Yes, it’s a punch to the stomach. James Tedesco has left the Wests Tigers for the Canberra Raiders.
James Tedesco showed the kind of brilliance earlier in the season to suggest that, injuries notwithstanding, he was ready to become the one of the game’s next great fullbacks.
He seemed like the kind of player to build a championship team around. When Tigers fans pondered a future of Luke Brooks and James Tedesco combining for try after try, it must have created a warmth in the solar plexus.
Now that solar plexus is caved in, and the club’s leader, Grant Mayer, is saying some strange things as he writhes around on the canvas, gasping for air.
He said that his club would ‘stop developing juniors’ if the NRL didn’t step in and do something.
Really, Grant? Just so I’m clear, you’re saying you can’t compete with bigger bids for your players, therefore you’re going to stop doing the very thing, outside of buying players, that allows your team to have a chance of winning?
How does Grant Mayer expect to compete if he’s happy to admit the club can’t match bids from other teams for his elite players? Just stop developing talent like Luke Brooks, Tim Simona, Curtis Sironen, Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods and then… what?
Trot out a bunch of park footballers?
Grant, if you thought your club couldn’t compete financially now, imagine what it will look like when your team is a perennial wooden spooner, devoid of talented youngsters, playing in front of 34 people at Campbelltown.
Dave Smith wouldn’t stand for that for too long. The Tigers would quickly become the darlings of the NSW cup.
But let’s not take Grant’s mini-tantrum as the final word on this topic. Mayer said he couldn’t match Canberra’s offer for Tedesco. Okay, that must mean that the club’s cap is filled due to payments to other stars. The roster must be literally chock-a-block with them, 1 through 25.
Googling right now, hang with me.
Okay… Robbie Farah. Yes. Absolutely. Truly one of the game’s elite dummy halves and worth every penny of whatever he’s on.
Aaron Woods? Still young, probably not on a giant contract but will be worth good money when renewal time comes around.
Hang on. There must be more elite players clogging up the Tigers payroll, making it impossible for them to have shelled out the extra seasonal hundred grand it would have taken to match the Raiders’ offer.
Of course, how could I forget: Benji Mar-
Forgive me. He’s being overpaid by a different team.
I hope the point’s becoming clear. Before Grant Mayer begins to throw proverbial stones at the current system (which clearly isn’t perfect), he might want to look at how his club is prioritising its spending.
Mayer has locked up most of his young talent, which is commendable, but with the exception of Luke Brooks, none of that talent has made the impact at the elite level that Tedesco managed in the first few rounds of the season.
Spending on young players with potential is important. Spending significantly more for young players who are already performing at an elite level? More important.
Somewhere, somehow, Grant Mayer made some mistakes in how he apportioned his club’s player finances. Before we begin to look at possible changes to the current free agency system, he might want to reflect on how this whole shemozzle could have had a better ending for his club.
krayola
Guest
Burbank, Mayer inherited a number of bad contracts from the previous CEO Humphreys that have the club limited cap wise for a number of seasons. Moltzen has another two years to run, as with Lawrence (extended for 3 years AFTER the hip injury), and Blair on big $ for another year after this. They still pay some of Bryce Gibbs and Heighingtons salary at the Sharks. Fark, they still pay Anasta to 'play' or whatever he does for them. Marshall was little of the cap issue and it's been well documented that the money from that was kept to retain juniors. Surely u were aware of most of the above as a league writer? So to take Mayer to task for his management in that regard is absurd. Yes, he could have not signed Sironen, Nofoaluma, Brooks or Moses but they all clearly wanted to stay so no point to keep them waiting any longer. Maybe he shouldn't have signed Gavet or Tapau or Richards but they all seem to be playing quite well last time I checked! You asked people why they disliked your article - for me, you haven't done your research and have attacked a fairly easy target unfairly. Also your humorous comments about the club potentially fielding a wooden spoon roster come off as snarky. IMO salary cap realities, NRL shortsightedness and a player choosing money over loyalty (not always the bad thing people portray it as) are to blame for Tedesco leaving, not the CEO. He is a small part of a much bigger issue.
Tigered
Guest
Tedesci has no loyalty if he turned down 450k per year to stay with his best friends. Aaron woods has loyalty as he was offered the same difference of 100k more to go to manly. There you go it came down to loyalty and greed nothing else matters here. Benji and Robbie also stayed loyal to the tigers for less money. Tedescio and Mitchell Pearce are 2 marquee juniors that chose to leave the tigers for more money rather than loyalty . In my opinion it's pretty simple. Turning down 450k is simple greed.
