When it comes to men’s rugby league, at the moment there is genuinely only one thing I care about: the Parramatta Eels playing finals football.
Given the team’s strong win against the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night, it’s looking pretty good, with the real question is where the team will finish.
But for some fans it seems there’s a much bigger concern than their team’s on-field performance, and that’s the gifting of a $15,000 ring to Cameron Smith’s wife to celebrate Smith’s 400-game milestone a couple of weeks ago.
Spare me the complaining.
I’ll admit there are some parts of this gift that are a bit challenging to accept.
Despite Smith being arguably the greatest rugby league player of his time, does this gift set a precedent for every player who reaches 400 games? James Graham reached 400 NRL games a couple of weekends ago – did his wife receive a gift?
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Smith may have been the first player to reach that 400-game milestone, but he certainly was celebrated across that weekend and even had a testimonial dinner.
It also seems a bit fishy that this wasn’t disclosed or declared at the time by the NRL and has only now come out because of a scoop from the Daily Telegraph.
In the past there have been circumstances in which clubs have flown out players’ parents from overseas and had the airfares deducted from the salary cap -how does this ring fit in with the salary cap, if at all?
Additionally, I realise the role that Barb Smith has played during her husband’s career. In many circumstances partners have to make tremendous sacrifices so their partners can chase their dreams (Barnaby Joyce’s former wife immediately comes to mind).
Barb may well be one of these women, and I certainly do not question the influence she has had on her husband’s career, but the NRL could have presented her with something less flashy while still acknowledging her role in his career and allowing the money to be spent elsewhere – and there are plenty of other places this could have been spent.
Of course, while I understand things are challenging in the bush at the moment, it’s worth noting each year, to its financial detriment, the NRL takes games to regional parts of the country. What other sports are doing this?
Honestly, despite all that, I really don’t care that much and don’t understand why this has become such a massive issue. In the end it’s $15,000 and will have no impact on the Storm’s ability on the field.
I wonder if a gift had been presented to the partner of a less maligned player – say, Tara Rushton, who is married to Cooper Cronk – whether the result would have been different here. There are many footy fans who take any chance they can to have a crack at Smith; is this just another one of those occasions?
My social media this weekend has been awash with people who are demanding that Todd Greenberg and Peter Beattie step down immediately because of this gift. Apparently this is the last straw in an inept administration and things need to change immediately.
Really?
Greenberg and Beattie are not perfect. But who is?
If I compare the NRL compared to many other sports in the Australian landscape, we are shining. Numbers on television are up. The women’s game continues to flourish, not to mention the quality of the men’s game. Our State of Origin series continues to top television ratings and more people are playing and watching our game than ever before.
Compare us to other sports like football or, heaven forbid, rugby union. Rugby league is in a really good place. I think it’s time we all stopped and appreciated it, because isn’t that what’s fun?
Additionally, there have been some really mean comments about Barb, who has genuinely done nothing wrong in this situation.
Given the comments we have seen in recent weeks on social media about players like Paul Momorovski, Latrell Mitchell and Blake Ferguson, I thought people might take the opportunity to be a bit kinder, particularly during ‘women in league’ round. I was wrong.
Perhaps as footy fans we need to take a deep breath and smile, especially if your team is still in contention to be playing in September. Finals footy is not far away and given the form of the top five teams, it’s going to be a cracker.
Enjoy the final weeks of the season, because I know I’ll be complaining when the off-season commences. Let’s not let $15,000 get in the way, even if it could have been better spent elsewhere.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Add it to the list.. should keep you busy
Emcie
Roar Guru
Um, alright then, I didn't realise not just going along with public sentiment made me unoriginal. I'll try to work on that...
Adam
Roar Guru
They tried to give it to him but realised it would look silly a player wearing that rock on the field
Nat
Roar Guru
With respect, of course it's confected outrage. I'm no NRLHQ apologist but I'm trying to keep perspective here. Yes, by extension, the fans pay the bills. Gate taking are for the club coffers but TV does contribute the vast majority of funds to the NRL which is determined by how much advertising they can sell. However, I doubt there will be too many tune out because Smith's misses received a diamond ring (which apparently is maybe a third of the reported value). I can only speak for myself but an admin error such ass this isn't going to drive me away from the game. We have enough issues on the park to concern ourselves with. If people feel the game is unwatchable or their team is getting penalised out of the game and stop watching - fair enough. But to cancel the KAYO over something that zero effect on any game, my team or life is extreme.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Are you telling me the sticking point for a week of outrage has been grossly misrepresented by the media? Ah well, at least they're not profiting off this...
Nat
Roar Guru
I get that BD, IMO this whole thing came about because of a dumb administrative error. An error that was probably the doing of a lazy/forgetful admin assistant in getting the paperwork done before the event. That's how this whole story came about and embellished, the DT became aware of all the awards, gifts, acknowledgements being handed out at this event, then went on to uncover that this ring wasn't part of the official register and asked the question about whether it could/should be considered under the Cap. So, yes, it was handled poorly but if that paperwork was complete, this wouldn't even be a story. There is now doubt that the ring was anywhere near $15k (according to Weidler). After this blew up, the NRL gave the DT a cost summary of the night which totaled $15k. 1+1=3 in their world.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Ironic from someone who is the least original thinker on this site to be calling out someone else for group thinking.
mushi
Roar Guru
Isn't effectively the same thing? So if they'd given it to Cam to then pass on we'd be fine?
Shane
Roar Pro
Nat, yes they source their own funding - from fans. Fans who walk through turnstiles and turn on their TV’s. And while these boneheads keep making bonehead decisions like this fans will stop walking through turnstiles and keep turning off their TV’s. And the game will die. This is not outrage for no reason, this is people who are disappointed with abysmal leadership!
Shane
Roar Pro
I think the important part in all this is the value of the ring in question and how that washes with fans. $15,000.00 is actually a hell of a lot of money to many rugby league supporters. People like volunteers at junior clubs, battling fringe first graders, rising women’s representative players, bush clubs who travel long distances to play games. All of these groups that make our sport great could do a lot with that much money. And they certainly wouldn’t go buying lavish jewellery with it.
Richie
Roar Rookie
But not to the partner so the company can gain brownie points.
mushi
Roar Guru
Then your life is infinitely better than mine
Emcie
Roar Guru
Ah, fair enough
mushi
Roar Guru
Companies routinely give gifts after 20 years and it isn't a comparable achievement in an office. One organisation I worked for gave 10k
mushi
Roar Guru
Damn I went too fast in my delorean and ended up in 1985. Imagine when I tell these guys about "Fullback money"
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
yes but under a different heading, I accidentally put it in the wrong place.... :crying:
Emcie
Roar Guru
I think you're overestimating the power of shareholders mate, most corporations have someone (or a couple someones) with a controlling share. The NRL commission operates with more checks and ballances then most big business would. Google has millions of shareholders but goodluck trying to make the board answerable to anyone if you disagree with how they're running things. Being a not for profit doesn't just give you free rein to operate however you want, and the NRL still has plenty of stakeholders with plenty of say.
TAZZ
Roar Rookie
I think a South Pacific round would be more relevant
TAZZ
Roar Rookie
Excellent, I would like to see that happening as well
Emcie
Roar Guru
Ah, the old "everyone that doesn't agree with me is a fanboy or an apologist". As much as I love the irony of calling a Parra supporter and a Knights supporter out for their pro-Storm bias for their articles it would be nice to get something a bit more original then that...