MASCORD: Another day, another rugby league catastrophe-in-waiting

Do me a favour read what I have stated instead of swigging on the Koolaid .I have admitted the 5 day gap is a problem. My view is the same as the likes of Michael Ennis a senior player at the Sharks, who noted on NRL 360" I understand what the players are getting at with the 5 day turnaround,but threatening strike action or banning the Dally Ms at this time of the year,is counter productive.It detracts from the final series.It is better left till the season has concluded,when the air is clear for deep negotiations". The difference is with your use of the "silly me",the NRL has full control of the scheduling from 2018,which is not the case now.And with Thursday nights,they will have final input to minimise the 5 day turnaround which is a decent problem now. Also there will be no mid season Tests. The NRL has no control of Monday nights or Friday nights under the current deal,they do so in the next.Some players actually understand that."Silly me" for m making that obversation. I know you are trying to seize whatever opportunity presents itself to make your usual swipe at the NRL,but as usual you ignore facts .So perhaps your "silly me" description is apt.Perhaps you need to delve a little deeper,because there is a lot more going on than what you care to understand.

Yes. Yes it is clearly too much for me to grasp. And there I was thinking that the NRL players have a legitimate gripe when they point out that locking in weekly Thursday broadcasts is going to necessarily reduce the rest they get between games. Silly me. I'll now go away and re-read all the he information you've so kindly provided for me so I can set myself straight. Thanks for your help.

It's a lot of information that belies what has been stated by player and the media,and probably too much for you to grasp.Probably easier to disseminate than your post which looks like it came out of a shredder. You like to work on assumptions,presumptions and guesstimates when it comes to your nemesis( the NRL). In fact I have listened to NRL players try the great Darren Lockyer,who stated having strikes now is non productive. You have NFI .The code has been working on reducing the workload of the NRL players.What the hell is a stand alone SOO weekend all about ?No one has suggested there are not 5 day turnarounds. Again you are left in the slow lane. Yesterday the RLPA"s player representative Clint Newton,who you probably not know from a blade of grass,met with Smith.He Newtown reported on camera the disscussions particularly pertaining to workloads. Newton stated Smith has ensured him the NRL is committed to drastically reducing the number of 5 day turnarounds.Smith has also stated he will be emphasising the importance of reducing these numbers as it affects star players and hence ratings. Yet you come on board here and predict the numbers will increase in the new TV deal.You have no idea if the NRL expands the comp,which will ensure better opportunities to reduce these turnarounds.You completely ignore the fact the NRL controls the scheduling from 2018. " Drown you in red herrings" oh no enter defection effect, they are facts.You have a horrible tendency because you hate rugby league ,to ignore facts.The only time you enter NRL threads is to take a swipe veiled or overt ,at the code.For no other reason but to try and point score.My stats are facts,show me where they are wrong/ Hint: keep up to date with what has been done,and what is being planned and wait for the final part 2 of the Tv deal to be finalised. I'm as impressed as Wayne Bennett,and I generally follow his logic at times.I will criticise the NRL when it is warranted and have done so.I rarely bother(unlike you) to go into AFL threads to swipe or snipe .I I've been following rl for 4 decades,have an idea about its flaws, and find it humorous you lecturing me about the code.

Wow that's a lot of information, never mind that not a single word of it addresses what I said about locking in Thursday broadcast necessarily increasing 5 day turnarounds. Unless the NRL breaks its contracts, or unless we miraculously find ourselves shifting to an eight day week, then the basic reality is players are being lined up for an increase in 5 day turnarounds. The NRL can do their player welfare review, and you can drown me in red herrings, but it just doesn't change the fact that there's been an overall shifting of the playing load which prioritised broadcasters and disadvantages the players. These are the facts. Not opinion. And this fact is what NRL players themselves are pointing out now but NRL cheerleaders like you somehow are deaf to their very legitimate complaints. We're the NRL players consulted? Seemingly not because they ain't happy. Don't take my word for it. You can ignore me but you might want to listen to what the NRL players have to say about this issue. They're a little less impressed with the NRL than you seem to be.

