The frenzy over Daly Cherry-Evans’s future has convinced NRL boss Dave Smith to reassess registration rules that are “not in the best interests of the fans”.
Smith said he shared the fans’ frustration over the ongoing speculation on Cherry-Evans and would look at an alternative to the ‘Round 13’ rule.
Manly playmaker Cherry-Evans has publicly dodged questions since rumours emerged he may pull out of a four-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans from 2016.
Cherry-Evans reportedly rang Titans chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle last week to assure her he would come to the Gold Coast.
However, the Titans won’t know for certain if he will honour his $1.1 million per year deal until after Round 13.
Manly have until then to try and convince their matchwinner to stay at Brookvale under current NRL registration rules – much to Smith’s frustration.
“It’s a process that has been in place before my time. My own view is it’s not necessarily in the best interests of the fans,” he said of the ‘Round 13’ clause.
“I don’t think there’s a perfect system. If there is a better a system we will come up with it.
“If you take it from a fan’s perspective, they don’t want to see that sort of thing.
“I am going to take a look at it.
“We want to make sure the people they (fans) are spending their hard-earned dollars on are going to be in that team.”
The NRL introduced the ‘Round 13’ registration deadline under the previous David Gallop administration in a bid to stop players signing for rival clubs with sometimes years left on their contract.
Asked if a contract was still binding in the NRL, Smith said: “I’m old fashioned in that context.
“If you sign a contract…then you are committed and that should be the way it is.
“I can understand why there’s frustration from the fan’s perspective.
“It’s something that is commented on year in, year out.
“(But) I don’t think it’s any more of an embarrassment that it was perhaps last year or the year before that.”
New NRL head of strategy Shane Richardson is currently reviewing player transfer models with a long term view of introducing an NRL draft system and transfer windows.
It is believed the NRL transfer window would be similar to that in the English Premier League which has an end-of-season trade period between June 9 and September 1 and a mid-season period from January 1-31.
“One of the things I have asked Shane to consider across the blueprint, across the structure is a player draft,” Smith said.
“That’s not something that we are going to consider in the near term.
“It’s something we are going to think through very carefully and set up the structure, blueprint and the competition and the pathways for the next decade.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's incredibly naive to think the media will just wait till the end of the season to get a story and all of a sudden change to "analytical pieces". If analytical pieces sold papers or increased ratings they'd be doing them now If anything the media is incentivised to dig deeper and go harder at players, coaches and officials to get the scoop. We had a 'transfer window' - June 30 - and everyone used to whinge when contracts were announced on 1 July.
Rellum
Roar Guru
But, but,but players need time to find a house! They need 10-12 months to sort these sort of things out. (note: This is sarcasm)
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Of course Kaks. But that's the role of the player managers working in the background. Sign an agreement or MOU. But players can only visit facilities during the transfer period at year's end. And sign a contract then. Any flaunting of the guidelines results in a fine for the club courting the player. And loss of competition points for the following year.
Kaks
Roar Guru
"Heard some talking head say an off-season transfer wouldn’t work." Because the window would only formalise the deals, players will continue to make agreements and sign pre-contracts before and after the windows.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Transfer window will only formalise deals and have players move around, that will not stop the pre-contract agreements.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Players will always sign pre-contracts or make agreements before their contract is finished. Who would want to have their career up in the air before their contract runs out?
