During COVID-19 we have reset all the known perimeters – the regular season, finals, State of Origin and a considerable number of the rules. I’m sure it’s not on the commissioner’s table, but the draft is certainly a debatable topic.
The NFL, NBL and AFL all have endorsed a draft. It’s an important strategy while still complying with the salary cap. It certainly is a big event embraced by the players, their families, club members and fans as well as the general public.
The Federal Court case brought by Phillip Adamson and others against New South Wales Rugby League in 1991 found that an implementation of a draft in rugby league was a ‘restraint of free trade’.
The salary cap for 2020 is $9.5 million for an elite squad of 30 players.
The twice current premiership-winning Sydney Roosters team is looking strong for a three-peat. How would the cap work for the Tricolours? Would the Roosters and their massive salary sombrero have had the room to sign Sonny Bill Williams, arguably one of the best internationally acclaimed athletes to have ever pulled on a jersey?
The data is in. Weaker clubs in the NRL become increasingly weaker in their roster as marquee players look for the opportunity to advance their short career in the market. Some players will take unders to play in a team that consistently is a top-four competitor.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Benefits of the draft
1. Sharing talent
At the end of the season the 16 teams are graded for the draft in reverse order. If the Brisbane Broncos finish last, they get the first draft pick. That sounds fair.
If the No. 1 draft pick were a halfback and they were not in the market for a halfback, they would be able to trade with a rival club for different picks that better suited their needs. Perhaps Picks 7 and 21 might work for their current roster. It’s a trading market.
2. The thrill of the contest
Every draft process has a thrill of anticipation. It is well celebrated and a real drawcard for fans, enthusiasts and general punters alike.
3. A national talent pool
If the NRL subsidised junior player development, they would create a situation where clubs did not corral junior players and the catchment was nationwide rather then local. A lowly team would therefore have the opportunity to sign the best player in the nation, not just whoever they could scout locally. The best player in the country could build up the lowest-ranked team.
Drawbacks of the draft
1. Recruitment and retention
Currently teams put a lot of money and resource into the local player nursery. All clubs have their junior player development pathways. To develop a junior player and bring them through the ranks costs a lot of money. Scouting, scholarships and skill development.
To lose a local junior to a rival club is not a good outcome. This already happens to a degree – for example, the Titans often lose their backyard talent to neighbouring big brother Brisbane Broncos.
2. Player professional preference
Some players don’t want to play for rival clubs. If you were a Roosters junior, would you want to go to the Bulldogs? As with most jobs in life, you often need to go where the employment is, but some players will currently take less to stay local with family, friends and locality.
3. Roster management
Managing an NRL roster is a delicate balancing act. Given there is only so much money to go around, it would be prudent to engage the market to build your best roster through strategy. A draft could negate a club’s transfers.
It’s also recently been stated by a respected commentator that there is a ‘dark art’ in the player market. The Titans are fighting hard to be the best club in Queensland. The signing of David Fifita for 2021 was a massive coup.
Further, as the game progresses it is becoming increasingly money orientated. Players of the modern generation are wise to the way of the money game. For example, teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii had an enormous number of clauses and upgrades factored into his contract with the Rabbitohs, causing them to walk away. “Okay,” you say. “He’s looking after his future.” But he has never played first-grade in the NRL.
Currently player management is a joke. Contracts are not manageable. Half of the Broncos have the same manager. Third-party agreements should be transparent.
Having looked into the matter and identified significant facts, I am uncomfortable with a draft in principle as it would be as damaging as Super League. In this time of pandemic, having to manage bubbles, the coaching merry-go-round and rule changes as well as fresh NRL executives, it is a time to hunker down.
Willy the Hogg
Roar Rookie
Very interesting article, not sure if a draft can really work until they figure out what should be done about the whole contract situation. Clubs, manager & players shouldn't be allowed to talk at all while contracted. I think something along the lines that at 12.00am on the second Monday after the GF that's when the NRL should set up things like, FA (free agent) UFA (unrestricted free agent) RFA (restricted free agent.) & it finishes 11:59pm 28 Feb when teams have to finalize their rosters. If you want a transfer window make it 31 July for a period of from 10am-5pm & have that telecast live.
