Gold Coast coach Neil Henry says the NRL’s second tier salary cap isn’t working after Tyler Cornish left the Titans ranks.
Cornish left the club one day before their fifth-round fixture against Canberra, continuing a horror start to 2017 for the club that has seen more than 10 players miss games through injury.
Henry says the player contract system is not workable for clubs who lose players through injury.
“We’ve got a number of clubs who have issues around the second tier cap and we’re no different to other clubs,” Henry said on Friday.
“It really is limiting and the way it’s structured, at the moment it does restrict players who have the ability to play first grade.
“With the injury crisis we’ve got we’ve had to ask for exemptions for players to play and other clubs are doing the same thing.
“It was brought in years ago to serve a purpose about stockpiling players years ago and it hasn’t been modified and the amount of money hasn’t been increased.”
Gold Coast co-captain Ryan James believes it would have been helpful for the NRL to allow some special dispensation due to the high amount of injuries for the Titans.
“It would have been good to get that little bit of extra leeway but it didn’t happen, if you look back on a couple a weeks ago we had Dale (Copley) and he wasn’t even allowed to play when we had a bit of a crisis,” said James.
“They’ve set the standards of their rules and they’re sticking by them”.
Cornish joined the Titans on a six-week train-and-trial contract during the pre-season and was retained to provide cover due to the club’s injury crisis. He made his debut for the Titans in round three – their only win of the season.
After being told that he would not be offered a full-time contract Cornish decided to leave the Gold Coast citing homesickness.
Henry said the outside back had been struggling with for a few weeks and was disappointed he wouldn’t be staying with the Titans.
The Magic Man
Roar Rookie
Double the 2nd tier cap.... problem solved. Thank you.
Minefield
Guest
When a club run by the NRL who has been the beneficiary of many mid season trades starts whinging - look out more players heading to the Coast...
bearfax
Guest
As usual you are right The Barry. Egg is dripping from my dial yet again. I have to learn when to duck when it comes to these issues. I think I'll have to change feet in my mouth more often. But yes, I think the Third Party arrangement is inequitable and should be wiped or more effectively, a draft system could be introduced. Then the richer sides can pay the player drafted to them as much as they like, but they cant pick and choose who they want by offering contracts supplemented by their mate's kitties.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The second tier cap is the same for every club. No club has more resources available than any other. I think you're confusing the second tier cap with the third party arrangements.
bearfax
Guest
I've been against the second tier system from the start. It is an inequitable arrangement, something that makes the Salary Cap intent, to even out the competition, unworkable. There are some teams that have significant resources at their disposal to use as second tier arrangements, while others struggle. Where is the equability in that? The injury issue is suffered at one time or another by all clubs, and is at least equitable in that case (Except when the NRL intervene and make arbitrary decisions such as used n the Watmough affair), or where second tier arrangements have ensured some clubs have a wealth of talent waiting in the lower grades. The answer has always been The Draft.
chump
Guest
Title should have said the second tier salary cap isn't working. But then the roar would have paid for copy that got 15 clicks.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Literally says it in the first line of the article
kimboinbrisbane
Roar Rookie
Henry is talking about the second tier cap - a different cap and one Hayne is not included in.
Succhi
Guest
Didn't seem to have salary cap problems when they paid over the odds for Hayne. Tends to happen when you pay big dollars for one or two players - no money left for the others!