The game’s biggest signing of season 2015 might just have been done by the NRL’s CEO David Smith.
Bringing Shane Richardson from the premiership-winning Rabbitohs to head office has such great potential for our sport to really grow.
Super experienced in so many ways, Richardson brings plenty to the game’s ruling body and it’s hard to imagine anyone who could equal his possible contribution.
I am not aware of a public disclosure of his new job description but I sure hope it’s extensive and all-embracing so that we can get real solutions to some long-term problems.
His presence can offer so much in those many meetings and power-broking battles that arise every season.
Who else currently in those meets can boast his hands-on exposure to so many football club successes, and some failures too? The CEO and commissioners may make the biggest decisions but none can match Richardson’s knowledge nor his varied and likely different perspective.
David Smith has done well to bring him inside the tent and they would all do well to listen closely so that some perennial issues for our game can finally be addressed. Not to mention some huge directional calls that are likely to come over the footy horizon pretty quickly.
Like what?
The players’ association and its claims for the future have potential black cloud written all over it. Many other pro sports have ended up in court and even in player strike situations as they underwent rapid growth like our sport is doing right now. Some cool heads with strong resolve and great understanding of the game’s history, present and future will be needed at the table of negotiations. If that happens then just as possible is the opportunity to work in harmony with that association to achieve huge gains for rugby league.
From player welfare to financial considerations for individuals to clubs’ viability, the balance between perceived greed to every one getting a fair crack and the growth of the sport as a whole will need someone to lead it who truly understands all sides of the discussion.
Meanwhile, there is a serious division developing between NRL clubs.
Clubs with strong junior bases are getting tired of pouring money into development of players they have no control over when it comes time for those young players to become contracted and get a shot at the big time. It’s a free-for-all open market that seems very lopsided.
Some NRL clubs are looking for a leg-up at the expense of others as they feel they are doing more for future NRL players and other required high-performing personnel. Some clubs are seen to be doing almost nothing in terms of this important grass-roots development, and by not incurring development expenses, these clubs can spend their share of the TV-money pie on their NRL team.
Some clubs are spending a million dollars a season on a head coach, while others can afford as little as a quarter of that! That says a lot about the difference in ability to offer their players quality preparation.
Souths, awash with money these days, are sending select players to Arizona for professional preparation unavailable here. Other clubs are staying in caravan parks and calling it a training camp – it’s all they can afford.
Last time NRL clubs squabbled we had a disaster called Super League. Many individuals profited big time from that but the game itself was ripped off and brought to its knees with so much money wasted. We can do without any sort of repeat of a civil war.
Then the annual arguments about the on-field issues need to be fought out and resolved. How the game’s rules and interpretations should be determined and who should be doing that is still an ugly component for the NRL administration. There are way too many people sick of hearing “if it’s good for Wayne it’s good for the game”.
And of course the actual NRL competition itself: how many matches should be played in the season, clashing with Origin, international programmes and the odd argument about the NYC competition, All Stars and Nines.
Shane Richardson will be very busy but he’s the best person in our game to sort that important stuff out. He won’t sort it all out before lunch on his first day, but given time, support and the ears of the big wheels, he’ll get there.
On the playing front, Feleti Mateo may turn out to be the best acquisition of the 2015 season. His talents coupled with Manly’s attacking style seem like an ideal match.
But more about that stuff next week!
Russell Johnson
Guest
Cooooo, really insightful and helpful stuff there! Monsieur Joubert. Argument + counter argument + how much of it all can actually be put together so it works whereas the glib anecdotal bit serves no one's interest least of all RL!
Russell Johnson
Guest
I'm just hoping things on both sides of the globe are finally taking us out of the myopic straight jacket that has held us back for the more or less the whole history of the game. And I think Shane may be a part of that logical and necessary change!
Russell Johnson
Guest
Well said AG047 it's a complete change of culture from fans to hierarchy if you want RL to thrive and be the sporting icon it should always have been!
Russell Johnson
Guest
It's not about being smart (or insulting) but focussing on what RL fans are like in posts and threads and it's not a record to be proud of or defend like you have a moral high ground to back you up!
