The Sydney Roosters are poised to free up $400,000 of salary cap space by allowing Sonny Bill Williams to play with them.
The unusual deal has arisen because the man known better as SBW is so keen to rejoin the club he has reportedly offered to pay the Roosters $400,000 to play there. Roosters’ club supremo Nick Politis has explained that just as paying players takes up space, receiving a payment from SBW would add further space into the club’s salary cap.
A buoyant Politis said “It’s not rocket science. Sonny Bill Williams is desperate to rejoin our club during this COVID-19 hiatus in the Toronto Wolfpack’s participation in the Super League. He has chosen the Roosters due to its wonderful winning culture, coaching staff, professionalism, as well as lifestyle and numerous other “intangible” benefits. We’re delighted that Sonny Bill Williams is that keen, and at the same time, we’re thereby able to add a ‘credit’ in an accounting sense, to our salary cap”, he said.
Politis added that the deal was welcome as it will free up space to recruit some players to help fill the void left by serious injuries to Victor Radley and Angus Crighton. “You could say we’re able to kill two birds with one stone, or should I say, two Roosters”, the club boss said, chuckling heartily.
When asked how the figure of $400,000 for SBW to pay the Roosters was determined, a spokesperson for the Roosters explained that there was some complexity involved. “Our salary cap management involves a number of complex algorithms that are difficult for the layperson to fully understand, but trust me, it works!” said the spokesperson.
However, a former insider was able to divulge off the record that the inputs into the Roosters salary cap algorithm were closely guarded, comparable to the recipe for KFC in its secrecy. A highly confidential leaked document showed that the calculation involved inputs such as the market price for eggs, the share price of Steggles Holdings and a special number known only as the “NP factor” which, it is understood, is a balancing figure.
“In the case of Sonny Bill Williams, we used our usual algorithm in reverse since in this case, Sonny Bill is wanting to pay us”.
The Roosters have become highly regarded for their ability to manage their salary cap to produce almost miraculous outcomes, so much so that the Big 5 accounting firm KPWCMG has been in discussions with the Roosters accounting team asking them to consult to the firm.
A source at KPWCMG who preferred not to go on the record, said: “We are so impressed with what the Roosters’ salary cap accounting team are able to achieve that, under demand from many of our high-net-worth clients, we would like ‘recruit’ that expertise to add to our service offering.”
(Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
The unusual SBW transaction is likely to create some waves in the already highly competitive market for NRL talent. It is understood that salary cap management teams at other clubs are already pouring over the details to scrutinise its legitimacy, with one rival club’s head accountant say “it doesn’t seem right, but we can’t work out why just yet!”
Meanwhile, the NRL’s salary cap auditor was non-committal, saying “It all seems to make sense mathematically, and of course, we welcome Sonny Bill back to the NRL so it’s a win for the game and for accountants everywhere”.
The salary cap has already become more complex to administer, with credible rumours circulating that several high-profile Broncos players are willing to pay large sums to leave the club. It is believed the Broncos are preparing to make a submission to the NRL that such payments by players to leave should, likewise, come off their salary cap.
It is understood the Broncos are being advised by KPWCMG, and that the decision will be escalated to Peter V’landys.
kk
Roar Pro
There are over 700 natural born actors in the NRL and NRWL whom would tread the boards and do virtually anything in front of a camera. It may be wise to engage the Sydney Philharmonic+ Choirs to create a sound track to add to the spiritual experience emanating from such a spectacle.
Kman
Roar Rookie
PS Catch-22 - now that's one of the all time classic satires!
Kman
Roar Rookie
KK, i think it would make an excellent stage play, and imagine the musical score to go with it. Imagine sort of like the Pink Panther theme music, given the intrigue and mystery along with slight comedy, of the Roosters cap :laughing:
Kman
Roar Rookie
Paul, I've never had an article called "Excellent" so your comment is going 'straight to the pool room'! :thumbup: Thank you! And I agree, despite my satire about them, I am very envious and admiring of that organisation - they (and the Storm) are head and shoulders above the rest in professionalism.
kk
Roar Pro
An intriguing celebration of the algorithm industry. The stage play coming?