Gappy
Guest
I believe the best way to fix this problem is a difficult one, my idea is if a player is a junior at the club and has come through the ranks his salary should be halved under the salary cap and to help retain long term players after 5 years in first grade (nrl) they should get 10% off the salary cap and add 10% every year. Example is say JT is on 500,000 per year after 5 years his salary under the cap 450,000 for the next year under the salary cap, then the next year he gets 20% off so 400,000 under salary cap and so forth. This would help clubs retain players what them to train players and get money into junior league. This also would be good for player like Lockyer, Johns and Hazem after 10 years at the one club the coming through as a junior their salary would be 25% of the money they earn under the cap 400,000 per year is only 100,000 under the cap. I know is a rough idea but could work with some more work.
Nathan
Guest
Yes, will, spot on mate. Firstly MG you mentioned tigers financial problems then go on about how they should have paid overs for a unproven superstar. I'm disappointed he's gone but happy we didn't throw large cash at him. Tigers recruitment and retention of players can be very ordinary but let's not make assumptions about what we don't know. You applaud them for retaining young talent then fail to calculate it when assessing their spending. You can't count players on your hand and work out there cap situation? Lets be honest he's played a handful of good games that's it! He's very very injury prone and the raiders are desperate. If he has another major injury next year that could be it. If so the tigers made a great move. Take grant mayers comment for what I was and that's a cry for help. The nrl does need to address player retention. Weather it be from rival codes or making more one club players fix it. Not a great artical. if you wanted to make your point you could have used facts like how tigers have managed or neglected to managed previous contracts. Like moltzen, paying overs for Blair, paying players under there contract whilst at other clubs. Rather than making presumptions and reading into things to make a drama. Oh that's your job...
Nathan
Guest
Yes, will, spot on mate. Firstly MG you mentioned tigers financial problems then go on about how they should have paid overs for a unproven superstar. I'm disappointed he's gone but happy we didn't throw large cash at him. Tigers recruitment and retention of players can be very ordinary but let's not make assumptions about what we don't know. You applaud them for retaining young talent then fail to calculate it when assessing their spending. You can't count players on your hand and work out there cap situation? Lets be honest he's played a handful of good games that's it! He's very very injury prone and the raiders are desperate. If he has another major injury next year that could be it. If so the tigers made a great move. Take grant mayers comment for what I was and that's a cry for help. The nrl does need to address player retention. Weather it be from rival codes or making more one club players fix it. Not a great artical. if you wanted to make your point you could have used facts like how tigers have managed or neglected to managed previous contracts. Like moltzen, paying overs for Blair, paying players under there contract whilst at other clubs. Rather than making presumptions and reading into things to make a drama. Oh that's your job...
Andrew Bennison
Guest
Mayer also needs to explain why he was so happy to pay 400k a year for mate Benny Elias' nephew before the kid has even played 1st grade. Tedesco has been treated like garbage I hope the board have a look at what really went on. The best Wests Junior in 10 years and we are happy to let him go. Shame on you Grant Mayer
h3x
Guest
Will are you serious about Manly? The last big name player they bought was Jamie Lyon in 2007, thats 7 years of juniors or no name players running around for the club. I get your point but dont point your obviously old finger at Manly and blame them for stealing players 30 years ago LOL
mushi
Guest
Not kidding - we couldn't have fielded a decent side around SBW if we didn't have a bunch of one club guys playing first grade on sub market contracts.
George Walton
Guest
Will, you mention that the panthers and penrith are developing juniors. Obviously a slip of the fingers there, but is there a 6th team you consider is developing juniors for the Roosters, and others?
