Adam Reynolds or South Sydney – is there a villain here or just two squeezing the lemon for all it’s worth under the rules of the day?
One views the salary cap as something to pilfer, the other engineers a strategy to satisfy most at the trough.
In a game of bluff, Reynolds claims the gauge is good for another four years but with only one hand in their pocket, the Rabbitohs aren’t so sure the halfback has the wheels for much more than a quarter of the trip.
Now three games ahead of the legendary Bob McCarthy and third on South Sydney’s list of top-grade appearances, the ten-year veteran appears destined to join the unwanted list of legends forced to finish in alternate colours.
Only in hindsight will we know the answer. But what is clear is that not everyone gets the ultimate farewell. You only have to look at the way the footy gods struck down Brett Morris to understand that.
But after Thursday night’s 50-point thumping to Melbourne, if the Rabbitohs are to gain anything it might just be Reynolds’ signature on a revised multi-year Redfern extension.
The trouble is, by missing the Storm try-fest, Reynolds probably just upped his value.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
For Souths power brokers, the flogging is a wake-up call to the void that could open in the organiser’s absence. While for the Broncos and Sharks, both no strangers to a capitulation, their desire to hook the 214-game linchpin will only intensify.
Far from being a one-man band, there’s no shortage of quality on the Rabbitohs’ books, but it’s a shame the local junior’s time in the red and green could be cut short by the salary cap.
According to the NRL’s website, the $9.5 million salary cap announced in 2020 is aimed at “spreading the playing talent” and to ensure clubs do not spend more than they can afford.
With respect to home-grown talent, the $0.2 million veteran and developed player allowance is an incentive to retain players with at least eight years at a club or for those who have been a top-30 player for at least ten years.
And while the intention of rewarding local talent reads well, in terms of a bargaining chip for the likes of Reynolds, it hardly adds up.
In a season where the goal posts continually shift, $0.2 million per club sounds like a small price for loyalty, particularly in the context of Peter V’landys’ vision to revive suburban grounds and local passions.
Without the power to hang on to their most revered, the NRL’s promotion of a local derby conference system points more to team colours than the tribal leaders fans also love to follow.
But in times of rapid change, what can’t be denied is the NRL’s drive to point the game in the right direction. And while Reynolds might be Souths’ loss, it should spark a review to prevent our longest serving from being driven away from their blue-collar roots.
kk
Roar Pro
When this current Panthers team gets one they will do a double. The yards they tally at present are frightening. Cleary v Munster is like watching League folk lore in the making.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that advice kk ! I guess that's all we can do in getting as much info as possible to make the decision on what's the least risk ? At the end of the day I am sure there will be plenty of more NRL seasons ahead for us all. The Canterbury premiership .....maybe try the quinella !
kk
Roar Pro
Hi Albo, Hope your precious one continues to enjoy life for a long time . Warfarin and I did not get on well and my Cardiologist now has me on different medication. A paramedic relative based in Ohio where the trips to C19 Intensive Care was almost non stop advised me to make sure I chose the Pfizer not knowing that only the under 50's had that privilege. On top of that a Doctor relative advised the same. I remain at 6's & 7"s. I am still banking on another ten seasons and a Canterbury premiership.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Hi kk ! My precious one had an aortic dissection 2 years back and has a mechanical aortic valve and a lifetime on warfarin to keep clots away. What to do about the vaccination for such cases is a real concern , and I'm not so sure that the Pfizer offers any less risk than the Astra anyway ? Its comes down to taking it all on trust that hopefully the blood thinner will overcome the clot risk ? The decision awaits.
kk
Roar Pro
Gotta get the brain into gear. Thanks Jason.
kk
Roar Pro
Imagine how many a try he would score if vaccinated. Stick with it BD.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Max – have you seen the clowns that work at the NRL, I am glad they are not running the country. I will take your comment as a compliment.
max power
Guest
Mig - its is a brilliant thing that you are not working at the NRL
max power
Guest
you are just making things up
ppa19696837
Roar Rookie
I think Reynolds is the one that should accept the Souths deal if there are concerns about injuries. The roosters had Minichello on year to year deals for the last few years of his career as Mini was as loyal to the club as they to him but he understood the salary cap implications if he could not continue his career. I think Jake Friend was on similar? So why can’t Reynolds show his loyalty to the rabbits in the same way. I’m sure he will be looked after beyond his contract especially if he does get injured. But if injury is not a concern then he should get what he wants where he can! As has been stated, the rabbitohs have the money, they are just being smart!
