The recent news that Sisa Waqa will be playing for the Canberra Raiders next year was heartbreaking for Melbourne Storm fans.
He is a fan favourite and as much as I hate to say it, it is clear as to why he would leave. Financial security was key and Melbourne knew it. They released him early, as he was initially contracted until the end of the 2015 season.
I’m frustrated and disappointed about announcements that players at your club will not be with you next season coming mid-season. While this is nothing new, as a fan it is starting to take its toll.
As fans we are meant to barrack for and love the team, not the individuals, but this is getting harder and harder to do when there appears to be a constant revolving door of players in and out of clubs.
The personalities of those players make you either love or hate a team.
Waqa is a great player for the Storm and was a vital member of their 2012 premiership winning team. I will miss watching him charge down the wing, taking sky-high grabs and diving over for game changing tries in purple.
You can’t hate a player for wanting to maximise their money making potential, and that is not what my problem is. It is the culture the NRL has around player signings. There are very few professional sporting codes around the world that announce player signings while that player is still competing for an opposing team and is in the middle of a push for finals glory.
When a player signs with another team I find myself not cheering for that player as much. If they don’t want to be with us next season, why should we want them to be with us in the present?
Maybe this one hurts more because the ‘Flying Fijian’ was my favourite player. Or maybe it’s because I’m sick and tired of clubs raiding other clubs lists for talent that they grew and deserve to reap the benefits of. Instead these players get offers that they simply can’t resist and off they go, often with their best football ahead of them.
Keeping Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk was a huge battle, and it is clear other potential stars will leave the Storm.
I would love to see the NRL take a stand and not allow clubs to release details of future signings. I understand this may not be a high priority for them at the moment, but I know many fans who are strongly against the current system.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
In Snowden's case he led the Sharks up the garden path ,til the last minute.The club was of the opinion they had him signed sealed and delivered,and were trumped.How the hell could they keep it under the counter with Tinkler dealing the cards..
AdelaideWill
Guest
I think it was worse when clubs couldn't announce signings but the media would endlessly talk about a player being "linked to (insert club name)". Fans would spend all season having the media saying one thing and the clubs saying nothing. Case in point was Kade Snowden leaving the Sharks
AdelaideWill
Guest
And Slater who couldn't get a start in the lower grades with the Cowboys and moved to Melbourne to start his career.
AdelaideWill
Guest
The Storm lose players because you have the Australian Halfback, Fullback and Hooker in your team.
Storm Boy
Guest
We'll have 17 take the field every week in purple. Thats all that matters. #purplepride
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
I wish him the best of luck, but it definitely hurts to see him go. He will always be a favourite Storm player of mine.
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
I understand your viewpoint 100%, but I was not focusing on just Melbourne when I was talking about young talent being raided. I'm aware this happens to every team that puts in the time to develop their youngsters.
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
Maybe you should re-read The Roar's tagline. I believe it is 'The Roar, your sports opinion' And yes, opinions are not news, but then again, this appears to be a site focused on opinions of sports fans. Also, the person 'spouting' this article fully understands problem with mid-season signings.
Kayne Browne
Guest
The quality (and the point of) The Roar is dropping beyond words. Opinions are not news and opinions are pointless when the person spouting them doesn't seem to understand the topic they have chosen to talk about.
Tobias Zulaikha
Roar Rookie
Agree with your comments Hayley, I'm not a fan of such early signings either and believe the NRL should prioritise establishing a better system for both players and clubs as well as supporters.
Don
Roar Rookie
Cowboys fans will realise what a great signing they have made when Tautau gets a full off season under his belt and starts a year fully fit. He is a freak.
Matt
Guest
I think it's a bit rich for Storm fans to complain about their squad, or more particularly players they've developed, being 'raided'. This is essentially what they did to build the success they've enjoyed over the past 8 years. They went out and cherry-picked the best 18-19 year old kids on the east coast and brought them through the NRL. Clubs like Canberra, Wests Tigers, Penrith & Parramatta have a bit more to complain about, as they have kids in their system from age 12+, and then when they are about to reach first grade, clubs like Melbourne come in and give them an offer they can't refuse. Case-in-point is Ryan Hoffman, who was developed through the Wests Junior League in Campbelltown, then Melbourne came in and chucked money at him that WT couldn't match. And unfortunately the mid-season issue will continue, it's just part of the business of the game. Players will come and go between clubs, and honestly I don't think it makes a huge difference whether their departure is announced mid-season or at the end. The only problem is with the player's attitude and commitment, and they know what they're doing even if it's not publicly announced or not.
Fairy fairfax
Roar Rookie
I agree with you and, to some extent, Daniel. I look at the fact that all players are fully professional which makes them eminently available for a trade set-up whereby the various clubs dicker and trade their players to and fro. (Yes, like an auction. ) They cannot be professional and loyal at the same time. Either be loyal and accept the pay package offered, or be a pro and go.
Josh Allerton
Roar Guru
Try lose Tautau Moga first :'(
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Personally, I think the NRL needs to introduce some sort of transfer fee system. It's just unconscionable that some clubs can develop talented players, then have to watch those same players turning out for someone else with no financial compensation.
Richard the third
Guest
The solution lies in a process that rewards loyalty. Instead of a marquee system, a club that has a player that debuts for that club and is still there after 5 years ought to have a percentage of their salary discounted towards the cap. That % should increase for every year that player continues to play at that one club thus a player will become increasingly more valuable to the club where he debuts than at any other club. This should apply to not one player but every player for whom the criteria applies. That might not have kept Waqa at Melbourne but it would mean that keeping smith/cronk/slater et al wouldn't be so expensive and would leave space within the cap to help keep players like widdop and waqa.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
This seems like a bit of a non-issue to me. It can be disappointing to see one of your favourites sign with another club midseason, but exciting to know your club is getting a new marquee next year. It's also exciting to see a young up and comer get a start somewhere else if there is no room for them at the current club. It has never once made me decide not to watch a game. In fact, it makes me more excited to watch when these players face their old clubs for the first time.
Banana man
Guest
Melbourne signed koro from the tigs not even a month ago that tells me waqa was not in the future plans of the storm. blind Freddie can see that from a mile away!! Sorry that you liked him but be it mid season end of season or start it's clear either way he was going to be shown the door as soon as they found a better option!
jg
Guest
Cmon Hayley, this is now a late season signing :^)
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If Duffie had been fit.Waqa would not have made 1st grade.Players in all sports come and go,whether it be mid season,end of year.It's the price you pay for professionalism. The Sharks have lost young up and comers like Lichaa & Peacheyof late,the production line continues and we all have to get on with life. Do I like it? No not at all,but I accept it.IMO I would rather players go to another club than another code,that to me leaves a bit of a bad taste..