Oh the irony, coming from one( with a flag waving moniker GOGWS for the AFL) who does little NRL research ,yet spends time on rl threads to snipe ad infinitum. Let me just get you up to speed, as you are operating in the slow lane. On the matter of salaries:- Top 25 players cap 2012 $4.5m 2015 $5.8m Total cap 2012 $5.5m 2015 $8.14m Top salary est 2012 $700k 2015 est $1m Origin Pay 2012 $12k 2015 $30k Test Pay 2012 $5.4k 2015 $20k 4 nations est 2012 $15k 2015 $50k Car 2012 yes 2015 yes. On other matters as they currently stand based on the last Tv deal:- The retirement fund has doubled since 2012 Insurance payments for death and disability have also doubled to $1m FYI on Richardsons plan based on his review and clubs appear to be in agreeance.: Players would be given 8 weeks off. The NRL would mandate a max of 12 weeks for preseason and players could only play a max of 2 trial games. Players would be restricted to a max of 30 games a year >the figure has been the result of GPS info from clubs with researchers and fitness experts. Players suffering career ending injury will continue to get paid most of their income for two years. If a club folds the players will not be out of pocket.This wasn;t the case 4 years ago. Players are now eligible for education grants over the course of their NRL playing career and into retirement of up to $20,000,which supports them to further education with NYC and State Cup players eligible. The retirement fund payments are on top of their super fund Guarantee payments. This means also with 5 match rotations,there is the opportunity to rest players .Bearing in mind also the 2nd SOO is now on a stand alone weekend(that was to assist player welfare).There will be flexibility as to player's involvement due welfare issues.Again the NRL will have full control of the scheduling,which they do not have now.FFS it will be 24 round season,not a 26 . The number of substitutes will be reduced to 8 in 2016 then 6 in ensuing years ,meaning the game will be more open,and players will be subjected to less gang tackling and bringing on regularly fresh big players ,due to fatigue. What you completely overlook( unsurprisingly),the final 2018/2022 TV deals have not been finalised,and until such time as they are neither the players/clubs, can put a figure on what is finally available for distributing the pie. Can more be done of course? Of course and no doubt will be.Players no doubt play the toughest contact sport. The only one who has taken their eyes off the ball based on your post is you. Guesstimation,and generalisation does not hold water." Work conditions have worsened until the expiry of the next TV deal "is the biggest load of rubbish you have written,and that is saying something. This coming from the same "expert" predicting the NRL would get max $800m on the last TV deal.Then deflected by suggesting he was unaware of ............... If you are so concerned about player welfare ,perhaps you should have a shot at an AFL tribunal that gives a player 2 weeks for an elbow shot to the head.Pathetic.

I'm not particularly interested in an NRL vs AFL perspective on this. Rather, the circumstances that the Sharks and Bombers players found themselves in. The loan from the NRL to the Sharks I had forgotten about, but it undoubtedly helped. Essendon didn't need similar $ from the AFL because they are wealthy. Ultimately, the differential capacity of the CFC and EFC players to defend themselves ended up crucial. The Sharks boys were given a deal (an amazingly sweet 3 week deal) and neither they nor themselves were in a $ position to fund an ongoing defence. They pleaded guilty. The Bombers boys were also offered a deal but were in a $ position to fund an ongoing defence. They pleaded not guilty. The turnaround in the Sharks' fortunes in 2015 has been wonderful to see. And, it seems, the Cronulla brand has not really taken the hit that commentators assumed re 'drug cheats'. Power to CFC. As for EFC, with WADA contesting the not guilty verdict of the tribunal, their case drags on and on, and people still talk about their innocence or guilt. It would have been 'simpler', it seems, to have pleaded guilty last year and done a pre-season nominal penalty. A final point. Don't rely too much on what Andruska said. She went to the Senate and struggled to answer basic questions about the investigation. Her memory seemed to have escaped her on several occasions. And, of course, she pulled the pin and 'retired'. In retrospect, ASADA should not have conducted a joint investigation with the AFL. There ought to have been separation of roles. The AFL wanted to come down hard on EFC to protect its brand, but was making assumptions that ASADA had a strong case. Ultimately it didn't. Of course, CAS is now considering the case de novo, so another result is possible. But I wouldn't bet on it. At the end of the day, even if EFC players found not guilty they will branded by many as 'drug cheats'. Will be interesting to see if Joe Public overlooks this in 2016, as happened with the Sharks boys in 2015. Good to chat. Cheers.

Actions not reviews is what the players need. The latest deal with Thursday broadcasts will necessarily lock the players into to increased 5 day turnarounds until the expiry of the next deal. The 5 day turnaround issue is about to get worse not better. And the NRL is a longer season than the other Australian football codes which doesn't help with player burnout issues. Review away but these are basic unalterable facts that won't, and can't, be addressed by a review. They are locked in by contracts with external parties. Broadcasters have been prioritised over players and their work conditions have worsened, at least until the expiry of the next deal (in 7 years time!!). I know you're a card carrying cheerleader for the NRL but it's OK to come out and admit that the players have been dealt with shabbily, and that he NRL has taken its eye off the ball when it come to progressing player welfare.

