There has been a lot of talk about million-dollar players lately – especially now that the salary cap is set to reach $5.8 million.
The reality is, the game’s top players are going to command six figure salaries very soon.
But is it worth it to have a million-dollar player in your squad? What is the best way for an NRL club to disperse its salary cap?
There’s no doubt Melbourne have been the benchmark of the competition in the last few years. Their strategy has been to build a team around three incredible talents, with the remainder of the cap taken up by much lower paid players.
North Queensland are a different matter. They really only have one marquee player – Johnathan Thurston – meaning they have some wiggle room for a few higher quality players around him.
They have the experienced and exciting Matt Bowen, to arguably the game’s best prop in Matt Scott.
But even with those players around him, the buck still stops with JT in Townsville. The Cowboys success has been contingent on him for the last eight years. And when he negotiates his new contract for 2014, there’s a very good chance he’ll become the game’s first million-dollar player.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is a team like St. George-Illawarra. During the Bennett years, the Dragons lacked any standout, marquee players.
It’s hard to imagine anyone in that premiership-winning side on more than $400,000 a year.
You can see these contrasting approaches in clubs currently in “rebuilding” phases, too.
Penrith, for example have shunned the “marquee player” approach, off-loading bona fide NRL superstars in Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis and Michael Gordon in the past year.
Meanwhile, they have been incredibly active in the player market, with around 20 new faces joining the club this season – and none of them likely to command a massive salary.
Parramatta, another club attempting to rebuild, have taken the opposite approach. They’ve paid top dollar for the likes of Chris Sandow and Will Hopoate and were looking to fork out more for Israel Folau.
Then there’s the rumoured contract negotiations of Jarryd Hayne – another potential million-dollar player.
So my question is this: as we head into the future, which strategy do you think is going to yield the most success for NRL clubs?
If you were in charge of a salary cap, would you gamble on one or two marquee signings, or disperse the dollars more evenly across the board?
mushi
Roar Guru
I'd also say that you go 8 players at minimum salary (juniors) so the "rest" are going to average out to 170ish
Arthur fonzarelli.
Guest
Melbournes successful strategy based on 3 outstanding players and the rest no names ? Not that long ago it was 5 outstanding players and lots of very good players and a few no names . Wonder what their cap strategy was then ?
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Any salary cap increase could be put toward game incentive payments for 3 man-of-the-match awards each week in each of a Club's teams in NRL, NSW Cup National Youth Competition, Jersey Flegg would inspire all players in all teams, for certain.
Adam
Roar Guru
It's a great squad, but yeah I tend to agree about the halves... could Michael Morgan and Chad Townsend win you a grand final? It's the big matches when you need champions to step up. Mind you, as someone pointed out, there just aren't that many champion halves in the game at the moment, and some of these young blokes will have to step up eventually. I think Morgan and Townsend are both just 21 years old, so who knows -- maybe clubs do need to take a gamble on a couple of young blokes in those key positions and hope they develop into future superstars. Of course, when they do, then they're going to be receiving $1 million contract offers too... and the cycle continues...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Two of your 9, 7 and 1 need to be stars and the other good to very good. eg Cowboys of recent years Bowen and Thurston stars, Payne good. You clearly can't spend massive coin on all three. The Bulldogs have a good front row rotation in Tolman, Graham and Kasiano. Having three props that can rotate through the 160 minutes required would be ideal but probably unlikely to have to 60 min propsin the same squad so I would look for four props - one big bopper, one workhorse and two honest toilers - one of them a younger development player. One impact backrow to start and one from the bench. Two workers in the backrow capable of 80 mins if required. It would be a bonus if one of them could slot into the centres if required. Utility player on the bench that can cover dummy half. Solid 5/8 who can kick and play a support role to the 7. You need at least one talented "go to" centre in attack. Your other centre at least needs to be a good defender I wouldn't spend any big money on wingers. I'd look to develop juniors and rotate them through in 2-3 year cycles.
