The NRL leaves itself open to criticism of disloyalty with players committing to new clubs before the expiration of current contracts.
This feeling of fan sadness is exaggerated by the player often still having the majority of a season to complete before leaving.
The recent signing then cancellation by the Bulldogs of a contract with Andrew Fifita, currently playing with Cronulla, has re-ignited this issue. The Sharks signed Fifita a few years ago when he was not wanted at the Wests Tigers. Fifita has blossomed into one of the best front-row forwards in the world, and has represented Australia and New South Wales.
To read more of Bernie’s writing outside The Roar, head to his website
Many Sharks fans and other rugby league supporters believe Fifita owes the Sharks some loyalty. However, what does this concept of loyalty in rugby league really mean? Are players simply behaving as you and I do in improving our career situation?
The difference is players are doing this in a public environment and as part of a sport that, thankfully, generates much emotional attachment to players. Let’s give some perspective or context.
The Bulldogs and Andrew Fifita’s management company simply played by the NRL’s current rules regarding signing players. I have a problem with the rules themselves, but that’s a topic for another day, so back to the loyalty issue.
Rugby league fans regularly complain about a lack of loyalty in the game, the fundamental premise being that there once was in the ‘good old days’. Older fans (yes, I would be in that group) tend to look at the past through rose-coloured glasses. We think the game was formerly full of players who played their entire careers at the one club in front of appreciative fans.
A review of actual player movements over the past 50 or more years reveals a vastly different story. Even the greatest players changed clubs. Johnny Raper was a Newtown junior and first-grader before being snapped up by an astute St George in 1959. Bob Fulton played 11 seasons at Manly from 1966 to 1976, then signed with Eastern Suburbs for 1977 to 1979.
Arthur Beetson played with Balmain from 1966 through 1970, with Eastern Suburbs from 1971 to 1978 before finishing his career in the then NSWRL competition with Parramatta in 1979 and 1980. Wally Lewis was a Valleys junior and senior grade player, then achieved Brisbane Premiership success with Wynnum-Manly.
Even the legendary Clive Churchill left South Sydney in acrimonious financial circumstances at the end of the 1958 season.
Other great players also changed clubs. Kevin Ryan, Monty Porter and Billy Wilson left St George for Canterbury, Cronulla and North Sydney. Ken Irvine played with North Sydney then Manly.
Ron Coote left South Sydney for Eastern Suburbs, Bob McCarthy and Gary Stevens departed there for stints at Canterbury, while John O’Neill, Ray Branighan and Bob Moses went to Manly.
Denis Pittard played with Western Suburbs, South Sydney and Parramatta. John Quayle went to Parramatta from Eastern suburbs. John Dorahy, Les Boyd and Ray Brown played at Western Suburbs then all three transferred to Manly in 1980.
There are hundreds of other examples. The point is that rugby league was founded as a professional sport in Australia in 1908 and players have searched for the best deal ever since, as they should given the relatively short span of a professional career and the inherent dangers of our great sport.
Players change clubs for many and varied reasons. Better money helps, but also increased financial security via a longer-term contract than offered by their current club. They may not get along with the coach, or want an opportunity to play regular first grade in a certain position.
They may not like the management and direction of their current club, or may believe their new club has a better chance to win a Premiership. They may want to live in another area, or get closer to family.
Players also stay with clubs for a variety of reasons, and accept lower pay because they genuinely love their current club, or like the area and are settled with their family. They may be confident of the club’s prospects, get on with the coach and teammates, or be worried their chance to play representative football may diminish at a weaker club.
Often the player who accepts less money to stay at his current club is viewed as demonstrating loyalty, but the reality is that the player, his family and his agent have assessed all the relevant factors, both financial and non-financial, in order to arrive at the best decision. The non-financial factors should not be under-estimated.
Bottom line is that players justifiably make decisions in their own best interests, as we all do, and as clubs do. Glenn Stewart is off contract at Manly at the end of the 2014 season and is frustrated by the lack of urgency being shown by the Manly management. Fans are now signing petitions and demanding Manly show loyalty to one of their favourite players. Clubs often push contracted players out, principally due to the demands of the salary cap.
All we can ask is that clubs and players honour legal obligations and act with integrity and transparency.
In my time as Sydney Roosters CEO in the early 2000s, we had a player who was contracted but we were strong in his position and the coaching staff did not see him as part of the first-grade squad. We negotiated a settlement with the player’s agent and the player went on to play many first grade games with his new club.
The reality is that loyalty is a misunderstood concept within the context of professional sport.
It is great to see players who are able to play their entire career at one club – Anthony Minichiello, Steve Menzies, Wayne Pearce to name a few – but, on reflection, they may not be any more loyal than players who have played for a number of clubs. Rather, the circumstances and objectives of these one-club players and their clubs fortunately aligned throughout their career.
Loyalty is defined as “faithfulness to commitments or obligations”, so the player’s commitment is to his current club. Loyalty as a concept is usually directed towards a person, a group of people, a belief or one’s country, not as part of a financial transaction or work situation.
