Latrell Mitchell has been all the talk this week after a sizzling display against the Wests Tigers last Saturday was followed by rumblings he’s not settled.
Apparently the Roosters’ star centre is hearing his $450,000 a year deal – which reportedly rises by another $100,000 next season – isn’t even half what he’s worth, but he’ll need to make the move to No.1 long term if he is to get seven figures – what’s become known to outside backs as ‘fullback money’.
But with the game’s best custodian, James Tedesco, wearing the red, white and blue, Latrell is no chance of heading to the back for the Chooks in the foreseeable future.
So what’s to be done?
Well, if he wants the kind of cash he’s worth, he’ll probably have to go elsewhere.
I’m not going to lay the boot into the Roosters for building a team based on the cheque book rather than genuine development, because it’s a fallacy.
As I outlined late last year, the Bondi club is largely made up of one-club players and blokes who came to the Eastern Suburbs either with no reputation or one that was in tatters due to off-field issues.
Trent Robinson has built this side the same way Craig Bellamy builds his: with a handful of stars and a supporting cast of blokes who give their all.
Then, thanks to the team’s success, these secondary blokes become rep players who get big-money offers and move elsewhere.
It may seem unfair to the club that took a middle-of-the-pack player and made him a star, but it’s the salary cap at play – evening out the competition.
And after winning last year’s grand final in a canter and looking virtually indestructible at this stage of the season, it’s what has to happen at the Roosters.
Talent will be shed. They’re just too dominant to stay together.
Two guys are a lock to stay: Kangaroos captain Boyd Cordner did a five-year deal shortly after their grand final triumph for about $800,000 a season while Tedesco’s contract lasts until the end of 2021, reportedly at about $1 million a year.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
You’d also say that given he’s in year one of a three-year deal worth a reported total of $2.7 million, Angus Crichton will stick around.
Chuck in Cooper Cronk’s seven-figure-a-season deal and that’s the better part of $4 million – nearly half of the $9.1 million salary cap – tied up in just four players.
Now, the 35-year-old halfback has until the end of 2020 left in his legs at the most, so that’s a million bucks freed up, half or so of which goes to Latrell – problem solved.
Except Luke Keary is off-contract at the end of 2020 and – as the form half in the comp – will need an upgrade if the Chooks hope to keep him. And that’s a deal they’ll want to get done by November to ensure he doesn’t end up on the open market.
Likewise, Joey Manu – a young man who’d be in the conversation for best centre in the game were it not for his left-side counterpart – is on a deal that finishes up in 2020, which will require a serious upgrade.
Up front, Sio Siua Taukeiaho is in the elite tier of props and will command big money when next he is available, while Victor Radley is deservedly in line for an NSW call-up, which will ensure his next deal is a whopper.
Look, I could go on and on because the Roosters have a terrifying level of talent across the board.
Which means some of it has to go.
So, back to Latrell.
There’s no question he’s in line for an upgraded contract. It’s not that he’s on a dud deal at the moment – he got an average of $500,000 a season based on obvious but unproven potential, which is more than fair.
But he’s now one of the first picked in any rep side, a premiership winner and a massive drawcard for fans and sponsors.
Based on those three criteria, he’s worth a million a year – and it’s an amount that plenty of clubs are willing and able to pay him.
(Matt King/Getty Images)
But it’s money I just can’t see the Roosters ponying up, simply because they don’t have the salary-cap wiggle room.
Paying Latrell what he’s worth would cost them two or three other stars, be they guys already on their roster or those entering the market, such as Tevita Pangai Jr.
As for Phil Gould’s suggestion on this week’s Six tackles with Gus podcast that Mitchell can “make up the difference” in his salary by way of endorsements, well, that’s still losing money.
Agents strike individual sponsorship deals to make more money, not to close a wage gap. Do you think LeBron James’ Nike deal decreased after he moved to LA because the Lakers pay more than the Cavs?
If, hypothetically, Latrell’s on 500 grand and gets an endorsement deal worth another 500, he makes it to a million. But if he’s already on a million, he’ll still do that outside deal and suddenly he’s pulling down $1.5 million.
Likewise, there’s the money he’ll make by playing rep games – you don’t cop a pay cut from Origin just because your club decides you’re worth more this year than last.
No, the biggest deal is the biggest deal – the rest is cream, which a gun like Mitchell will get wherever he’s playing.
