Rugby league fans have become accustomed to players signing contracts for another club up to a season in advance of their current contract expiring.
They have also been exposed to players moving mid season to other clubs at any point in the season up until June 30, which for the fan of the club whose player has moved, has been negatively looked upon.
The big reason for such flexibility in allowing this type of player movement is that it is seen as an important player welfare issue both on and off the field, while giving the club flexibility to resolve roster issues.
However, this current off-season has seen the rise in the number of players being traded to other NRL clubs, the majority of which have one or even more seasons to go on their existing deal. This is replacing the traditional approach of signing a player who will remain at their club for the final year of their existing contract.
So much so, that when you analyse player movement of players moving between NRL clubs the growing trend is that the majority of 2015 player movements has occurred since the club’s season has concluded.
Of the 84 players moving between NRL clubs, 48 have moved since the end of their club’s playing commitments, which flies in the face of the player’s need to have time available for them to sort their affairs.
Players and clubs are breaking contracts at will as players posture to secure their futures while clubs manoeuvre to re-adjust their playing rosters and address urgent roster deficiencies. This season very rarely has a player moved from a club without that club having a ready made replacement (I think the Wests Tigers are the only club who have bucked that trend having released a plethora of players without making any meaningful replacements).
The trend of post season versus finalising player deals during the season is further magnified when you consider the high proportion of deals done for players to move to or from the Super League, rugby union or to second tier comps such as the Queensland and NSWRL Cup have also been chiefly done at the end of the season.
With such trends in place and the situation unlikely to change anytime soon, is it time for the NRL to consider the A-League policy of restricting player movement to the off season? Is it time for the introduction of a formal mid season window, which could take place around the State of Origin period which usually takes up eight weeks of the season?
This way it would limit (not eliminate) the scope of player movement speculation more so to specific periods. Actual moves could take place, thus giving fans more comfort around the surety of the players of the team they spend considerable amounts of money supporting.
Finally, would you be happy with this trend, rather than having to endure a player in your team playing their last season knowing that they are moving on?
I’m starting to warm to the immediate release trend as it avoids the heartache fans go through when following their favourite player at their current club.
I can think of nothing worse than seeing a player at your club playing with the knowledge that he has already secured his future before a ball has been kicked. Though Sam Burgess did recently win a premiership despite announcing his intent early in the season to move to rugby union.
In any case it’s only the beginning of December, and with half an off season to go, the player merry-go-round still has a long way to go before a ball is kicked in 2015. The need for more formal transfer periods may just be the way to go given these current trends.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Greener pastures meaning a better chance to play SOO and being closer to family. Not necessarily a better team, although the roosters did win it all in 13.
peeeko
Roar Guru
the warriors were in the GF in 2011 and the roosters finished 13th in 2012?
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Changes every day.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I thought Parra were signing Foran?
Casper
Guest
I get your point EJ, but you're mainly concerned because it's going to be happening to your team all next year with Foran & DCE as the main talking points for movement in 2016. I don't think they let it distract them this year, although DCE seemed to play injured for a fair bit of the season. Not sure how old you are but you have to remember that Manly had a long history as a predatory club grabbing top class players and running them around in the reserves. That's harder to do in the current NRL climate of a squad of 25 with the salary cap but some of us have long memories & don't forgive so easily. Anyway, I'm guessing that Foran will stay for big money & it's likely that DCE will go, but can't see the Broncos chasing him for the money he wants now that Bennett is there. Looks a good target for the Eels who must have money available in 2016. What would the off season be without player movement rumours!
mushi
Roar Guru
That's where I shake out. I personally don't care but it seems a lot do and the whole "brand" of sport is built around people caring so given it doesn't really have a huge impact either way give the fans what they want (it's like international league for me :) ), after all that's why the players and the clubs are paid right.
Jay C
Roar Guru
The players won't support any changes I don't think, as the players managers have got the current system pretty well tricked.
