Much has been made of the pay packets received by State of Origin representatives.
The lure of the big money is often given as one of the reasons why many athletes choose to play for ‘their state’ rather than their country or heritage.
In order to encourage players with multiple national options to not choose State of Origin, reasonable financial incentives need to be made available.
The current Origin deal sees its players paid something like $30,000 per match. With 34 players over two teams involved, player payments come to just more than $1 million per game.
Contrast these figures with that of Test football where representative players for the Big Three – Australia, England and New Zealand – currently receive something in the order of $40,000 per Test match.
In the current Four Nations tournament involving two of those teams, a match would see payments totalling $1,360,000. But where does Samoa fit into all of this? What financial recompense is available for the qualifying fourth team?
To take it a step further, what incentive is there to even make oneself available for such a team? Pride?
Sure, there is that. But Australian players, for example, receive decent enough recompense for their pride. It hardly seems fair to have the players of the other competing nations earn a packet while the remaining team’s players earn pennies.
Is it because these lower-tiered nations are riding off of the hard work of the Big Three? Tell the Samoans that they haven’t earned their keep this tournament.
In this day of business and success driven professionalism, it is naive to expect people to run on empty. Pride will only take you so far before reality hits. People have bills to pay and lives to lead. This requires money.
Is it any wonder then that a player will make himself available for a state of Australia when the opportunity to earn $30,000 to $90,000 is on offer?
It is, of course, disingenuous to suggest that they are somehow greedier than other players. One can hear it now, ‘He is only doing it for the money!’ Well, of course he is. Like everyone else who isn’t a millionaire, he needs it.
One often overlooked fact that musn’t be forgotten is that State of Origin is a regular series, played each and every year. This means that players can count on the fact of these matches being played. In other words, if he makes it a player will get his money. That is a powerful and practical incentive.
This same incentive needs to be made available for international tournaments. This could be the Four Nations or even a Three Nations featuring two of the Big Three and a lower-tiered qualifier.
Whatever the path, as long as it is regular, it can provide a guaranteed income pathway for lower-tiered nations to strive towards. Players would no longer only have Origin football to aim for.
Regular international events, providing a guaranteed income pathway for lower-tiered nations, might just be the ticket to help encourage international eligible players away from the lure that is Origin.
Doing so would only help realise the potentially brighter future that is Test football.
shaw
Guest
In fact it has turned me off state of origin after tamou played I won't be watching the series once had a real feel to it
shaw
Guest
Tamou is one of the biggest turncoats in world sport aus and nsw should be embarrased to pick him .he'd be up there with the Brazilian soccer player that plays for Spain in football .these are true turncoats that you don't want young kids looking up too
shaw
Guest
State of origin has no credibility these days too many not from either state it's gay
maximillian
Guest
There was an article in the herald in NZ yesterday lamenting the pay disparity between Samoa & the big 3 which was interesting. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=11355618 Samoas starting 17 get $1000 per match & the non-playing members get nothing! The Samoan team have a gentlemans agreement that they will split the money equally among the whole 24 man squad so everyone at least gets paid. The Kangaroos and Kiwis receive $10,000 for each of the group games, another $10,000 if they make the final and an additional bonus of $10,000 per player if they take the trophy. The Samoan players have earned just over 2K each for this tournament whereas NZ/Australian players have earned 30K each so far. Add to that the 90K players have earned from Origin & its natural for players with dual eligibility to allign with a side from the big 3 as opposed to representing a nation of their heritage,
mushi
Guest
You've written some hyperbolic nonsense in your quest to dismantle Origin but come on. Between this and the ridiculous assertion that one observation is enough to establish a trend you've proven yourself to be an articulate writer that is unfortunately incapable of actual analysis. Look at "all stars" concepts around the world and then juxtapose it with the intensity of origin. I would struggle to believe that even someone as inherently biased and incapable of objective thought as your self would still believe them to be of the same ilk. Even if you could smear the lens of reality to get it to a justifiable point the same classification would simply apply to international matches as well making its use as derisive term redundant in your argument.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Where players are born and grow up is completely relevant to a discussion on what motivates players to align themselves to which countries. I’d say where you’re from would sit well above where your grandparents are from in the list of influencing factors. Given the makeup of the Australian squad and the fact that the Samoan squad is already jam packed with Australian and New Zealand born and bred talent which is why they’ve managed to be pretty competitive during this tournament- this whole thing really is this week’s biggest non-event.
