The depths of some footy fans’ dislike for the Melbourne Storm never ceases to amaze me.
I can understand why the Storm aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. In fact as a Parramatta Eels supporter I hated the Storm for many, many years. Part of it was due to their salary cap breaches in the late 2000s. Many of you will also recall that Parramatta lost a grand final to a Storm team that was in breach of its salary cap obligations, which planted some deep seeds of bitterness within me.
But the salary cap breaches weren’t the only reason I disliked the Storm. Another part of it was jealousy. I was jealous that a club existed that could have such prolonged and ongoing success while the club that I supported remained perennial cellar dwellers.
People will proffer many reasons as to why they don’t like the Storm. Apparently, they have destroyed rugby league through the introduction of wrestling and the grapple. Others don’t – and will never – like Cameron Smith, who doesn’t even play for the Storm anymore. Some say they play boring and mechanical footy – those people I encourage to perhaps watch a Storm game; this is a team that is anything but mechanical.
But the response to the news that Xavier Coates had signed with the Storm for the 2022 and 2023 seasons was met with some odd responses.
Phil Gould tweeted: “So the Premiers get to buy the best player from the Wooden Spoon team. Yep. That’s a great system. Been saying it for 20 years.”
I’m really unclear about the point Gould is trying to make here.
Is it that the current premiers have signed a player from the 2020 wooden spooners and that this shouldn’t be permitted? Is it that he doesn’t think clubs are being appropriately rewarded for developing players (I do think there is some truth to that)? Is it something else?
Let’s unpack the Coates signing a little further.
Out of curiosity, how many players at the level of Coates can you name that the Storm have signed in recent years?
When Josh Addo-Carr joined the Storm his career was just beginning. Players like Harry Grant, Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nicho Hynes are talent that the Storm have identified and nurtured. Grant was a standout in Queensland Cup for several years. I still find it baffling that no other club identified him.
I would even go further here. Not only have the Storm not been a club that poaches well-established players, but the Storm are a club that take chances on many players that other clubs showed little interest in – players like Nate Myles and George Jennings.
The Storm are not a club in the habit of poaching talented players from other clubs. They develop the talent themselves.
In fact it’s one of the reasons the Storm are such an exceptional side. Craig Bellamy has an incredible gift for identifying talent and coaching players to do a particular role. We all can think of examples where an average player has joined the Storm and has improved significantly.
So I’m not sure why the Coates signing has hit such a nerve.
Players move around all the time. It is part of the game.
Players have only a limited career, and I do not blame them for wanting to maximise their earning potential while they can. I also don’t blame players for wanting to leave a club that has had limited success for a couple of seasons for a club that is extremely successful.
When James Tedesco signed with the Sydney Roosters I don’t remember it being met with such derision. Wests Tigers fans were disappointed, but I don’t recall questions being asked about why a good team should be able to sign a player from a poor team.
Additionally, it is problematic to make it as black and white as the 2020 premiers signing a player from wooden spoon team. This simplicity ignores the challenges that the Brisbane Broncos have been facing over the last couple of years.
For a long time the Broncos were the Queensland powerhouse. Players would make a decision to join Brisbane because of the club’s calibre, and my understanding is that there were also players who made the decision to remain at Brisbane for less money because of the type of club it was.
You cannot blame players for wanting to move on from a club that has struggled over recent seasons.
Coates is not the first player of note that the Broncos have lost recently. This may be something Broncos fans aren’t used to, but it is absolutely normal and part of the game. You cannot keep all your players.
Rather than focus on the Storm and how they were able to sign Coates, we should be asking: why did the Broncos have so much trouble keeping him?
AnonLurker
Roar Rookie
Correct No one complained when broncos signed Milford , bird , Reynolds , Mundine to name a few . Roosters buying Cronk , tedesco , sualli, maloney, poached Flanagan tried poaching xerri
Joel
Guest
Good article. Good to admit your jealous of storm.and their system is what makes them great. One thing though, highly doubt Coates is on big money at Storm, we don't pay big for wingers - Coates just wants to develop and hopefully win.
