When, if ever, will the NRL bow to repeated criticism of the $100,000 prize money for the club who wins the minor premiership and JJ Giltinan Shield?
The paltry amount is an insult when you consider how demanding the season must be on the players both physically and psychologically.
For all of the blood, sweat and tears week in and week out for 25 Rounds, the amount seems to be totally insufficient.
A number of respected figures in the Game including Phil Gould and Brad Fittler have come forward with proposals which have a lot of merits, yet the NRL refuses to act on them.
Under the current system a cumulative $2.5 million is put up for the NRL finals series, which is dealt out accordingly to the top eight teams. So why then is the prize money for winning the NRL premiership only $400,000 and how is the rest of the prize money divided up?
Another point that should be raised here is why aren’t the players, who draw the big crowds through the turnstiles in the finals series, being better rewarded financially and given a bigger piece of the pie?
Phil Gould’s proposal was that the winner of the Minor Premiership should receive $1 million and that the prize money for winning the NRL premiership should be raised from $400,000 to $5 million.
Brad Fittler’s proposal would not reward the teams financially, but rather increase their personal spendings, which would help clubs retain their best players.
What Fittler told Channel 9 recently makes so much sense, “Because you come first, what happens is all your players become more valuable to other clubs, so you don’t have the ability to keep them at your club. If you give them an exemption – a million dollars, $500,000 – all of a sudden your good players could stay”.
It can only be hoped that the NRL will give serious consideration to some of these worthwhile proposals and that the prize money for winning both the NRL minor premiership and premiership will be lifted to an amount that is more acceptable and in line with other major sporting codes such as the AFL which awards $1 million to the winners of the AFL premiership.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Gazbo, Ask yourself this question Gazbo: If a team is one of the leaders come the last round and they have injuries what should they do they they are going to finish Minor Premiers or Runners up regardless if they win or lose? If the MP prize is only $100k, a thinking club would rest all of their injured players and some of their top players knowing that they win a home semi in week 1 anyway. They can then bring their best available 17 in for week 1. Now if the MP prize was $1m, then clubs would think twice and may field their best 17.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
I think a lot more needs to be done with the Minor Premiership than just money. The Minor Premiership needs to be given so much more in regards to meaning and prestige, for finishing first to mean so much more than 100k and a home final. Imagine being the best team in the comp, to finish first, dominate in the finals but only to lose the Grand Final. As a club, no one would remember what you accomplished unless you went on to win the big one.
At work
Roar Rookie
Top 2 currently is the goal, as there’s no difference between 1st or 2nd.
At work
Roar Rookie
Fittler is on the right track, but I would instead the minor premiers a $500k cap exemption, along with $500k prize money. I would then also give the premiers a $500k cap exemption with a $1m prize money. The ‘minor’ premiership is undervalued for sure.
Glen
Guest
Change the name for starters. No one is going to care about anything called 'minor'. Call it League Champions, increase the fanfare and up the prize money. Make it a big thing. Direct qualification to WCC or something. The big problem is the effect of Origin mid season and the uneven draw which makes it more difficult to reward first place.
Hopefull
Guest
Not sure if the minor premiership means much to the teams as the goal seems to be top 4. Melbourne rested players when it was on the line. Maybe a leg-up so to speak for the next season...for example minor premiers can choose when they would like the bye or maybe something a bit more substantial.
elvis
Roar Rookie
It would help if there was the slightest bit of reasoning behind why the minor premiers should get paid such a huge sum of money.... This year's premiers were two losses away from being out of the eight entirely, so it's not for excellence.. and don't forget the minor premiership if affected by the origin series as well.
Adam
Roar Rookie
“If you give them an exemption – a million dollars, $500,000 – all of a sudden your good players could stay” - which completely invalidates the point of the salary cap! Don't think so, Brad. It's a tricky thing, really. Something on the scale of $1M each for minor and NRL premiers sounds right. And at first it does feel like they should get much more than that. But given that so many teams are still struggling financially, any of the suggested approaches will just widen that divide between the winning and losing clubs. Maybe the solution is to give the winners a few million dollars to throw a big party with their supporters :) In the end, though, the players are stoked with winning, and the supporters are stoked with winning,. The club would like some more money but, really, don't they always?