The two big talking points in rugby league this week were around player movements: Luke Lewis and Sonny Bill Williams, two high profile players whose next clubs will benefit immeasurably from their services next season.
Luke Lewis announced that, after 11 years, he feels he needs a clean break from the Panthers.
Obviously there’s a lot more to the story, but whatever the real reasons he’s leaving Penrith, one of 15 other clubs are going to pick up a player that is a real seasoned veteran.
And they’re not easy to find these days.
So Penrith will lose another player.
The club is going through a rebuilding process this year, under the direction of Ivan and Gus. But it had to happen, and there will be short term pain for what should be long term gain.
With Ivan coming over from the Warriors, he’s bringing his experience in getting the balance at a club right, rebuilding the Panthers with an emphasis on developing the local talent they have at their disposal in the area.
He did the same thing at the Warriors, who have reaped the rewards of Clearly’s far-sighted vision.
And now he’s blooding a lot of these young players who haven’t played first grade before.
There are also strong whispers that Jonathan Thurston may end up at the Panthers once his deal is done with the Cowboys, in the process perhaps becoming one of the first players to crack the million dollar a season mark.
That remains to be seen, but I do see a lot of positive signs in what Ivan and Gus and trying to do at Penrith.
As for Sonny Bill, well he’ll slip straight back into the NRL and will be a devastating addition to what is already shaping as a powerful Roosters outfit in 2013. I’d be playing him at lock. But he could play a number of different positions.
And if I was scheduling the draw for 2013, I’d put the Roosters up against the Bulldogs in the season opener at the Football Stadium. They would pack the joint out.
Finally, Cronulla fans, let it be known that the Wizard is onboard. He’s a true believer. You will be right up there at the end of ths season and you could well win it this year.
The year of the Shark? Has a nice ring to it.
SamClench
Roar Pro
They've started to play reasonably well in the last few weeks, even though they lost to Brisbane on Friday. But the first half of the year was a bit of a debacle. This is the strongest the Warriors' roster has been in years, with their lineup they should be top four material. Watching Cleary coach the Warriors long term, you had to admire the job he did. Eventually managed to instil a bit of structure and discipline, which was not easy with those players. Hopefully B-Mac can build on that in the next few years.
Sylvester
Guest
Actually SamClench, by my rough calculations they're on pretty much the same points as they were at the same stage last year under Cleary
SamClench
Roar Pro
Cleary did a magnificent job at the Warriors, they have suffered this season without him. Hopefully Penrith will give him a few years to get the balance right at the Panthers.
xaviercrane
Roar Rookie
Manly go full re-tard Raider's unbeatable gameplan somewhat unre-alistic Ray Hadley's commentary has me reaching for the re-mote...
Billo
Guest
The Roosters are taking a massive gamble with SBW. He is now a rugby player, with a rugby player's habits and approach to the game. It will take him a long time to make the transition to the NRL, which is a different game now to the one he left. And his fellow players at the Roosters won't be too impressed to be earning so much less than SBW while having to carry him.
jdubya
Guest
Care to name anybody who would be demanding really big dollars. We have the youngest squad in the competition. but it's the Roosters right? So lets call them out for rorting the salary cap even though they have been investing heavily in their youth for the last few years.
Sylvester
Guest
I wasn't overly impressed with Cleary at the Warriors. I guess they weren't either if they let him go. The team did make the finals regularly, but for the most part were still inconsistent and scraped in after a panicked late-season run.
Damien
Roar Guru
For the big clubs. If you have a good networking relationship with the corporate sector like the Thoroughbreds at the Broncos then third party payments are almost unlimited. I'd say the Roosters have pretty good network. Check out this link regarding the Broncos. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/how-broncos-exploit-third-party-loophole/story-e6frfgbo-1225904118444
Easts
Guest
Nahh mate. Braith Anasta was on about 300k, Carney was on 500k, Myles was on 300k, Ryles was on 280k. They all left and we didn't really recruit big for 2012 anyway. How many big name players at the Roosters do you see??? No one is over the cap!
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Yeah i really don't buy into that. i think that was a convenient story to get around the fact Nasser is not a registered NRL agent and therefore is not allowed to negotiate NRL contracts. They had to make it look like SBW made the deal himself. Very clever but imo very deceptive. They had been spotted drinking coffee with the Roosters top dog at a cafe, Williams and Nasser. Now was that just a hello or was that a bit of negotiating.
Emric
Guest
It sounds like they are getting SBW fairly cheaply as it was done by a handshake deal 3 years ago - hes simply keeping his word.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Anyone thought about running over the Roosters salary cap?. Surely Maloney didn't come cheap. SBW surely tips them over the cap. I really would like to know how these third party deals work. Is there even really a cap? How far into these third party deals does the NRL dig?
Tony Archers Maroon Underwear
Guest
Thurstons a Penrith Junior?