Buying players comes with varying degrees of danger for all NRL clubs. The bigger the pay packet, the bigger the expectation and the risk.
As usual, there has been plenty of player movement ahead of the coming season, so I’m posing the question – who will be the best buy of 2017 and why?
Defining the criteria for the “best buy” depends on your point of view. It could be a player’s value for money, their impact on their team’s performance in the coming season, or their long-term potential to deliver results for their new club.
Firstly, I’ll look at players who I see as low risk, with low salaries for the coming season, but who also have the potential to tick at least two of the three boxes I’ve mentioned.
Benji Marshall (Broncos), Dave Taylor (Canberra) and Jamal Idris (Tigers) all fit into this category. They might be able to a job for their teams in 2017. If they don’t, they haven’t had a significant impact on their club’s salary caps for either the short or long term.
Tony Williams (Cronulla) is also in the low-risk category, with the Sharks reportedly picking him up for a bargain price on a one-year deal. Jackson Hastings and Curtis Sironen (Manly) are others, assuming their two- year deals are on relatively low money.
Next, I’ll move to the medium-risk category, featuring players on more money and/or longer deals, like Kevin Proctor (Titans), Luke Keary (Roosters), Blake Green (Manly), Jamie Buhrer (Newcastle), Jarrod Wallace (Titans), Cameron McInnes (St George), Mitch Rein (Penrith), Josh Hoffman (Parramatta), Nene MacDonald (St George) and Akuila Uate (Manly).
The highly paid Robbie Farah (Souths) would also fall into this medium-risk category, given that the Tigers will be subsidising his salary.
Kieran Foran (Warriors) is another, assuming he gets the green light to fulfil his one-year deal.
Finally, there is the big money, high-risk category.
I’ll include Jarryd Hayne there. Even though he played in the back end of 2016, he was predominantly signed for 2017 and beyond. There’s no doubt he’ll continue to generate a lot of publicity and be marketing gold for the Titans, but will his on-field performances also reflect his pay cheque?
James Tamou also has a big salary and expectations for his 2017 performances with Penrith.
Who do you think will be the best buy of 2017? One of the players I’ve mentioned, or someone else?
chump
Guest
kaylin ponga
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The second year of Robbie's contract is NO WAY near this $950k as reported, it is more like $500k plus TPA's So in effect, Souths have paid about $800k in total for the 2-years.plus TPAs Remember that the reason Farah's Tiger contract was so high was because they owed him about $600k from his previous contract. DO you remember back then? Robbie took way under to help with their cap issues in 2012-13, they paid well overs for a few players back then so that helped in keeping Tedesco. Robbie also took way under in 2014 and 15 to help keep Brookes and Moses. It was the 2016 and 2017 component that was the massive increase. Souths have plenty of players receiving TPA's We all know that the Cap will rise to about $10M for 2018 and it will carry a TOP 30 players plus 6 Rookies. For 2018 Souths already have 17 players signed up and out of those 12 are regulars in the 17. The other 5 are new signings of those good up and comers. ALL of our Marquee and important SPINE players are re-signed with 3-year extensions. These main guys, Gray, Turner, Johnston and Sutton are off contract for 2018 with Tyrell and Goodwin having to earn new contracts or retire! Sutton and Tyrrell are 10-year players so their contracts are subsidised using the NRLs long serving players allowance that is NOT included in the Cap! Aaron Gray is in the process of inking a new 3-year extension. Many others were only signed for 1-year contracts and have to earn a new contract, Rochow, Cherrington, Gosiewski, Greinke and Kelly. These players are not on big money. So in effect, the Rabbitohs are doing nicely, Cap wise!
Stuart McLennan
Expert
Not much mention in the comments about Jamal Idris for obvious reasons but I have a feeling that he will return to his damaging best.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Best Buy will be interesting this year. A LOT of movement between stars and cheap starters.
Bugs
Guest
I can't nominate anything better. Brilliant!
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
This still has to be the all-time greatest pick-up on the run. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6J6zV-9dYE
John Coomer
Roar Guru
They won't be subsidising his salary in Year 2 of his deal, so it will affect their cap and recruitment/retention plans for 2018.Great deal for Souths in Year 1 for sure, but it will balance out in Year 2. That's medium risk overall in my opinion.
johnbadseed
Guest
Can we nominate referees?
Albo
Guest
Yep ! For me Proctor & Jarred Wallace will be great signings for the Titans. My smoky is Robert Jennings to Souths. Plenty of untapped potential that maybe Inglis & Co can unlock !
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The highly paid Robbie Farah (Souths) would also fall into this medium-risk category, given that the Tigers will be subsidising his salary. HOW is this Medium risk? Souths are only paying about $200k out of his $950k contract for the current Origin Hooker! The Tigers are the ones with the risk as they could well have 3 extra good players! I would call that a LOW RISK for the Rabbitohs. Damien Cook may well be the starter in Rd 1, NOT Robbie! You have Luke Keary in the same Medium-Category but the difference is that the Rorts are paying him about $500k and he has a kicking game and a defence capacity that is worse than most 18-year olds.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Maranta didn't play in the all star game last year...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Why do you have Hastings on a last opportunity?
Bugs
Guest
...can I phone a friend...? :-) Mead is indeed an excellent fit for the Broncs.
Bugs
Guest
You're right that Hastings is gone to the Sea Eagles. But at the time of Keary signing with the Roosters, they still had him, Watson and Nikorima... Maybe not this year, but long term I think Hastings will outshine Green
Jimmmy
Guest
And??
jeff dustby
Guest
Maranta was in the all star game last year
jeff dustby
Guest
benji was signed as a back up
Jimmmy
Guest
David Mead will be the buy of the season. He is very, very good and the Broncs got him for peanuts. Lachlan Maranta or David Mead.?. Mmm let me think on it.
Stu
Guest
For me, Hayne, Benji and Keary will be the worst signings. Hayne because he won't like living on the Gold Coast, Benji because he can't tackle and is slow and Keary just because he's slow. I'm undecided on Tamou - I think he is broken. On the other hand, Vaughan is certainly a good buy and I think Souths will get one good year out of Farah. Big and last opportunity for Hastings - hope he realises it.
Rob
Guest
He is a big young bloke that has shown glimpses of brilliance. I can see him bringing a bit of physical presence to the Dragon on the edge and when returning the football. Mann would go well inside Nene putting him into space. Duggan has to develop a passing game if the Dragons are to improve their attack. Duggan is a brilliant player but 2nd only to Gallen at wearing blinkers, ignoring team mates and going himself. Farrar is a huge in for the bunnies who have been lost for direction out of dumby half. He will have a point to prove.