So, does the 21-year-old take a serious haircut, probably a few hundred grand a year, to stay under Robinson or – I love this line – look after his family?
Personally – and granted, it’s not a choice I’ll ever have to make – I’d take the money.
When the difference could be as much as a million bucks over three or four years, it’s not an amount many people are in a position to turn down, even Australia’s elite athletes.
As for the whole ‘there’s more to footy than money, like winning grand finals’, well, there’s no guarantee of that at any club.
The Roosters look the goods now, sure, but the whole point of this article is that they’re going to lose some star power in the near future. Too many guys who signed reasonable deals now command the big bucks.
Market forces will bring the club back to the pack.
Ultimately, the only thing a player can be sure of is the number on his contract stating what will end up in his bank account.
And on that count, Latrell Mitchell probably needs to head elsewhere to maximise his value.
DaveTarquin
Roar Rookie
Latrell Mitchell is a very good player and deserves to be on good money. He is on very good money for a centre, however there is generally more money on offer for the “Spine”. He needs to move into the “spine”. There are lots of rumours he wants to be a Fullback, in order for him command fullback money. At this stage of his career he doesn’t have the “motor” to play fullback and may never. Latrell needs to get more involved at centre before he could attempt this leap. Long term 5/8 is a better prospect as it is more explosive speed and less Aerobic. He needs to touch the ball more to justify more money. Luke Keary is learning from Cooper Cronk and is ready for the transition to half back leaving a spot for Latrell at 5/8. There are lots of rumours linking him to Souths but he doesn’t have the fitness to play fullback and they have established halves. If Latrell wants to take his game to the next level and create a lasting impression on the game then there is no better place than the Roosters with the No.6 on his back once Cronk retires.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"nothing better than beating a poor loser!" There's nothing is better than being a cheat. Like in round 1 when the Roosters were losers... Rabbitohs 26 vs Roosters 16 And clearly YOU are still sore! Bahahahahahaha
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
In this case the Roosters are short changing Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu, Victor Radley and Luke Keary (who is only on $650K as the incumbent Australian 5/8). I never said that the Roosters were overpaying anyone. It's simply not in their nature and it is not in "Uncle Nick's" DNA. Although, on his current form, you must admit that the Roosters are over paying Angus Crichton on $1 mill for 2019. Some might call that Karma. LOL
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
The Roosters salary cap is an exercise in theoretical physics as long as the Roosters keep all the facts conveniently hidden so no proof can be made. Investigating the Roosters salary cap is like an exercise in quantum mechanics, it can be different things at any given moment. Like Schrodinger's cat, that could be both alive and dead at the same time, so too can the Roosters be salary cap compliant and in breach of the salary cap simultaneously. It all depends on which figures are in what column at the time the books are being examined and indeed, if there are two sets of books, like the Melbourne Storm tried to pull. The fact that the NRL are reporting that the Roosters' COMBINED TPA's only total $200K is beyond merely suspicious given the experience and representative talent the Roosters are able to fit under their salary cap. Which other club has 3 players on $1 mill (Tedesco is on $1.1 mill), a player on $850K, two on $650K and two more on $500K while Latrell Mitchell is on about $50K less than that? Add up the total representative appearances in the Roosters 30 man squad and it just does not add up to what these players are worth given their nominal market. Q.E.D. just like the "shell and pea game" the game is rigged!
mushi
Roar Guru
Again you run a hypocritical argument we are short changing and in other places you say we're over paying? The part people are missing if souths are willing to pay Mitchell more than easts think he's worth that's actually win under the salary cap.
mushi
Roar Guru
I've not seen a single study suggesting money is the determining factor in employment (it's why a junior nursery should be a major advantage) I work on the most mercenary profession and still the quality of the opportunity factors into decisions of myself and my peers.
mushi
Roar Guru
So we are both low balling and simultaneously hiding over payments at the same time? Is this some kind of theoretical physics question? Though I must say your protestations make it sweeter, nothing better than beating a poor loser!