Muzz
Guest
You can't have your cake and eat it too. Mitchell was an overspend in the grand scheme of things. How often is he out injured or suspended?
MUCK
Guest
That happens now , its just a different club paying the older player overs because some other club just bought their best jnr. The salary cap doesnt stop clubs making stupid deals . The salary cap stops clubs from being a club of successful long term jnrs. The salary cap has its place but it is also a blight on the game. More clubs being rewarded for investing in and keeping jnrs surely cant be a bad thing . With any luck it might even mean less player managers
MUCK
Guest
I get we need a balance and to safe guard against the have and have not clubs . I get we have to use the salary cap to insure the game against the poorly run clubs who would go bankrupt in two seasons trying to win the comp by throwing money at the wrong players even though that part happens every silly season anyway. I get that its a business but I dont love Rugby League because its a business . Thats the part I hate the most. It was detrimet to our game when Petro had to leave The Broncos because of a made up cap , just like its a detriment now that Renyolds has to leave The Bunnies and it was when Matty Johns had to leave Newcastle. Its almost discrimintry . Imagine if your employer said that you were getting on a bit , we would love to keep you , can even afford to but weve just interviewed this young hot shot and even though we would love to have you stay to show him the ropes unless you halve your salary tax laws said we can only keep one of you , so thanks for your service , good luck , theres the door.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The worst that can happen is clubs pay overs to older players and get into deep financial trouble. That is the actual point of the salary cap, evening the comp is a secondary outcome.
MUCK
Guest
For sure , if a club doesnt want the veteran or they dont agree on cash then they move on and the new fella moves in but if a deal can be made and the club has the cash then whats wrong in having both . I just cant see a problem in keeping a long serving clubman. Has to be better for the game than having to dump him because by keeping a club favourite the club or player suffers. What would be the worst that would happen . A team of juniors stay together and a club has prolonged success by investing in their juniors ?? How terrible . Much better to have it like it is now where theres two clubs who just buy other teams jnrs and have prolonged success while everyone else plays catch up trying to buy , sell and trade players like the games run on ebay.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I completely agree but the kicker is how do the clubs bring along the replacement for that 10 year veteran. If we combine that with youth incentives then I think it works to a degree but if they need to sign a younger player to get them ready many clubs will still get rid of the old player to allow the younger guy time to develop as an NRL player.
MUCK
Guest
Im all for cap concessions for one club players or 10yr+ players . Every contract needs to be registered and any obscene or dodgey back ended deals could be squashed by the NRL . If a player wants to stay and a club wants to keep hìm and they have the pokie cash then after 10yrs+ plus service I dont see a problem in letting them. Make it 12yrs if 10 is too short. I dont see why an ageing player needs to go overseas , interstate or down the road to keep playing on a deal that represents their worth just because a club needs to start playing the new guy , why cant we see both play . Let them retire where they want if the club wants them . If the only thing forcing a ledgend or great servant of a club out is the salary cap then bollocks to it. How many would there actually be and would the balance of the game really change for the worse that much if we had more one club players. Id rather read one week of stories on how a fan favourite is staying because next year brings up 11 seasons than 18 months of crud about how a club couldnt keep their favourite son because they needed to manage the bloody salary cap and all the bitterness that goes with it.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Who?
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Our day will come. Stay healthy kk. Cheers
Rellum
Roar Guru
If they want to grow the game then cap concessions for developing local juniors should be introduced or expanded. If Melbourne can be incentivized to really try and develop Vic players then that is growing the game. If Perth came in and did that or a second New Zealand team then that is growing the game. Some Sydney teams might start to struggle if we reward teams who put the effort into developing a junior nursery and maybe in the end we can see less Sydney teams who all have decent areas to develop juniors from. Sydney teams and fans would complain that they don't have areas to get kids from like the Broncs or Cows, but that is the general problem of having too many teams in one small area. That is not a reason not to bring in cap relief for teams developing local juniors. Then maybe we will see more effort put into developing players than we do now. Some clubs, most the Broncs are outright hopeless at identifying talent,