The fans simply want to see players contributing to their teams with maximum effort and these great players mentioned above, who played for more than one club, played with total commitment and so provided great service to themselves and the game.
So, do not be too critical of the players – they are only doing what you or I would do in a similar situation.
Loyalty is an extremely admirable quality among family and friends or for honourable causes but is not always relevant in professional sport.
Bernie Gurr is a former Sydney Roosters player (1978-1983) and Chief Executive Officer (1994-2003), presiding over eight straight playoff appearances, three grand finals and the 2002 NRL Premiership. A lifelong league fan, his first memory is being taken to the 1965 grand final by his grandfather. Prior to CEO role at the Roosters, Bernie was a Senior Executive for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He joins as a regular columnist on The Roar, but to read more of his writing on rugby league check out his website and follow him on Twitter @BernieGurr.
Bobby
Guest
well said old mate
Leaguegirl
Guest
Hi Bernie, I expected to harvest those same feelings from years ago when SBW made his return. But it felt totally different. I'm so glad to see him back in our game, where he belongs. It is always a pleasure and a thrill to watch him play. His full potential is always displayed on the footy field, something I'm afraid we rarely see from him in the 15-man code. So I'm cherishing every moment we have of him before he leaves. Hopefully he ends his career back home. Can you imagine if he ended it with Canterbury? Holy...what a welcoming home party that would be. The spine tingles at the possibility of it! I love our game but I still have so much more to learn, especially about players and their standings in the history of Rugby League. Articles like yours give an alternative insight to our game and it is much appreciated. A fascinating read. Continued success to you sir.
Storm Boy
Guest
Bernie. This is all well and good but the past is not today. The NRL is pushing down our throats that us fans owe it our club to become members. The inference is I am not a loyal supporter if don't step up from being a fan to being a member. For that I am asked to pay money to a club that makes money from a billion dollar tv deal and pays hundreds of thousands to individual footballers. The least the NRL can do in return is let clubs build up loyal players from juniors and long term players. I don't care to pay my hard earned $ to step up from being a fan to being a member if the NRL at the same time has a system to rip my club apart. Cam Smith nearly left but the whole process showed players are better off moving teams or switching codes than being loyal and helping to build a club I want to pay to be a member of.
Sleemo
Guest
Disagree. Stewart didn't have to sign those previous contracts, if he could have gotten a better deal elsewhere and wanted to go then it was up to him. I seem to recall he was in really high demand around 2008-2011. Just because he might have stayed for less at Manly doesn't mean that they are being disloyal to him by offering him a lesser deal now. Again it's up to him.
Sleemo
Guest
Haha an opinion based on no evidence, facts or anything rational at all really. Right. Good one.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
If there weren't any allowances for long-serving players, are there any naturally occurring financial benefits for keeping a player long term?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Loyalty only exists when it happens to coincide with both club and player. I don't have any problems with players changing clubs, mid-year, end of year or whenever. As long as they do their best on the field, then really, what is the problem?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I have no hassles with players negotiating and signing whenever they are able to. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I am under the assumption that fans actually buy all of these weird jerseys. If they didn't buy them, surely the clubs would have stopped making them?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I studied some marketing too and I agree with turbowed.
James T
Guest
If u want to be technical Menzies played for two clubs. Also Stewart is the perfect example of why there is no loyalty. Sign for less than your worth during the good times and the club tries to punt u when u start to fade. Players show loyalty, clubs generally don't
SAVAGE
Guest
No. Im just expressing an opinion. Like evryone else here.
Scrubbit
Guest
Although I suppose if they sign a secondary contract with the nrl stating that they are not allowed to negotiate with anybody or else (insert consequence/s) it could work. Like becoming a free agent so to speak.
Sleemo
Guest
I said this below, but in my view...if the club is honest with him as to their situation, and make him the best offer possible in light of their salary cap situation and his standing within the club and game (i.e. balances those two things appropriately) and tell him their position early enough for him to have a look around if he feels another club is best for him, then in my view they have shown a good amount of loyalty. It's been reported that they haven't offered him a deal in seven months - I highly doubt that, I believe they would have offered him one. Whether it suits his desires is another thing entirely. If this is the case, then they've done the right thing. Bearing in mind that the club have today gone to the NRL to seek a Minichiello-type exemption or dispensation to keep him at the club...they're doing all they can in the circumstances. That, to me, is displaying loyalty.