Broadly Speaking
Guest
The selection policies that apply to Internationals can also be either the "Grandparents Rule" (remember Nathan Fein) or "Residency Period" (remember Nathan Fein). I think using only place of birth statistics does not accurately represent the number of players choosing to play for one country over another or even choosing to play State of Origin. Besides SoO has never used place of birth regarding selections anyway, so it may be blowing a bit of smoke about (and the shifting of mirrors) to use this data to make a point about 'myths'. I would like to think that Jason Taumololo would attract and lift other players around him if he chose to stick with Tonga no matter how much I would like to see him play for Qld under the residency rule! Wouldn't Samoa be a very different proposition if Sonny Bill Williams was playing for them and not for NZ (or even NSW under the grandparent rule)??? NRL players' decisions have huge implications on international teams and I reckon player payments have a huge influence on these decisions....... Besides I personally believe the NRL have obligations and a responsibility to strengthen international football. If the NRL is to become a real national competition then we need more players from other countries playing here in Australia, NZ and also in the PNG and Fijian teams in the Qld and NSW comps. Sterlo says one reason for not having more NRL clubs is that there is not enough NRL level talent available to spread across into any new teams, so isn't It logical that every NRL club will have more high quality players to choose from if every player have more opportunities to 'TEST' themselves. If player payments were equalised and the international games schedule was more equitable, then we should see more quality Rugby League played around the world, but it may be too much for the NRL/ARL/QRL/NSWRL to think about anyone else but themselves..........
Rob9
Guest
Further to this, I don't believe the NRL should be spending it's money to pay a bunch of Australian and New Zealand players (who already get paid by the 100's of thousands by their clubs) to represent Samoa.
duecer
Guest
That much is very true, but it has strengthened the domestic competition via the countless millions in broadcasting rights. There is no way they will ever give that up and it's not really up to the NRL to worry about the international scene.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Can you not see that it doesn’t appear that money is the primary motivation when players are deciding what country to represent? Australian born and bred players representing Australia on mass... shock/horror. What’s wrong about this and how can money even be seen to be a factor? Pay everyone equally and play international RL more often- can I suggest that the squads of 24 in this 4 nations tournament would remain exactly the same under such conditions.
Basil B'borgnay
Guest
it's just reminiscing for the days of the all-white ocker policy!!
Peeeko
Guest
For this the tournament needs to pay players, not the countries. I don't know if countries should be subsidizing others
Peeeko
Guest
How come people are all trying to find a way for players of Samoan heritage to play for them. Why do people not want players of English, Italian and Lebanese descent to do the same
Peeeko
Guest
Rob, I was going to comment but you said everything I wanted to say.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I've requested player payment information from the RLIF. Not sure if they'll reply but here's hoping.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
My premise is that if you equalise tounament pay AND hold them as regularly as Origin is held, you eliminate money as a primary motivation when deciding which nation to represent. There is more potential for growth with Test football than there is with Origin. With international markets and money a real possibility, it would seem to me to be a sound business investment. As I've stated before, I don't begrudge any athlete for choosing whatever nation they are able to. A multi-national/heritage world is the norm for many, many people. My view on the legitimacy of a national team is this: a nation being represented by somebody is better than not being represented by anybody. The NRL acts as a kind of surrogate mother for many nation's players. Given how rugby league has evolved, I consider this to be a reasonable and practical approach. I hope that is a well enough reply to your post.
Mike from Tari
Guest
Before you go on about the disparity with what players from different nations get paid to play for their Country perhaps you can tell us the financial set up of this 4 Nations then we might have a better idea of your argument.
Rob9
Guest
Take your time SA. Big ups for your passion and the respectful and thoughtful way you go about defending and explaining your opinion.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's a reply that deserves a decent response. But at the moment I can't think of what to say. Give me a day or two to reply.
pjm
Roar Rookie
No they shouldn't be demanding, loyalty shouldn't be demanded. The players are acting like mercenaries and while I'm fine with that don't expect any sympathy.