Pat Malone
Guest
I'm with you on this
The RiffMarn Stew Moses
Roar Guru
Great comparison between Maloney vs Burgess - there's a big difference when a player is leaving for greener pastures (eg Maloney) vs a player leaving for new challenges (eg S Burgess). I highly doubt Sam could bear to play against the Bunnies.
The RiffMarn Stew Moses
Roar Guru
I wouldn't be restrictive in regards to a window within the off season as such - I think the off season combined with a mid season window is more than satisfactory.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
I believe the game needs a transfer window. All those who stated negative points about the current set up I think have a point. Its no fun, and the excuses thrown up by those who are pro for it always fall short IMO. A transfer window is simply better while allowing all the needed contractual and player requirements of the former. Players should ultimately have to wait until the end of year. There's also a higher professional element to this all, from the code/clubs and the players themselves. A free for all is very sloppy.
up in the north
Guest
I reckon this is firmly in the NRLs court. I would prefer to have the rules back to what they uesd to be where players not registered at the start of the season can't change clubs. Basically if you want your manager to shop you around it's with the understanding that it won't be effective until next year. Or vice verse if the club want to part ways. It annoys the hell out of me the way that Manly for example had to go through all that garbage last year. All it does is sells newspapers, it doesn't make the game seem very professional.
AdelaideWill
Guest
but then we will get to sit through endless "Buzz Scoops" about unconfirmed players signing with lots of wink wink nudge nudge nah he hasn't "signed with the club". Thank you Craig Wing
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Sure, I get what you are saying but it still feels like a big nothing to me. Still, if enough people feel it is important then it obviously needs to be looked at. Go Glebe.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
From what I can gather Sleiman you are a fan of rugby league, rather than of an individual club. As such it is probably a little difficult for you to understand. But there is nothing worse than each and every day waking to read which club has made an offer to one of your players. It takes away from the enjoyment of the game. And you get situations like Maloney in 2011, who was one of the best halves in the game signing with the Roosters for the 2013 season. He then played out the 2012 season with the Warriors a shadow of his former self as his mind was elsewhere. Of course some players step up, Sam Burgess for instance, but ultimately it is the fans that suffer. Players should only be allowed to negotiate with other clubs in the off-season. I don't buy into the fallacy that players need the security of knowing where they are going the following year. They have near on 5 months to sort something out. That is plenty of time, and would keep the game in the spotlight over summer. Of course it wouldn't necessarily eliminate the rumours during the season, unless the NRL was to heavily fine clubs that approached players outside the off-season window. Meanwhile, as a Manly fan I get to look forward to 2015 and reading all about where DCE and Foran are possibly going. When all I should be worried about is them playing well for the club
Jay C
Roar Guru
I wasn't offended or anything, just letting you know why I supported the idea. I think it's more about controlling the news cycle than anything else. Which is actually something the NRL has improved on this year (Maybe 1 extra reason for the drawn out schedule, of which round 1 looks awesome!). Normally at this time of year NRL is nowhere to be seen. I think of James Tedesco and Anthony Milford and I think, if the shoe was on the other foot and we missed out because of shenanigans I would be disappointed.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
No, I didn't mean fuss as in you personally or anything like that. I just find the whole idea of a 'concern' over when a player signs to be strange. I don't get it. In my view, a player should be able to negotiate a contract and then sign it whenever he wants.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I haven't got a fuss Slei, I just found the last month really exciting as a Broncos fan. Like you could wake up any day and there could be huge news. It was pretty fun. One thing I would make a fuss over is the ability to renege on contracts up until round 13.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I'm a little bit mystified as to the fuss over when players sign.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Yeah, I would be all for a couple of transfer windows. November and maybe June. It is kind of exciting all these players coming and going, plus it keeps NRL ticking over on the sheets. When you know someone is coming for over a year it slowly erodes interest. Same as when you know someone is leaving, you aren't going to cheer as hard for them.