peeeko
Roar Guru
1mln on Sam Tompkins? Gee I'm glad you are not involved with my club
oikee
Guest
You really need to have a marquee player. What you spend on them is up to the club, but 1 million seems about right, depends on how good the player is,,,2 reasons for this, not only the player can lift your team, he also puts extra bums on seats. Look at the Roosters, classic examaple, if i lived in Sydney i would be a Roosters fan. SBW, Jennings, Maloney and a junior squad full of talent. Same as Parra, they also have Hoppa and Hayne, jury is still out on Sandow. The point is, there are not many superstars running around, finding one is like finding a hens tooth. I think clubs without star quality players will struggle, because fans, kids, mums dads and me, want to see the Barba's, the Inglis's and the Tariq Simms, of this world. The guy sitting over in England, Sam Tomkins, he should be the Dragons soul target, pay him 1 million a season, you not only pick up a bargain, you probably grow your fanbase and grow your chance of a tital. Not many good-uns around. Clubs also need to identify junior superstars, like Hoppa, Shreick and Hurrell, Johnson, Harry S,, Etc.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Break the cap into three equal thirds. You spend one third on props - but you spread the money out, because you need two to play, two to be on the bench and two to be suspended. Six good props are way better than one superstar trying to carry five journeymen on his back. You spend one third on the halves and the fullback - you have to have elite ballplayers in the skill positions. The final third you split between the rest of the team.
Jake
Guest
Not a bad squad, I'd suggest you need to get better halves though.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Pot Stirrer, Part of that is the way the salary cap is rigged in their favour - you can stash unlimited numbers of juniors on contract but off your cap. Therefore, they can spend off-cap money on the replacements they bring into the team.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Id spend it like the Broncos,They seem good with numbers, they have been in the top eaight nearly every season supply on average 6 or 7 SOO players every year and never been mentioned as having cap trouble.
Patrick
Guest
Starting 17 in under 5 mill 1. Josh Hoffman (285) 2. Jorge Tafua (200) 3. Konrad Hurrel (230) 4. Jack Reed (250) 5. Daniel Tupou (185) 6. Michael Morgan (230) 7. Chad Townsend (250) 8. James Tamou (350) 9. Mitch Rein (220) 10. Ben Matulino (315) 11. Tariq Sims (320) 12. Ben Te'o (360) 13. Dallas Johnson (380) 14. Josh Reynolds (300) 15. Andrew Fafita (280) 16. Tim Grant (300) 17. Josh Jackson (230)
Ronald M
Guest
I would do the exact opposite of the Cronulla 'recruit mediocrity' and bad boys strategy. I would look for good and great players who are perhaps not fully respected by their current clubs. I would look for very experienced proven playmakers who are considered a bit over the hill but still have the personal drive to achieve. I would look for great players who the press ignore and who never get the credit they deserve. These players would take up all my key positions. I would then fill the rest of the team with youngsters with lots of talent and energy probably on the brink of breaking into the NRL but just needing a break. All the players must have character, will, drive, ambition, a willingness to work hard and follow instructions and most of all personal integrity. All salaries would have a significant achievement element to them. I would then recruit the best coach that money could buy, the best facilities, the best trainers and the best phisios. Shane take note, I have just solved your problem for you but then you would never meet my coaching requirements would you.
Shane Flanagan
Guest
What's a salary cap ????
Andy
Guest
"What is the best way for an NRL club to disperse its salary cap?" On players with experience, who have played in grandfinals but never cracked origin/Australia or has not played rep footy for a while. In addition, poach the best junior talent and promise them starting positions. Then all you need to do is buy either a great coach from super league or a retired coach like Bob Fulton.
peeeko
Roar Guru
"how would you spend your salary cap?" answer - not like parramatta. not that i believe the telegraph but if they are spending 550k, 850k and 800k on sandow, hopoate and hayne then someone needs to be fired. true about what you said about Bennett and the Dragons- i think the highest player was Creagh on 350k. one advantage of not going for large marquees is that you dont have the injury risk that would occur if JT or one of the big melbourne three have