Sleemo
Guest
I believe loyalty does exist to a certain extent...but lesser than it has been in decades past as professionalism has taken root. Some players will show more loyalty than others, but my point is we can no longer expect it. In my view a player like Glenn Stewart is an example...if he sees out his current contract with Manly but can't get the deal he wants from the club at the end of it and can get it from another club then he should be free to leave without being branded disloyal. If the club is upfront and honest with him about the situation and make him an offer that reflects his standing in the game and the club along with their salary cap situation, and do their absolute best to source TPAs to buff up the deal for such good servants, then they too can be considered to be loyal. At the end of the day it's the player's choice. However in the case of players who break contracts, seek to induce their clubs to break their contracts or claim "compassionate grounds" as an excuse to simply get out of their current deal and play somewhere else...in my view, those are acts of disloyalty.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Sleemo, that is the whole point. We keep hearing of players disloyalty but what about clubs? We often hear of players wanting to play out their career with their club only to have the club get rid of them. Loyalty is a two way street but the press seems to hammer the player only.
Sleemo
Guest
Agreed. And look how that's working out for Benji? Has hardly set the world on fire since making the switch and I think he's been dropped again for this weekend.
Sleemo
Guest
As a Manly supporter, my view is as follows. I love Glenn Stewart. I really hope we can hang on to him. He's been a great servant to the club and he is a tremendously underrated player who has consistently come up with the goods for us. A key player since our 2007 GF season no doubt and one who should have played a lot more rep footy. HOWEVER...he is 30 years old. He'll be 31 by the time the 2015 season kicks off. He has shown in the past two seasons that he's becoming more susceptible to injury. He is a great player and deserves a good contract, one better than most backrowers in the league, but if he wants top dollar then sadly for him he needs to understand that Manly can't afford to pay him that. It has been reported that Manly haven't offered him a deal - I highly doubt that, I believe they would have offered him a contract, but maybe not one as lucrative as he hopes. If he can understand Manly's situation and accept it, and is willing to take a bit less to stay and play with his mates for the only first-grade club he's ever known, then he should stay. If he can't do that, then as a supporter I would wish him all the best when he departs to his new club. Whether or not Manly retain Glenn Stewart isn't the biggest issue in the whole situation, I believe. That to me is the fact that Manly apparently also have to contend with the thinly-veiled threat by Matai that a bunch of the senior players are angry that Manly might have to let Glenn go and will leave the club if that transpires. The players mentioned or alluded to are Matai himself, Foran, Watmough, King and Brett Stewart. These players will be aged 30, 24, 31, 33 and 30 respectively when season 2015 kicks off. I'm not sure if Matai accurately speaks for these blokes but with the exception of Foran it's an incredibly brave act of brinkmanship on their part if they want to go down this path. The reason I say this? Matai at his age and with his injury record, after his contract expires at the end of next year I doubt Manly will offer him a great deal and he might well be leaving anyway. Watmough the club would like to keep when his contract runs out at the end of the year, but at his age his best days are most likely behind him and if he leaves it wouldn't be ideal but it wouldn't be the worst possible thing. King is also off-contract after this season and would likely have to accept a reduced deal to stay - at his age, with his injury and suspension record (and despite his form in the two matches played so far this year) the club would be readily preparing for his departure. B Stewart - a great player but not who he once was and with his injury record, and the fact that the club has a couple of ready-made replacements (Hiku and Gutherson, with Ben Farrar also at the club I believe) if he leaves, Manly would not be happy at first but would be able to cover - look how good Hiku has been since making his debut last year. Foran is the only one of the players in the "keep Gifty or we'll walk" brigade who I believe the club must do their utmost to retain. I would love to keep all of these players but it's a task of list management for the Sea Eagles and if some players threaten to leave because Gifty might depart, the club can't let this cloud their judgment of what is a serious long-term issue. If losing Gifty means losing the others as well and presenting the chance to give the squad a regeneration, I'm all for it. If keeping him means breaking the bank and losing DCE, Foran, Ballin or any of the other younger, key players, I would prefer he left...even if the foreshadowed exodus eventuates. The last thing I and probably most other supporters want is to have a good year this year but then decline over the next 2-3 (as we will when age catches up to the group of key, core players who have so far managed to defy it) and lose the players anyway, and have a barren few years a la the early 2000s again. The ideal? Glenn stays for another couple of seasons on a reduced deal, we can keep the young up-and-coming backrowers and he and Watmough can mentor them over the next season or two, and over 2015-2017 these senior players gradually retire and pass the baton onto generation next. But hey, that's just a dream... Like I said above, whatever will be will be. Let's just hope it's best for the club and the players involved.
Sleemo
Guest
Got any evidence to back that up champ?
Sleemo
Guest
Nope, that is why they have managed to hold on to five or six key players over the past 7 years. They want to stay there and have taken pay cuts to do so. What a great culture. Glenn Stewart might leave but that's in the club's hands - either they've made him an offer or will have, and having received that offer it's his call what to do with it. He's shown tremendous loyalty to stay for so long and if he leaves, as a supporter I would have no problems with that whatsoever and wish him the best. We've certainly got the best years out of him. If his teammates seek to break their contracts out of protest at him leaving, however, that is something I would be incredibly disappointed with. A very petulant act and one that won't really achieve much (let's face it, if all of the senior players close to Glenn chose to leave Manly out of protest I doubt they'd all end up at the one club). Whatever will happen will happen I suppose.