Incorrect DA .The NRL provided counselling assistance if needed for the players,The NRL lent money to the club to assist them (players) legals costs.Legal cost to the club amounted to nearly $1m. The players in the end to avoid ongoing legal costs and dramas to themselves and families took a guilty plea albeit to get it out of the way. The AFL stuck their nose into ASADA on occasions .The process has been prolonged partially due to the EFC coach .The damage to the reputation of the club,the long ongoing pressure on the players is immeasurable.If the EFC p[l;ayers get zero time off,it will look ridiculous in the eyes of the public. As I stated the ASADA head would have a better idea of which sport head body ,operated professionally int his issue.

Neither the NRL nor the AFL provided support for the players; they were more concerned with their brand. At the end of the day, the NRL players were found guilty and (I suspect) the EFC players won't be found guilty. The major difference is that the EFC players had the club's huge $ backing to defend themselves, whereas the Sharks were on the bones of their arse financially (now turned around, I'm pleased to say). But at the end of the day, what will Joe Public remember most? EFC players 'got off' but were 'probably' drug cheats, while Sharks boys admitted to drug use much earlier and 'moved on'. It's been a fiasco from day 1 for all.

I place more reliance on the comments of the former head of ASADA( Andruska ) ,who maintained the NRL admin handled the issue more professionally than the other code ATT. No interference,no pressure by Smith,letting ASADA do its job.

Well no doubt he (GOGWS)is well aware that you(clipper) only make positive posts on rl thread .Hey what.Well done working in tandem. Don't know whether you work for News ltd,but you should.Your modus operandi is overt.

Think you need to get up to speed GOGWS,the NRL is in fact looking at player welfare as a major issue.Shane Richardson in his whole of game review ,that aspect forms part and parcel of his recommendations,I understand. Already looking at improving Insurance side of things ,reduced number of games,no NRL on one SOO weekend.Test matches end of season.The season has been reduced to 24 weeks. Perhaps the NRL should look at tanking,as a way of relieving pressure on star players .Oh wait,that has been tried before,and duds the fans.

PhillNZ>The admin in ru when supposedly amateur kept the money and treated their players as commodities. Finally after 100 years and the threat of SL,the admin finally realised their players were entitled to a share of the loot. And that being paid was in fact OK,the very thing the code spent 100 years deriding rl players for earning money. There is also little loyalty in ru anymore with NZ players now going to France or Japan,ditto Australians.In France 30% of their players are from overseas,meaning locals get only 70% of the slots. Professionalism is basically about the money,but there needs to be money to sustain grassroots from when players come from. Work is already underway in improving the lot of NRL players,that is what Richardson has been commissioned to look into.

That's turbulence?

TMM, why are you so sensible. Can you really be a RL fan ? The players have some genuine gripes . Five day turn arounds do not allow for enough recovery. RL is an incredibly tough game. The players deserve a decent recovery between games. Eight weeks off between seasons does not seem excessive to me. This is not a normal job. Anyone who compares bricklaying etc to professional RL is on the wrong planet. The Average career of an NRL player is four years. Be realistic. The game takes its toll,, in both the short and long term. However boycotts and Strikes do no one any good. It puts the fans offside and the players will lose in the long run. I Am sure Smith will negotiate on these issues. It's the way business works. Can we go back to the finals now?

Well said noip. Gallop or Smith ? Mm let me see. Yeah Smith by the distance from here to Venus. Are RL fans never happy?

Before I retired, I was entitled to long service leave from my employer. Are NRL players entitled to this or are they only entitled to the four weeks off (which nay is time for off season operations).

I don't read the papers or follow the people you have mentioned . See things as you like but the proof will be in the pudding so let's wait and see .

Too true against a weary Broncs side full of Qlders away from home...

If we expand to 18 teams we could have 2 fewer games per team (from 24-22) while having more games (from 192-198). only problem is I'm pretty sure 9 has signed a contract that promises them a minimum 25 rounds of NRL regular season action, and while expansion will allow the NRL and 9 to revise the contract (or so I believe) I doubt nine will pay the same for fewer weeks of footy. It would be a good bargaining chip for the NRL when they go to the table with Fox though. 925mil FTA 300mil digital* 600mil PayTV* 300mil collective international rights* (* estimations yet to be negotiated) 2.125 Billion