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
Josh, please tell me where I'm wrong. Making a common sense point doesn't qualify a piece for 'worst article' rating. Easy to throw stones but I'd be more interested in hearing why you disliked the article so much.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
No, Will, not all over the place- just common sense. Your response deserves a reply, however- if for no other reason than to try to make sense of what you're saying. On the one hand you claim the club can't afford to pay the market price for Tedesco, yet on the other hand you're saying the Tigers could poach players if they stopped developing talent. Doesn't make sense. Also, if it's not a 'nil-sum' game, as you put it, then you're basically agreeing with me: Mayer could have used some of his development funds to keep Tedesco. Either way he stuffed up. The idea that it costs more to develop young players than it does to purchase an established player is patent nonsense. Really? Tedesco went to Canberra for $600k, correct? it costs six hundred thousand dollars a year to develop a player? Will, don't believe everything you hear. You mention that there are clubs that have figured this out and it reflects in their recruitment policy. There's only one club that regularly buys established stars without a junior base: the Roosters. If you know your league history (I grew up in the area), the club has not had a junior base for a long time, due to changing demographics. Who are the other clubs you're speaking of? Every other club has developed players up and down its roster from its feeder clubs, including the Storm. Regarding the NRL, please name one 'marquee player' they have 'thrown' money at. Zero. Dave Smith is in his early days on the job and junior development has been highlighted as a major priority by the new administration. This is an entirely different topic to a club's ability to retain its star juniors. Yes, the Raiders are using Tedesco as a marquee player. You say it's a risk 'after only 25 games'. Not a risk if the player is already proving to be an elite talent. The Tigers could have done the same. You say it would be irresponsible for the Tigers to spend beyond their means. Please tell me how much cap room they still have. I suspect not much. They ARE spending the money, just not in the right places. Of course they're not as wealthy as the Bulldogs or Broncos, but my point stands: they only have TWO Origin-level players right now: Woods and Farah. They really couldn't afford a third? The word is that Tedesco's manager got tired of dealing with them, because they weren't prepared to pay his client what he was clearly worth to another club. As for what this would have done to future player negotiations: THIS IS GRANT MAYER'S JOB. Every CEO has to deal with this - and it becomes a matter of priorities. I'd say that Mayer has his priorities wrong in this case. He'd better hope that the players he has retained make up for his mistake.
Redback
Guest
If its true that Proctor knocked back $700 to stay at the storm his manager should be sacked. I doubt bellamy will show him any loyalty if he has a bad spell. Players should look after themselves same as the clubs do. When a player is no longer wanted by their club even when they have a contract the club does everything they can to force them out. Players should take every cent they can whilst it lasts. Clubs dont need to foster juniors like they do. Contracting 15-18 year old kids and even as young as 12 because if or when they do make it. The kids will go where the money is. Its like buying 100 yearlings and hoping to get 1-2 good ones. Your better off buying 2 good ones at the sale. Its cheaper.
Knightblues
Roar Guru
Raiders looking pretty good for 15, Tedesco is a future Blue, Tigers should have offered him more sooner.
planko
Guest
David alot of Manly's team were not first graders when they got there. So were but most were not.
Adam Stone
Guest
As far as Mayer saying they stuck by James since 13 that is another lie. James wasn't signed till he was 17. He actually couldn't even make the rep sides at 14 as documented by Josh Massoud in his article form 2012. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/backyard-field-of-gold/story-e6frexnr-1226288194115
Adam Stone
Guest
Grant Mayer needs to be exposed for how he has treated Tedesco and his family. FACT - He offered James Tedesco less I said less money for next year than what he is on this year when negotiations started in March. FACT - Mayer promised James he would upgrade his offer once he offloaded players stupidly James took him at his word. After 2 months of waiting only an increase of 10k. FACT - Mayer told his staff James had been offered 500k a year when actually offered almost 200k less. FACT - Mayer was overheard saying " I don't know what everyone see's in Tedesco" FACT - Ricky Stuart returned a call to James' father. Grant Mayer did not
Ken
Guest
First grade debut != Junior. Many of the Roosters players were still poached from other systems, it just happened before they reached the top grade. Tupou for example has only played first grade for the Roosters but he played 2 years of NYC for Parra before that
Squidward
Roar Rookie
He shouldn't have gone. But great money. But he owed Wests for sticking by him during two knee blow outs, the current injury. Poor form by James. He could've even made money sticking with tigers and becoming a superstar working with and running off brooks. Canberra is a black hole
David
Guest
You are kididng yourself if you dont believe that your win was on the back of recruiting SBW, Maloney and Jennings. Surley no one really beleives that the fabled rooster juniors finnaly came of age.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
"Care also to comment on why other codes/comp find juniors so appealing that they have rules about accessing them but they are such a god damn burden on rugby league clubs?" This is a good point. The fact that NRL clubs DO NOT push for greater access to juniors would indicate that they see little value in developing young players, when the terms of the salary cap / third party deals allow them to just poach the finished product. If anything, it proves that the burden is falling too heavily on a few clubs.