Paul
Roar Guru
Given the draft is still just about the only way for the vast majority to get into the NFL, I'd have thought you could say the same about any of the teams. My point was if these guys were drafted, they would have an immediate impact, ie they draft players to fill holes and as a result, win premierships, Super Bowls, etc. Sure these guys had an impact 4 years later when their respective teams had drafted a lot more players, traded a lot more guys, etc.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Their hearts my not have been in it or they were out of their depths but no team has set out to deliberately lose...
Nat
Roar Rookie
Never considered that.
David
Guest
Absolutely, one was cam newton who was the season mvp the other was Von miller who was the super bowl mvp.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yep, surely, surely more factors, but that one was there to help.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Good question and the answer is still yes. Basically Union has two tiers of player. Wallabies who get pretty decent money and the rest. It's pretty hard for that 'rest 'category to compete with league but the top talent with Wallaby potential is still a competition. See the Suala case. Can you imagine if we have a draft and he is told he's off to NQ ? Now maybe that suits him , but probably not I t forces him down a narrow path . A draft leaves us very vulnerable.
Paul
Roar Guru
another definition of tanking is to give up in competition. That's happened to a lot of Clubs this season, with plenty having the best part of 40 points put on them. The Eels, Raiders and Sharks have all had at lest 38 points run up against them in a game, but are still finals bound.
Paul
Roar Guru
Is that a direct correlation as a result of the guys they chose in the draft though? I'd have though there were way more factors that made a difference than who they chose in the draft?
Paul
Roar Guru
I don't think teams tank Dwayne, I think players give in to the situation and don't turn up mentally ready to play. Not all do this, only some, but as we know, if you've got a team of 17 blokes and only half are switched on, you're no chance of winning too many games.
Paul
Roar Guru
I find it very hard to believe ANY professional team doesn't try to win. No doubt there are some individual players who have given up ( and yes they've tanked), but the team as a whole, all 17 players plus coach, not trying to win?
David
Guest
In 2011 the Carolina panthers and Denver broncos picked number one and two. 2015 they played each other in a super bowl.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
The only comparable comp would be the AFL. Other leagues like the NFl and NBA have massive talent pools, whereas the NRL and AFL have a pretty shallow pool
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Is there evidence of that happening though every year, or by multiple teams every year? Or it just fan thoughts?
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I can’t remember off top of head, but was terry hill ‘made’ to move or put into draft? Surely a player would/should have be able to say no to be in draft or draft result? Do the other sports work that way?
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Tanking is trying not to win. It is one thing with a week or two to go in the season to try a few things, give some fringe players a run, and as a fan of the team you are ok with it, because it is good to see what you have got and win or lose it isn't the end of the world. But in some leagues you see teams do it for the whole season giving their team little chance to win because tat first pick in the draft is perceived to be so valuable. As a fan, I would hate to think my team weren't trying their hardest when I 9when i was young enough) would have done anything for that jersey if i had the chance/ability.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I think you got to look at more the a few years though, surely drafts in those successful comps have analytical data showing teams places and drafts success or failure. I think more telling are finals results over a period like a decade or two, if it ranked, have three or four teams getting into finals two or three times in twenty years it poor compared to teams not missing two or three times.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
But would that happen now? Can union, does union have the money to draw a noticeable number of talent from the league?
PaulC
Guest
Remember Denis Tutty & Terry Hill?? I hope you do because the Courts in their cases said the Draft wasn't Legal. The season has not finished & your into the "Silly Season".
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Weaker teams don't become weaker and strong teams stronger the 2014 wooden spooners won the Premiership two seasons later The team that ran 15th in 2016 has won two premierships since Canberra have made the top 8 twice in the past six seasons, but are last years grand finalists and knocking on the door of a top 4 finish this year the 2015 premiers were runners up in 2017 and have been 13th, 14th and 14th since Newcastle were the worst team since late 90's Magpies, and 3 years after their 3rd consecutive spoon are in the finals Also, the talent pool is very narrow. You need to look at the AFL and a team like North Melbourne has finished between 8-10 for 10 of the past 13 seasons. They haven't had any success, but constantly have a mid 1st-round pick, and the cream is gone. So they can't improve through the draft like other teams have