Russell Johnson
Guest
Don't be silly- be argumentative and provide counter ideas and evidence and prove your case! Not about me or you it's about RL! ;-)
Russell Johnson
Guest
Touchy?
Pot Stirrer
Guest
How many juniors would be running around in the Raiders district ? I would think at least 5000 over all the age groups which equates to $150.00 player. Doesnt equal development in my books.
The Eye
Guest
Well,the bottom 5th side is often in the scramble for 8th.Dragons crazily enough were 2 points out last year..pre-season bottom 4,too right ?...Storm,Souths and Manly look as vulnerable as they've ever looked...having a better than good reserve grade is now essential..Roosters,Dogs,Panthers,Knights and Sharkies are very well stocked so don't need to pray as hard..Tigers should be in church as we speak..
Muzz
Guest
I haven't heard that one MAX.Last Manly rumour doing the rounds was DCE to the Broncos 2016 and Merrin to Manly. I think where about to make the news again but for the wrong(punch on) reasons
MAX
Guest
He has signed with Manly and taken Sir Tony Abbott with him replacing DCE to Bondi and KF to Belmore. Part of the deal(s) ... no knighthoods.
MAX
Guest
Hi Muzz, PP Penrith Panthers SR Shane Richardson SS South Sydney JP James Packer GG Gus Gould It seems JP's generosity helped both Penrith and Souths . There were reports that JP may not see eye to eye with JG. Whilst you are there any news on DCE to your mob?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Is Sir Prince Phillip tied up somewhere in that puzzle Max?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Suzanne Young has replaced Jim Doyle on the position of COO.One of Doyle''s responsibilities was the Integrity Unit. Though think the majority of the investigative work is done by Nick Weekes??
Muzz
Guest
MAX - Could you please decode that for us. Eye - I have a soft spot for the Tigers but they're bottom 4 material.I'm curios to see how the Taylor v Farah dynamic pans out.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
WB And they should be well paid and ambitious,I don't want anyone at head office just coasting along. Just as I don't want anyone at the head of my Bank running on idle and being underpaid.The commercial world pays accordingly. His (Greenberg's ) responsibility is "whole of game operations",that revolves around structure ,scheduling and rules. So I suggest his grassroots would come more into rules and structure.I have no problem with overlaps,provided there are no conflicts/stuffups. FYI The NRL executive structure will see the creation of 7 business units reporting directly to Smith,Football,Finance,OPerations,Corp Affairs and Community,Marketing,Digital & Content,Commercial & Strategy. Have a look at the admin in the AFL hardly short on numbers and pretty much like the NRL's ,hardly coming cheap. The old adage you pay peanuts you get ........,unless of course we go back to the old rl method of jobs for the boys.
Pete
Guest
Some clubs do. Canberra spend hundreds of thousands on junior pathways programs outside of their own junior sides and last year provided the local league with 750k. Penrith do as well. Look at the annual reports if you want. If they get no return for this investment then it will stop and the game will run out of players pretty quickly. The ranks are already as thin as they have ever been.
Pete
Guest
No doubt he is great when it comes to developing and running a football club. However he did largely by building up and leveraging the corporate connections Souths have. This is what let them get Inglis and Burgess for example. Not by pouring money into player development and local junior leagues.
MAX
Guest
Joining the dots? PP/ SR/ SS GG/ JP/ $100M PHa'C/ JP/ $20M? SR/ JG/ JP SR/ NRLHQ/ ? James Packer may well be the unheralded saviour of two NRL clubs?
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Hey Brian, I dont for one minute buy that Sths or any one pays for junior clubs and teams in thier area. QLD has 2 teams and how many registered juniors. DOnating a few dollars here and there is not developing the junior talent. That is done by the junior coaches and NSWRL, QRL and CRL and player registration fees. And from what i have read in the past Souths Juniors are a complete seperate entity to South Sydney and have actually in the past had to bail out sth sydney from crippling debts.
The eye
Guest
Off topic but I'm wondering if you're still in the Tiger 'tent' Brian ,whether you're at liberty to comment on the Taylor appointment and if the side has the troops to make the 8..in your opinion