Five weeks in and the most apparent thing about the NRL this season is just how close it is. Again!
Last year’s grand finalists, the Warriors and Manly, kicked off round one in what I thought was the best game of the year so far. They’ve since both dropped down the ladder.
This is both surprising and not surprising at the same time. And the salary cap has had a big impact on that.
I’m a big fan of it, even more so over the past few years as I’ve seen first hand what impact not having a salary cap has had on English and European football.
The salary cap in the NRL evens out the competition and prevents some teams from dominating on the sheer weight of dollars they have at their disposal.
Without it, we’d have the scenario that usually unfolds in the EPL, with the outcome of the season predictable before a ball is even kicked.
I don’t know anything about English football, though I enjoy watching it. But I can comfortably predict who the top cluster of teams will be.
It all comes down to who has the biggest purse. And the ability of the NRL to restrict this advantage across the clubs has created the exciting, unpredictable competition we have this year.
Manly, who have been in two of the past four Grand Finals, are battling injuries, suspensions, and the loss of the outstanding Will Hopoate. But they’ll bounce back.
The Warriors are facing a different set of circumstances.
They’re starting games slowly, so they’re having to fight their way back into the contest. And while they have a talented roster of players, most of them are young and inexperienced, especially in the key positions of halfback and fullback.
Locke and Johnson are two genuine stars of the game. They’re players any club would want. But they’re still relatively inexperienced in the weekly grind of top level rugby league. And with young players like that, you need some tough times and some easy times. They’ll emerge out of this patch better players for it.
But back to the Salary Cap.
While I am a big supporter of it, I’d still like to see the players better rewarded with the new TV right deals. And I think some reward for developing players would be good.
But at the end of the day, it’s creating a much more level playing field and ensuring we have a competition where, literally, any team can beat their opposition on the day.
Bearfax
Guest
Same could be said for almost every coach in the comp. Lets get it clear that Hasler was a very fine coach at Manly, no question. But he had great supports around him including some very fine players so it wasnt just his efforts that got Manly those two recent premierships. Much of that support, including the principal trainer are still there. Not much as changed in the player ranks and seems not much will change in near future, while some young potential stars are on the rise. Manly are at present going through a readjustment. Players are seemingly going through post premiership blues, as most clubs go through when they win a premiership. A large number of prominent players are fighting for upgrade contracts. Manly is now the team to beat, having been premiers in '11. Manly are adjusting to a new style of coaching and at present structurely they are struggling a bit and their attacking functioning is somewhat stilted at this stage. But their 3 losses were close, despite the opposition in each match deserving their wins. Toovey has been Haslers offsider (and sand boy) for about half a decade and remember Toovey was Manly's premiership and Australia's former tough winning captain, not Hasler. It may be that Hasler has that extra genius that Toovey lacks, but it is far too early to determine because it takes a coach well over half a season to establish their own style (ask Hasler who went through hell in his first season coaching at Manly - yeh yeh he started with much less OK). But all the media talk and bagging of Toovey at this stage is inane chatter with no substance. By the end of the season we will begin to see Toovey's potential as a coach...not before.
The Link
Guest
NQ twice, Canberra twice, Cronulla and Souths once. Not too bad really. Every side in the comp has made it at least once in the last 5 years.
JVGO
Guest
If they're not Toovey won't be.
Jarrod
Guest
I don't think it's the salary cap, It's the finals format that makes for an 'even' comp. It is only because you do not have to win consistantly to get into the final that you have top teams losing to bottom teams. Teams do not have to turn up week in week out as if you lose 40 - 50% of your games you can still win the comp, or make the final anyway. This is actually makes for a substanded comp. How often do you see poor defence and soft tries throughout the year. Answer:Lots. Only time to watch the nrl is in October, otherwise it is a soft comp
Tommygun
Guest
Yeah totally agree way too early to say, the warriors lost to bloody Parra in round 1 last year!!!
Bearfax
Guest
I suspect it will be in Gosford.
PLANKO
Guest
Jaceman I was not having a go at the storm i was having a go at Penn he would do anything to balance the books at Manly ...
Jaceman
Guest
yes we know about Storm deals
PLANKO
Guest
If Melbourne offered Penn 500k he would take it to Melbourne
Matt F
Guest
I'm pretty sure that Manly originally intended to take that game over to Perth. Though I'm pretty sure they've backed out of that, are trying to move it back to Brookvale, and are moving a different game to Bluetongue instead. Supposed to be against Parramatta I think?
PLANKO
Guest
Barry cant wait till Melbourne come back to Brookie !!! Can anyone tell me why the Venue is TBA ?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sorry, I forgot one...how Melbourne's success is based around Smith, Slater & Cronk...how could I forget that one...???
The Barry
Roar Guru
I've read two of Brownies articles and talk about stating the bleeding obvious. The first was about moving Inglis to fullback - the week AFTER Maguire did it and he trampled Penrith and now the salary cap evens up the comp - wow insightful. Manly have a heap of injuries, no home games yet and contract negotiations for key players. I'm nowhere near prepared to write them off. Were the Warriors ever tipped to 'dominate' based on scraping into the 8 last year, getting flogged week 1 of the semis, winning two games and then getting trounced in the GF ?
Nathan of Perth
Guest
In a salary capped league money may not buy you the team you need but it can certainly generate an enormous advantage with the right coaches, training facilities and other back-office trappings. In sports it is true that financial power will almost always push itself to the fore, in spite of all attempts at capping.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Give me a competitive comp with uncertainty,rather than a sure fired winner anytime. I will settle with the current position,rather than the one sided gams,eprior salary cap.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Hey Brownie are you off to St Helens? Top effort at Huddersfield.
Jeff McGinn
Guest
Look back at how many GOOD players two of the clubs have lost to other clubs offering better pay packets over the past ten years. Not to mention the coaches hat have destroyed them with personality clashes and favouritism. People have said often that money cannot buy a team, but it can certainly destroy one.
Jeff McGinn
Guest
Do not write off Manly so quickly. they will be there at the end of te season no worries.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Gareth. in theory a balanced comp is a good comp... In practice, every year kids are losing their heroes to 'money teams' that haven't the ability (or patience) to build, so they take on the role of 'Leeches' just sucking the blood of the teams that recruit and bring their kids through to a better standard. Our comp is still not even, the only way some teams get close to the top eight is because of the strain that SOO puts on the clubs that supply the players. Yet again I reiterate "Clubs that recruit and nurture young stars should be given some financial compensation when the players are tempted away from them", then and only then will the 'LAZY, CASH STRAPPED' clubs put some effort into team building.. With the 'tools' that clubs have now ie: U20s and affiliated State comp sides NO club should have the NEED to buy ready made players.. FULL STOP., I also ad tat Clubs offering 'Crazy amounts' for players off contract is the main reason for clubs with good young players feeling the strain of the Silly Salary cap' !. Eels payig Sandow $500k per season immediately makes DCE want more from Manly and Cooper Cronk want even more from somewhere! - yeah a truly great system. We cannot compare with English Soccer or American grid Iron. The money that makes them tick will never be available to NRL teams. also, Soccer has a vast pool of talent from World wide, We have Queensland,NSW and Pomland, all of whom are struggling to attract crowds to games. No one can convince me that a salary cap that is so easily bypassed is good for the game.. Aww Geez, I been sucked in again. -- When will I learn?.
Steve
Guest
Massive myth, the closest comp on earth. How many times have cronulla, nq, souths, Canberra contested a final series in which half the sides make it in the last 5 years. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.