He famously demanded an investigation into the standard of NRL refereeing and now Geoff Toovey is calling on the league to address the growing issue of player burnout.
After seeing up to a dozen Test players scratch themselves from Australia’s unsuccessful Four Nations campaign and handing two of his own stars desperately-needed breaks, Toovey said sooner rather than later the NRL needed to acknowledge enough was enough.
Toovey said the heavy scheduling nowadays made it unrealistic – if not impossible – for Manly to offer battered playmakers Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans the same 10 weeks’ R & R that South Sydney have granted superstar fullback Greg Inglis.
Inglis played 34 games in an exhausting 2014, including five Tests, three State of Origin matches for Queensland and scoring the final try of the NRL season in South Sydney’s drought-breaking grand final win over Canterbury.
Cherry-Evans was burdened with a similar workload representing club, state and country, while New Zealander Foran also played close to 30 matches in 2014.
But with pre-season trials and the Nines tournament to consider, Toovey said he didn’t have the luxury to rest the Sea Eagles’ influential halves for much longer than a month or so.
“I think they’ve got in their contracts up til Christmas,” Toovey said.
“But the issue is that we start playing football – the Nines is on at the end of January – and a couple of trials and we’re straight into it.
“So there’s not much time to recoup and get back on board for another tough season.”
As a premiership-winning captain with Manly in 1996 – while juggling his day job as an accountant – and a modern-day grand final coach in 2012, Toovey has seen first-hand how the game has evolved so intensely.
He believes the issue of player burnout is getting to the point of needing urgent attention.
“You saw that with the Four Nations, the Australian team missing several key players,” Toovey said.
“But that’s the nature of the beast. The more football they want out of the players, then the less you’re going to see them.
“Three years in a row, I think, there’s been something after every season.
“So I think all the different bodies got their share and maybe clubs have got to get together and realise that there’s only so much that you can get out of a player every year and it’s getting to its limit.”
Manly captain Jamie Lyon last month re-signed with the Sea Eagles in a deal that will extend his 260-game NRL career, that began in 2000 with Parramatta, until the end of 2016.
The 32-year-old partly attributed his longevity to retiring from Origin football in 2010 and said he empathised with the likes of Inglis and company who are finding the physical and mental grind taxing.
“It’s always hard for the rep guys, asking them to back up and play at the toughest level there,” Lyon said.
“So I suppose (retiring from Origin) probably helped me in the long run.
“It’s a tough game and even backing up and that sort of thing, it’s tough on the body.
“It’s a hard sport. It’s gruelling.”
Storm Boy
Guest
Ban all NRL training & weights from grand final day until Jan 1. That would fix the problem. Three months off work.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
In a smoothly run world all of these events would be held under the one banner, be it the RLIF, NRL, RFL/Super League, ARL or whoever, thereby eliminating the political and administrative hurdles. As it stands, finding a way to convince all of these seemingly disparate parties that they would actually benefit from change is the main stumbling block.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
That's a pretty good point. Another question is whether players will want to play on the other side of the country where nearly every match is a 4 hour plane trip back and forth. Or if small market teams (cowbies, raiders, or knights to name a few) will be able to attract anyone to their teams due to no draft while competing against two Brisbane sides, Perth, melbourne, and a host of Sydney options. I don't think these will prove to be the case but they are viable worries. There's no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to the sporting business.
woodart
Guest
many of the early season games could be missed by the stars to give them a break and give some of the younger players more experience. with the current points system, teams are losing quite a few early season games and still comfortably getting into the final eight, proof that the nrl season is too long with meaningless games.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Canberra's problem is not that there aren't enough talented players, it's that talented players don't want to play for them. Quality won't take a dip if we add extra teams.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I'm not sure how increased player pools solve the problem. How does the club decide when to rest the 'burnt out' players? Surely the club would want to play its first XIII as often as possible. Also fans want to see superstars. Not second stringers. look what happens to attendances during origin.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It seems like the NRL and broadcast partners want to have the cake and eat it plus the cream and the cherry on top. The season finished mid November. The Auckland 9s start at the end of January. The indigenous all stars game is 14 Feb. Then three teams will be flying around the world for the so called world club challenge in early March. It's not much of an off season.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
If two more teams were put in the season could be shortened two matches for every team with 4 extra games still being played throughout the year. However the quality may take a slight dip with two more 25 man squads to cover with small market teams like canberra already struggling for first grade talent. Perth would open up a whole new market for the NRL and a second Brisbane team would tighten RLs grip on the city and maybe bring back the butt hurt BRL supporters. Not sure how we would combat a dip in quality though.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
To look at DCE, 26 games for Manly, plus finals, SOO and 4 Four nations games, That is a lot of football. What do we do? Johnno suggested a larger player pool per club, an increase in the salary cap but where would the money for the increase come from? There's the rub. Increase the number of teams and play two 10 team divisions, full home and away. That is ten games a week so there may be support for this from the broadcasters. The top four from each division compete in the eight team finals as is the case now. This reduces the season from 26 games and allows for SOO weekends and an international window.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Deep down I think you're right max. As I've said before on here, it was only a couple of years ago that some players were seeking permission to play Japanese rugby during the off-season. Where was all the 'burnout' then? Somehow I think if the players are well looked after financially, the burnout won't be such an issue.
Joel
Roar Rookie
20 NRL rounds plus the finals seems completely reasonable. I personally felt this year that the club season was way too long.
Harry
Guest
Pat They didn't do it every year and they weren't full time pros - they took 2 teams away and the midweek and even weekend games were second rate opponents.. Sometimes the home English club would rest star players so as to save them for the English comp...
maximillian
Guest
Ultimately it boils down to money. The NRL just signed a $1b deal so I doubt shortening the club season is realistic. Origin is also a big money spinner & ratings bohemoth so that isnt going anywhere. Internationals probably dont generate the same level of financial clout so they get pushed aside but I dont know if thats what is best for the growth of the game going forward. I really enjoy the internationals but in the cut throat world of professional sport where money is the root of all evil, Internationals dont generate as much for the powerbrokers so they are the games that are 1st on the chopping block when it comes to burn out.
Carlos
Guest
I totally agree though I would have the Pacific Cup and Origin at the conclusion of the NRL season.
pat malone
Guest
how did the players in the 80's play the same season with origin and tests then go on a kangaroo tour of 22 matches with no interchange and little play? they had a longer offseason to recover
Epiquin
Roar Guru
You're probably right SA. I honestly don't think fans would mind a slightly shortened club season if it meant we could have internationals and other rep games. I think we could even get away with a 22 round season.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Oh, I think the solution is simple enough: - 20 rounds NRL - mid season Pacific Cup with Origin - 4 weeks finals - 3 to 4 weeks Big Three tournament - 1 weekend World Club Series Implementin it, though, would require a bit more than we're used to.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
There's no simple solution to this. The demand is there for as much Rugby League as the fans can get. How can that be reconciled with the players need for rest. Could it just be a matter of paying them more money?
Johnno
Guest
Agreed players are burnt out. Simple solution is larger full-time playing squads, 3-5 per team, not less games. -Less games means less revenue, players can't have it both ways, less games less $. -Larger playing squads will require the salary cap to be increased, or lowering the current NRL minimum wage whatever that has been agreed with the players association. -The NRL won't scrap it's SOO cash cow, nor will it cut back Test-footy anymore, as it has brought in some good cash.