eNuff
Roar Rookie
We get around
Patrick
Guest
I remember not too long ago Xavier Coates crying when he was handed his Broncos Jersey and saying it was his dream come true and he would give everything for that club and being a part of rebuilding it to its former glory. The Broncos have since then taken some big steps towards reshaping their player, coaching and board roster to align with making that come true and for what? For Coates to leave as soon as someone winks at him? He needs to realise success doesn't happen over night and he is leaving his team mates in the lurch with where they were going together; so the player needs to take some responsibility there as well. Ado Carr down the same thing when he left a rebuilding Tigers outfit for the Storm. In the AFL their draft system gives the cellar dwellers preference so that they have a chance to rebuild. What Melbourne has done here goes along way to kick the Broncos while they are down. The comp had a 50 point difference between top four teams playing each other on the weekend....something needs to change.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Its a complex issue. TPIs can't be organised through the club . They can't come from a club sponsor. They can't be used by a club to induce a player into a contract. So if Cam Smith is at the Storm and an entity independent of the club offers to top up his contract for a period of time ( as they did) that's fine. It can't be one of the clubs sponsors or organised through the club. Its murky for sure . Generally large TPIs go to clubs with good business connections AND star players. The Broncs , Storm and Roosters probably have had the lions share over time , but even the Cows had some when JT played. The bottom line is how do you stop a non related entity giving money to a player not using any intellectual property of the club ( jerseys etc) or the NRL.? Basically you can't. So the NRL don't try to. My point is why would you want to anyway . These stars get paid more and are less likely to to be tempted away from the game. Is it ' fair ' to all clubs . Well thats another argument.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
To be honest mate, I just don't understand the point of TPAs. The 2019 figures (the only ones I found) show a massive spend by one club and that seems weird that a League would have that situation even possible. And they're my team. If a by-product of TPAs is player retention why is it not just accommodated by a higher cap? Makes no sense to me to have a cap and then additional money you can access for your players if you are able. I have no doubt Melbourne would often be at the top of that tree being the only NRL team in a very big town, even allowing for AFL competiton for dollars and sponsors. I know many people have advocated for a 'discount' for long-serving players against a team's salary cap and I can't see why that wouldn't be fairer and just as effective.
Rob
Guest
Guess the Cowboys got ripped pretty bad for JT’s signature. Did better without him and saved a lot of money as well.
Rob
Guest
Kikau was the NYC prop of the year and top try scorer. Seriously are saying he left because he didn’t like playing front row? I actually can’t believe I’m trying to understand you. Kikau left because Gus gave him double and Cowboys couldn’t match it. My Original point is Gould has never had a problem signing good young talent from other clubs before when he was chasing it. JAC is going somewhere else for more money, why is it the Storm or the NRL fault Coats has decided to go to Melbourne. I have know idea what your point is. Reynolds is going to the Broncos for the best money he can get and they are happy to pay it so what? I have no problem with a player doing what he wants. I do have a problem with Gould saying it’s the NRL’s fault. He is blaming the officiating on the NRL because he has a different opinion. He’s blaming NSW losing Origin on coaching and development and everyone else. He’s a perfect know it all hypocrite at times when it suits his agenda.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
How many Cam Smiths do you get in a lifetime of watching RL. One or two at the most. How many Artie Beetsons , one. How many Wally Lewises , one. How many GIs , one or two. How many Andrew Johns, one. Rare talent is RARE. There are no Wally Lewis' s hiding out there. No Artie Beetsons playing country footy waiting to be discovered. Wally almost went to Union, Johns thought about the switch. Without players like that our game is so much poorer. Without star power the game will wither. The more money in League the better. TPAs are not designed to stop players switching . Read what I say more carefully. But more money in League means less likelihood of players leaving. Suaali is in League for one reason only. The Roosters offered him a superior deal. Not all related to money i grant you but if you think the cash didn't count at all I don't know what to say.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Whoa, seriously? We have TPAs to stop 'star' players from going to Rugby?? Who sold the NRL on that furphy?? Who cares who goes to Rugby? The NRL need not fear losing 'star' players to other codes, there's always another Billy Slater or Cameron Smith waiting in the wings. They have a salary cap, that should be that.