Andy
Guest
I don't think it needs to stop before the season starts, but it needs to be a defined period. In soccer the first month of the season in the EPL still allows transfers and I can see that working because teams might suffer a serious injury early season and be able to make a play for someone if they have the money.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
So why didn't transfer type windows work when the NRL had them last time? Because they weren't enforced. Media still speculated. And most importantly we were losing players to rival codes without a fight. I think keep the current system with the caveat that the original club only has 2 weeks to make there counteroffer. That should stop it being a drawn out process.
josh
Roar Rookie
You won't ever stop media speculation. The problems with the NRL's system is you get what appears silly situations where your DCE's announce that from next year they have signed on for another club. That's the number one issue, next is the contract period. I think a transfer window sorts out both problems. And it changes the angle of media speculation, Instead of paparazzi style camp outs hounding players and coaches. The media will know they won't get that type of info till the off-season. In the meantime, the media can write stories about the actual games being played. And speculation resorts to some actual analytical pieces, projecting what clubs should chase what player etc... Players shouldn't be able switch clubs (unless cut), with a year left on existing contracts. It's like the start BASEketball.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
How does that stop the rumours then? It doesn't, and it then looks like it's an illegal practice, but one that is not enforced. The media will be all over it like they used to be when this sort of situation existed.
josh
Roar Rookie
Why do you have limit access outside of the transfer window?
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
The problem with transfer windows and the like (cause we have had these things before in League), is that clubs go around these sorts of things to see if a player is interested in changing teams. As well as competition from other sports and the ESL whom NRL clubs wouldn't be able to respond to if a transfer window existed that other sport approached the player outside of that window. It's why we have the system we have now. If you say well enforce it, I ask you how you enforce it? Do you wire tap all the player agents, do you employ private detectives? Yeah none of that is going to happen. So one thing that did come up that I liked was to keep with the current system, but the caveat is that the contract has a 2 week cooling off period where the players original club can make a counter offer. Once the 2 weeks up the contract is official. We still have the issue of players changing clubs well ahead of time, but at least it doesn't get played out in the media for very long. 2 weeks and it's done and dusted.
josh
Roar Rookie
The "problem" is everyone wants to be a leader and develop specific solutions for their product. At least that's what the market strategists will be saying at NRL HQ. So Dave can't come out and say we'll copy the European's (or the American's), straight off the bat. Instead, it will need a round of consultation with stakeholders, an executive fact finding mission (to both Europe and the Americas). Then they'll unveil a unique trading period, that is set to revolutionise the NRL and make it one the world's leading sports organisation in a win-win for players and fans.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
“I don’t think there’s a perfect system" - yes there is, and the English EPL & European football leagues have been using it for years - it's called the "transfer window". Dave Smith has his head in the sand, and not only about this contract situation!
Eden
Guest
The transfer window makes plenty of sense an works fine in so many leagues around the world. If anything the nrl has shorter seasons and no international standards to abide by, so it is all in their favour. I say that contracts should also be open for purchase between clubs with the club getting the transfer fee. Would help clubs like the raiders get paid when they lose a player on contract
josh
Roar Rookie
Most contracts do have cooling off periods. The length of this cooling off period is what makes it ridiculous. It's like a bit school yard. I'll sign for money, but then back-flip cause my best mate isn't going to be there.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
What sort of a contract is it if you can renegge until rnd 13 ? If both parties can change their minds after they sign an agreement, then why sign an agreement. Maybe a club should sue a manager or player to drive the point home that an agreement should be honoured. (Obviously I'm not a lawyer)
josh
Roar Rookie
Heard some talking head say an off-season transfer wouldn't work. I'm not sure why not. declare it open season from 1 week after the Grand Final to 1 week before the Auckland 9's. If that isn't enough time, I'm not sure what is. I have also read a player manager say if they gave use from Midnight to 5am one Sunday a year, deals would get done. It's not hard. Players, their managers, and clubs are milking the current system and it makes the NRL look like a bush league.
jamesb
Guest
Look, I don't want to sound like Buzz Rothfield, but when you look at the NRL administration, people like Smith, Richardson, Greenburg etc are getting paid handsomely. Now is the time for the NRL administration to do something with regards to player transfers and in effect justify their well paid salaries. Gallop was criticized for being reactive. Now is the time for the NRL administration to be proactive. End of season transfer window. Make it happen.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
The quote only mentioned the player draft, but it along with the transfer window are all tied in together.