As we have seen recently, a lot of NRL staff and coaches have been told they have been let go to ease the financial strain on the NRL.
It’s been reported that players want a 50 per cent pay cut but the NRL want them to take 70 per cent or more.
The NRL has also shut down contract deals for the meanwhile because of the current financial strain due to the coronavirus pandemic. The salary cap could change a lot depending on how much money will be lost.
Tyson Frizell has confirmed that he has left the Dragons and has signed with the Knights on a three-year-deal starting next season worth around $2.1 million, which is a big gain for the Knights but a big loss for the Dragons.
Dragons recruiter Ian Milward said that with Frizell leaving the club, they have a lot of money to play around with in the player market.
David Fifita is currently still unsigned with reports that teams like the Titans have offered him $2 million, but his mum still has a big say in where he goes and who he signs with. His best option is to stay in Brisbane, but other clubs like South Sydney – who are financially stable – could be better.
Cameron Smith, who has played over 400 games for the Storm, is expected to retire to help the Storm in their financial issues. This will be a big loss for the Storm but they have a young number nine in Brandon Smith who is electric around the play-the-ball.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Nick Cotric is expected to re-sign with the Raiders but with the uncertainty around money and salary cap costs, chief executive Dave Furner said he spoke to Cotric during the week and will talk to his agent later on. But it will be hard to see Cotric play anywhere else.
The list below is all the players that could be forced to retire to help their clubs financially – and a lot of game experience could be lost.
The big names include Cameron Smith (Storm, 413 games), Chris Lawrence (Tigers, 242 games), Benji Marshall (Tigers, 310 games), Darius Boyd (Broncos, 319 games), Kieran Foran (Bulldogs, 199 games), James Graham (Dragons, 182 games), Iosia Soliola (Raiders, 202 games).
If those seven players were to retire to ease the financial difficulties for clubs and the NRL, that means 1867 games worth of NRL experience will be gone just like that. It will be sad to see players like Cameron Smith retire but it can help the game get better by bringing in good young players.
These are uncertain times for the game and most people think the NRL will fall into a deep, deep hole.
But the game will only get better and stronger as a family, however, unfortunately families fight and that means the NRL could reduce the number of teams to 12 instead of 16, which will seriously help the NRL but leave hundreds of NRL players without a club to go to.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
The Storm had an average of over 12,000 in 1998 which was only bettered by 4 other NRL teams.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Another problem with the pending retirements was the news on the NRL's player retirement fund. Seems to be ten million short due to the NRL using this for other purposes. These players will obviously want this money when they go.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Better than a loss to Cronulla in front of no crowd.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The Titans got huge crowds in the first few years, it's the honeymoon period.
JGK
Roar Guru
Sure. But he is one of the most competitive players ever to lace up a boot. I reckon he’d give it one more crack.
Big Daddy
Guest
How lucky are the guys that got their medical retirement. Guys like Matt Gillett and Sam Burgess probably got a decent payout.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
The ‘packed’ old Olympic ground was not a large crowd.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Maybe.. as I say it all gets down to how he feels when this is all over. I think he’s professional enough to know his own capacity to get up for it.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
If that's it for Cameron Smith, what an odd way to finish. An away win against Cronulla in front of no crowd.
JGK
Roar Guru
Depends when/ if the season starts again. He is effectively getting a taste of retirement now. IF he likes it he might stay there. That said, I reckon that if there is a resumption and a shortened season, he'd look to play. The gate receipts alone from people knowing it is his last few home games will pay for itself.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Tom the Storm had packed stands in year 1 and won the GF in year 2
Stormy
Roar Rookie
It would be criminal if any player were not to get a farewell game after all they have given to the game & all the entertainment they have provided to us, the fans.
Big Daddy
Guest
All these clubs still going and spending up if there's no tomorrow. When the competition resumes we don't know if salary cap is reduced or what broadcast money what grants from NRL if any and yet they still do it. Good luck with that.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Dunno if you’d retire players if you didn’t have someone of similar ability ready to step in. In all probability 193 gamer Aidan Guerra won’t be renewed to fit in Frizelle, but cant see Cameron or Benji pink slipped.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Quite simply it lowers operating costs.. however as you rightly point out it also diminishes revenue. The market just gets smaller when you cut teams. NRL is such a tribal sport that killing off teams does not immediately translate into fans getting a new team allegiances, the same way new teams don't automatically mean an explosion of new fans. It took years to get Melbourne years of success and premierships to get even a reasonable following in that city. Also I want to know what the criteria for the cull would be.. say it were on field successes and sound financial management, that would've seen the Knights kicked out a number of times in the last decade. Now their favourite son, Johns is calling for a cull of weak sides. Culling is not the answer
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I know Cam Smith is still playing well, he proved that in round one, but not sure how a lengthy lay off of this type will affect him. My view is that he may just decide that this may be enough to convince him to call it a day. Having said that the shorter season may well benefit him. I guess it all gets down to how he backs up
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Mitch Aubusson has played 292 games for one club. Won three premierships and played in another Grand Final. He is ten games short of becoming the most capped player at a foundation club. I feel he should have been on the list. Also what happens with existing contracts? I am under the impression that they expire in October. Will that cause issues if season is extended?
Paul
Roar Guru
I get where you're coming from when you suggest some players could/should retire to help ease the financial burden, but surely it's about salary versus need. I notice for example you don't include DCE or other high paid 200 gamers in your list of players who might have to retire, but include guys like Chris Lawrence, who took a pay cut to stay at the Tigers. You also suggest reducing the number of teams from 16 to 12 could help the NRL, but how does this help the game as a whole? The majority of Clubs have been in the comp for more than 40 years, so dumping Clubs would have a massive impact on fans. It would also hurt the codes bottom line, having 2 less games a week to televise and leave plenty of players and support staff jobless. I can see this approach hurting rather than helping the NRL.
Madrid John
Guest
Not sure how 12 teams helps the NRL? That’s a 25% reduction of teams and therefore revenue from TV, etc.