Joey
Guest
They stuck him in the front row because he was the biggest. No thought as to where he was best suited. Eyes painted on imo. These two players went from one of the top sides , downwards. Evening out the comp I would have thought. Joseph Suaalli. Penrith junior suddenly he’s only either a Rabbit or a Rooster. Case in point. The local club doesn’t own you because that’s where you played your junior footy. And no one ties down the player and makes them sign for another club under duress. It’s the players decision to leave for more dollars or stay for probably less dollars or less opportunity. Did Broncos poach Reynolds ? No chance, he left. Let’s put some responsibility on the player who signs. They are their own person.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I'm actually not proud of it...pretty indifferent to be honest as I don't really care where the players come from. Just adding to the record as those players were missed by the poster above.
Rob
Guest
Or money to spend? Cowboys got Kikau started and away and Gould snapped him up. Tamou couldn't be kept because Panthers and others were circling the Cowboys roster. Kikau was the top try scorer in NYC playing front row and named NYC Prop of the year. Then trailed in Cowboys top side before then being signed with Penrith. He didn't play 1st grade for a year? Played front row in NSW cup. Wasted and not given a go by the Cowboys? Cowboys scouts (looking with eyes i believe) found him in Fiji? Was it Gould that signed coach Cleary off and out of the struggling Tigers coaching contract? Did Gould not poach the best Penrith junior to get Fittler to the Roosters, Fitzgibbon, Ivan Cleary, Dunn? Did he persuade Maloney to break a contract? Any way point is Gould has never had a problem getting a player especially those with talent to play for his club. The salary cap is something Phil Gould has used cap plenty of times to get his man. Hypocrite plan and simple. Wolf in sheep's clothing feeling anything for a Queensland club also. Gould is just dirty Coats will be getting high level experience instead of a NSW player under Bellamy at a the Storm, a club Sydney people hate for being successful IMO. If Coats was signed by the Rooster? 100% Gould would be applauding the smarts of their recruitment team and the great benefit Coats would get under the Roosters system.
Noel
Guest
Shorter contract and less money, hardly poached. Storm has done more for fringe players and players on the outer than any other club in the NRL. And , Mary your mates at Parra and other clubs never received the penalties for over the top payment s that Storm did. Sydney justice!
Muzz
Guest
It's 2021 boys completely different rosters so you're just assuming.
Julieee
Roar Rookie
Lets not forget how many teams have dipped into the Storm talent pool over the years, in fact I think that every team in the comp has someone who played for the Storm. Storm were in great need of a new winger. They lost Suli this year and are losing Josh Addo Carr next year….very hard to replace these guys. So why shouldnt they go out and find a replacement like other teams do. They went out and bought a new winger, who was happy to sign on the dotted line, remembering that the Titans also tried to rip him away from Brisbane. But that would have been ok because it wasnt Melbourne. I remember a short time ago that Brisbane thought was ok to sit down with a young up and coming number 7 by name of Brodie Croft and lure him away from the Storm, not that that worked well, but no one thought anything of it, because lots of teams have done it and will keep doing it to Melbourne as long as Craig Bellamy keeps churning out excellent young players. I think Gus (I really hate Melbourne) should pull his head in
mushi
Roar Guru
On the actual draft Nicko. One of the bigger execution issues, even if the league thinks they’ve got a case that increased restrictions are required, will be how do you unwind the current junior system. A lot of sport “infrastructure” is an organic construct that is really tough to take a blank piece of paper approach to. What did the broncos say? They've got 75+ guys on junior contracts let's say the average is 50 - that's 800 people effectively fired by a draft. And unlike a redundancy in a restructure they’re still the 800 players you want to compete for jobs, so you want to employ from that exact pool you’ve just fired. So you’d have to basically tell the clubs they’ve got a 3-4 year run way and stop investing in juniors. Then you need to build an alternative infrastructure for these kids to be NRL ready as if they’re not then you’re losing at least a year or two of their 2-3 year rookie contract (and defeating the purpose of the draft). Then you’re hoping that when the draft is implemented you win the predictable legal challenge, is that worth the risk? Because if you fail at that point you then have wasted that infrastructure investment (as clubs will rationally want to return to their controlled channels as a source of advantage)
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
mushi, can't argue with that
Emcie
Roar Guru
iirc it was more of a PR thing at the time talking up the Nrl's latest initiative, dunno if it was ever going to be a regular thing. I keep seeing Munsters face everywhere, so I'm sure they havn't slipped too far
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Thanks for saving me the trouble. Do you know when the 2021 figures will come out? Be interesting to see if the TPAs at Melbourne continue or walked out with Smith.