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
No, AE47 (aka Insider) supports MANLY but he is right. I have never been a Wayne Bennett fan, in fact I have held him in contempt for a number of reasons. But if Souths win the premiership this year and secure Latrell Mitchel I am open to a change of heart. ;-)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
So if Google or Facebook offered you half your current salary you would take the job for the rest of your career just to live off the bragging rights? Face it, you KNOW your chooks are lowballing most of their roster on this "honour and glory and premierships" excuse for ripping your players off. Like most other Roosters supporters, in your view the ends justifies the means and you are just happy to look the other way as Politis buys the Roosters one "Claytons premiership" after another. At least be honest about it. Clearly, something is rotten in the state of Bondi when an NRL audit of ALL clubs TPA payments published last year confirm that the TOTAL TPA payments for the Roosters 30 man roster was $200K!!! THAT would be only enough to cover Cooper Cronk for the first quarter of 2019, surely? Pull the other one "Hot Dog". We aren't all deceived by the Roosters' "shell and pea game".
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
The Eels? What the Eels did was a misdemeanor compared to the Storm and the Roosters. But at least the Storm got caught and punished. The Roosters probably never will thanks to the influence of "Uncle Nick" behind the scenes at NRL headquarters.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Sounds like you are trying to make excuses for the chooks underpaid rep talent in Mitchell, Keary and Manu. Do you work for half your worth for the glory and the honour of it and for the hope that one day that role on your resume will lead to a big payday somewhere down the track? So why should Latrell Mitchell? Momentum is building for Souths to "do a Crichton" on the Roosters and pry Latrell Mitchell out of Uncle Nick's clutches. If that happens the Karma will complete. You reap what you sow in life "Hot Dog". ‘They can smell blood’: Reason Latrell Mitchell saga has Sydney Roosters ‘worried’ Latrell Mitchell’s potential change of management has the Sydney Roosters “worried” about the long-term future of the player... Mitchell is said to be in the midst of a dispute following a split with his manager Steve Deacon, with new management said to favour a move to Souths for the 21-year-old. “Let me tell you the Roosters are worried about this. Privately they’re worried about the talk about South Sydney, and the change in management for Latrell.” https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/roosters/they-can-smell-blood-reason-latrell-mitchell-saga-has-sydney-roosters-worried/news-story/f1e82751aec0da23337248578d7c2e8f
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
And as for Latrell, he has rocks in his head if he goes to another club. If you want money, leave the Roosters. If you want premierships, rep honours and to be considered one of the greats then he should never leave the Chooks.
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
"the Bondi club is largely made up of one-club players and blokes who came to the Eastern Suburbs either with no reputation or one that was in tatters due to off-field issues." "Trent Robinson has built this side the same way Craig Bellamy builds his: with a handful of stars and a supporting cast of blokes who give their all" Ummm...... Not really. Tedesco, Cronk and Crichton all signed on big money. The only one club players are Cordner, Friend, Tupou and Aubusson. And even then, in this day and age one does not become a one-club player until one finishes his career. You never know when a club might shaft you off for a younger player. JWH came to the club as a NZ test front rower from Manly in 2010. Brett Morris has played 20 tests and Origins. Ryan Hall - England's greatest ever test winger playing reserve grade. Luke Keary came to the club as a premiership winner with Souths. Who in their top 17 came to the club with their reputation in tatters? Face it - the entire top 17 are test and/or Origin players. Except Jake Friend who is the Stuart McGill to Cameron Smith's Shane Warne, and Vic Radley who will be an Origin player before the year is over. To compare Robinson to Bellamy is an insult to Bellamy. Unless you're talking about the way Bellamy assembled his side from 2006-2010. I see plenty of similarities to that.
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
Love the "only a handful of stars" comment LOL. If 9 players on big pay is considered a handful then can't argue this point.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
the huge flaw with the whole article is the mercenary outlook that it is all about money. Yes money comes into it but there are many other factors involved not just money. many a player has taken an offer to another club only to find out that it was not worth it and it has stuffed their career. The Roosters will look after Latrell and it will not be just about money........ To quote his parents who are actually Souths supporters " We love the Roosters, we love what they are doing for Latrell and how they are bringing him on in the game" " There has been no discussions at home about going to Souths and we do not know where these rumours started , certainly not with Latrell"
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
The roosters seem to have an endless money pit for top players and some how stay under the salary cap so some how he'll stay a rooster.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Maybe they just have the best scouts money can buy....
Supa
Roar Rookie
So you are a souths supporter, Insider
mushi
Roar Guru
To be fair most rival teams struggle to calculate the 10% GST on Jersey
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I actually think the headline " Crichton given permission to negotiate" or "Crichton released to join Waratahs" is a real possibility.