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As Sydney’s Shute Shield comes to a dramatic close, the million dollar question is how Eastwood, Souths or Randwick can stop the Sydney Uni juggernaut from winning their sixth consecutive premiership. The clubs’ answer? Hope and wait for the Wallabies to return.
Is this really good for the long-term future of the game?
An array of Wallaby stars, including skipper Rocky Elsom, are lining up for their club sides for the first time in 2010. Elsom, Kurtley Beale, Drew Mitchell (pending injury), and Mark Chisolm will give the Wicks a much needed boost for their semi-final against the Students who are similarly boosted by the return of Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Luke Burgess and Berrick Barnes.
There is no doubt that the return of the superstars offers an exciting edge to club rugby and will give the competition increased interest and ratings.
In the long-term, however, clubs spending large percentages of their meagre funds on players who can only play once or twice a season will come at a cost to the future viability of rugby.
In 2009 Randwick announced the signing of Beale from Norths, a team he had rarely played for and only when not selected for the Wallabies. By 2009 Beale had proven that he would become a regular Wallaby, why then did Randwick off him a contract? Luke Burgess captained Easts to the Grand Final only one season prior to bursting on the Wallaby scene.
Why then, after he became a Test Match regular, did Sydney Uni offer him a contract?
The reason is that players of high profile look good in the club colours for the promotional pictures and by being allowed to return for the finals the clubs are bolstered when it really counts. To curb this trend a minimum games requirement policy must be put in place.
With the current rules it is understandable that Sydney’s clubs are willing to pay for the limited services of Wallabies rather than offering this money to amateur players with professional aspirations who are available for the entire season.
Unfortunately there are limited professional and semi-professional contracts and what is available must be dispersed as much as possible to keep players on our shores because only through increasing the size and quality of the player pool will Australian rugby thrive in the future.
By allowing Wallabies to play their first club game for the year in the Grand Final justifies the clubs’ signing of high profile players rather than spending the money on loyal club players or young up incomers.
The number of talented rugby players departing Australia to Europe and Japan is increasing and the reason is that there are not enough professional contracts available to keep them around. Enforcing a minimum game requirement to qualify for finals will reduce a club’s incentive to spend their money on the stars.
Sponsorship and TV exposure is necessary for Australian rugby to develop a high quality domestic competition.
For this reason I understand why the NSWRU allows the Wallabies to return, however a minimum game requirement will bring long-term advantages. More club players will be rewarded financially, and not be robbed of the opportunity to play in Grand Finals, which will keep more rugby players in Australia.
It may also have the effect of encouraging Wallabies to play for their clubs at every opportunity throughout the season rather than simply waiting until the finals.
To flourish in the future Australian rugby needs to offer a high quality product and policy must be put in place to encourage players to represent their clubs throughout the season whilst promoting contracts for full-time club players.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.