Paul
Roar Guru
I don't know why, but while reading this excellent article, I thought back to reading Catch-22. It's funny how the Roosters get so much attention for the players they sign up. As you jokingly point out, they must have excellent bean counters because there's no doubt the NRL would be going over every aspect of their finances with a microscope. The fact they've come up squeaky clean, but still built the squad they have, speaks volumes for their organisation. Ditto for the Storm. Keep these pieces coming Kman. They're great fun to read.
mushi
Roar Guru
On Morris all reports had him on similar money to what he was at the Sharks but that was bargain basement because they were the only option at the time for the mid 30's centre. He was probably one of the value contracts in the NRL at the Sharkies, you just don't notice because Dugan was chewing up rep full back money. The last line is where clubs lose it - over paying to recruit.
mushi
Roar Guru
I still am not sure why John’s is a better than average source or anything approaching proof. Ask Singleton how much Andrew John’s “facts” are worth as proof. John’s himself said he can’t be taken seriously as he sheepishly tried to side step the enquiry that caused. Didn’t he also say he doesn’t think before he speaks around the famous Tahu/Inglis session and lied to his family his whole career about the disco biscuits. Now none are these are string the guy up offences - but they do say no reasonable person should rely on what he says. Ever. He himself has warned you not to. Great footballer, but he’s also a addled self-confessed BS merchant who should not be relied upon. I'd have trusted a blog from J Citizen above Andrew Johns As to his access giving credibility that’s very odd for a storm guy to say as it implies every employee of the storm was complicit. That aside, his access would be a reason he wouldn’t be in the know. Let’s just introduce logic for a second. Would you as a front office guy trying to out negotiate 15 other front offices share any information Johns who works for multiple clubs plus the media and is looser lipped than a Phuket ping pong team? Let’s say the roosters front office are incredibly bad at understanding simple commercial concepts and so they do share info with him. Even then no person with a pulse would share information regarding systemic fraud of the cap with the press unless they were whistle blowing, and in that case you wouldn't pick someone with the credibility of Johns.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Everybody knows the hardest worker out at Bondi is the Accountant - not only the black n white set of books ,but I've heard there's a yellow n grey version too.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
I wasn't paying much attention to the recipes or cartoons on Sophie's show :stoked:
Kman
Roar Rookie
Love that comment Cumberland!! Wish I could've worked that angle into the article :laughing:
Kman
Roar Rookie
:laughing: maybe with Michael Jordan on an incentive contract, thrown in
Kman
Roar Rookie
Great to see the Dragons season improve so much, after the poor start. And I'm an Eels fan. Lomax is a future superstar.
Kman
Roar Rookie
Fair comments Joe. I will never be throwing stones too hard, my hapless Eels were at one stage using brown paper bags to pay, and they still came last!!! :crying:
Cumberland Thrower
Roar Rookie
Peter V’Landys is on record as being concerned about sun-safe behaviour of Sydney’s Bondi Beach boys and encouraging them to ditch the salary cap, replacing it with a salary broad-brimmed hat to ensure it covers as much as possible. Don’t want those boys in the East coming to any harm.
Kman
Roar Rookie
That's a very helpful insight, Mushi. I hadn't thought about that but makes sense. I have no doubt they and Storm are head and shoulders above the others including my own Eels in that sort of professionalism and thoughtful management. Little wonder players want to play there.
Panana split
Roar Rookie
The roosters would find a way to fit Lebron James under thier salary cap.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Actually not really into the Rooster sombrero conspiracy at all as I'm more of a actual proof type, especially as Storm have copped that criticism for years with the big 3 but that Johns interview just raised the eyebrow a bit as he isn't just another blogger. End of the day who knows, maybe Morris took less money to be with his bro which is very likely and SBW is bargain basement price now.
mushi
Roar Guru
Gee touchy in the comments section of satire article. I figured you were tounge in cheek using Johns as your smoking gun.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Nowhere in my post do I say that. I said after the season starts they sign Morris and SBW. And how many times is the Cronk money going to be used in this forum...first it was Keary and Tedesco were obviously backended because Cronk is leaving in two years, than Crighton signed because Cronk leaving and then Flanagan signed because Cronk money....not to mention all other players in the team who got upgraded because Cronk money. In comparison both Cronk and Slater leave the Storm and they sign Brenko Lee but its because Smith is taking half the salary cap obviously. Like I said, watch Andrew Johns interview on SBW, someone who actually worked at the Roosters for a few years and tell me that maybe something isn't adding up...literally.