Quade Cooper’s ongoing contract negotiations.

Seemingly the Wallabies are not the team of only a few years ago despite coming from the same fields and beaches; there is just not the quality coming through.

Where are the Nick Farr-Jones’s, Gavin’s, Eales’, Kearns’, Ella’s of today? It should be noted that most of those mentioned played the majority of their careers as an amateur which means they became self motivated to acquire skills. Which incidentally is the basis of professionalism in any field of endeavour.

What is RUPA’s position on this? Do they look to the long term interests of Australian Rugby or do they merely have a very narrow ‘trade union’ focus? And just how much has the equality of outcome ethos affected their thought processes.

Can the selection process be somehow made more transparent, robust and open?

Many Roarers have their player pet hates and favourites but it will be important for what is about to be suggested that the process be as accurate and professional as possible.

The preferred model would be a sizeable group of Rugby hard heads who are given briefing notes by the coach and other ‘snouts’ who get to rank players in the positions. They may post their point of view to the others but in the end the highest ranked players get the guernsey.

So how do we go about orchestrating a process that will return us to the self-made spirit of old in the modern professional era?

If it is true that the players nowadays are ‘business oriented’ then what may be done to work with the pervading attitude of the current squad members? How should contracts be structured?

Should bonuses be a part of the equation? How do individuals respond to the different schemes? John O’Neill seems prefer some sort of bonus system of match payments which given his experience it is probably the wisest solution.

If the only remuneration system offered to all players was something along the following lines –

Step 1. Basic contract for any potential Wallaby who ‘could be’ selected ie: retainer.
Step 2. An allowance for any Wallaby training sessions/camps to which they are invited. This could be extended for promotional work and other Rugby specific tasks.
Step 3. An ‘available for selection’ payment – ie: pre match bonus.
Step 4. Selection to playing squad payment.
Step 5. Match payment.
Step 6. Winning bonus – weighted according to the opposition.
Step 7. Player(s) of the match bonus, ranking decided by players, coaches and selectors.
Step 8. Player(s) of the season bonus, ranking decided by players, coaches and selectors.
Step 9. Possible other bonuses may be paid for try scoring and assists, try saving and assists, most tackles and other on field excellence.

NB: I have no idea as to the budget of the ARU so cannot attempt to provide figures for the above.

We are dealing with young people here who do not necessarily have all the bargaining skills and can be led astray by the managers who muddy the waters with their own greed.

So by devising a system where there are performance objectives with many levels of success, and rewards with each achievement all of which goes to the players thus precluding the need for the managers (except for non Rugby matters).

Most readers would probably have noticed that this system would be unfair for any player injured. Fairness suggests that those players be paid one level higher as if they had remained healthy.

The players chasing the big bucks up front do have other football options, so will we lose potential Wallabies to league, the euro and the yen?

I don’t believe there will be a mass exodus simply because being a Wallaby opens doors for later careers.

Also every young boy who dreams of Wallaby success, that little boy never leaves us. Furthermore if the payment system was weighted toward being high up in the Player of the Series ranking in a Wallaby winning campaign, then the more talented or harder working players will achieve the financial rewards their efforts deserve.

Also the ARU does not have to ‘take a punt’ on the potential of any up and coming player. Their attitude toward players would be simplified into identifying potential, offering the basic contract and providing the structure for those individuals to excel.

This is a task oriented system which rewards results. The players are equals right up until the success bonuses, player of the match, or player of the series rewards are given; and even that is not winner take all.

The players will have to start thinking about every facet of the game and their preparation creating the environment for players to smarten up. In effect we are engaging the entire squad to be part of the process and to be on the lookout for anything that could prevent them succeeding.

My belief is that no matter how much talent and training any Rugby side has that unless they have gelled into a team then success will be hard to achieve. This model contributes towards team building by forcing the players to make demands on themselves and the others.