Do you ever wonder what the fabulously wealthy owners of the silvertail clubs like South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters dream about every night before nodding off to sleep in their harbourside mansions after a hard day of counting their money?
Well, let me tell you.
They dream of an alternative rugby league dimension where the salary cap is just a notion, and they can buy as many players as they can personally afford in order to win the Provan-Summons trophy that they covet from dawn until dusk.
In this dream state utopian world, they could buy up all of the talent that they could get their hands on, for whatever price, either to use the players themselves, or to deny their wealthy opponents the opportunity to do so.
The less fortunate clubs – who are still relying on the NRL grant, poker machines, and the sale of some club trinkets for their financial survival – would be permanently resigned to failure and mediocrity.
Their primary role would be to make up the numbers, and to nurture and develop players for eventual acquisition by the BRW Rich Listers.
Come to think of it, there seems to be a number of clubs doing that now!
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Before we go any further, let’s not forget that we’re talking about some very busy and influential people here, so they won’t have time to look at individual player resumes and highlights packages.
No, they’ll just go with the market, and snap up the most expensive players that they can find in each position, in the belief that price equates to quality, just like it does when acquiring a property, super yacht or personal jet.
So here’s the team that they’re dreaming of, selected purely on price according to their current (rumoured) contract values for the 2022 season.
1. James Tedesco ($1.1m)
2. Kalyn Ponga ($1m)
3. Tom Trbojevic ($1.1m)
4. Latrell Mitchell ($750k)
5. Valentine Holmes ($750k)
6. Cameron Munster ($1m)
7. Daly Cherry-Evans ($1.2m)
8. Jake Trbojevic ($900k)
9. Ben Hunt ($1.1m)
10. Addin Fonua-Blake ($850k)
11. David Fifita ($1.1m)
12. Wade Graham ($750k)
13. Jason Taumalolo ($950k)
14. Jack Wighton ($900k)
15. David Klemmer ($800k)
16. Martin Taupau ($800)
17. Andrew Fifita ($850k)
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
According to my maths, that comes in just under the $16 million mark, loose pocket change for some, and certainly a small price to pay for success, bragging rights and a photo opportunity following the victory lap.
A quick whip-around the board-room table and success is secured, leaving the annual NRL grant to pay for the coaching staff and the rest of the 30-man squad.
Dream on!
William W
Roar Rookie
Again not one Souths player on your list... My club must be doing a fantastic job getting the best out of the players for the money offered.
William W
Roar Rookie
This article is a dead set JOKE. They mention the Rabbitohs yet only one of the 13, plays for Souths. The Rorts also only have 1 player there. This tells us all that the Silvertails buy quality at a reasonable price... i.e. we don't pay OVERS! There are players on that list who are not the best players in their positions so therefore their respective clubs are just wasting their cap space. As a Rabbitohs fan, I will take Alex Johnston, Campbell Graham, Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Jai Arrow, Keone Koloamatangi and Thomas Burgess before anyone on that list. I would even take Mark Nicholls, Blake Taaffe and Lachlan Illias also.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Don’t keep putting it on me to end this You’ve come out with four or five comments to me today…. I’ve only responded to your BS… You keep having cracks at me… I’ll keep responding How many times do I have to tell you I’ve got no interest in your “banter”? Cutting and pasting movie quotes from Google isn’t banter. It’s not funny, it’s not remotely witty
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I worked a punchline into your weak put down. I have been quoting Austin Powers for ages. It isn’t copying off your comment it is using wit and humour… banter! You never understood what that was did you? Like Tony says, this needs to end for the good of this forum. Put your ego on hold, follow your own advice and Shhh and let this forum get back on track. Do you think you can do that, TB?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Copying me again…? Sad
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
And don’t realise how close you are to being booked into a Psych Ward. :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
So, being exposed as a hypocrite is an inconvenient truth is it Barry? I'll see your Shhhh and raise you a Shhhh. "Even before you start, that was a preemptive shh! Just know that I have a whole bag of shh! with your name on it."
ScottyBarry Don't! :laughing:London Panther
Roar Rookie
Does the younger one get a ‘urbo’. I thought it was something you earned, and then there was a short ceremony in the sheds before a game where Vossy spits all over you as he regales the first moment he laid eyes on Tommy…
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Let’s just wait and see if Barrett can coach him to pass a ball from left to right before all is Panther fans spitting our wrists…
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
A premiership and Kangaroo selection isn’t exactly cherry-picking though is it? And Langer won the halfback of the year award in 1994 ahead of Stuart too.
Randy
Roar Rookie
Stuart won the dally M in 93 and the Raiders beat the Broncos by 20 a few week before finals. Stuart didn’t take part in the finals that year because he was injured. NSW also won the Origin, but sure go ahead and cherry pick things to make Langer look better…
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Thanks Nat. The Mobile Geek guy suggested I pull the pin on it. It was a bit of a museum piece anyway, so I I've gone for the upgrade.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Wow..!!! Now this is irony. You’re literally accusing me of what I’ve just accused you of, which is accusing me of what I’ve accused you of The sad part is you don’t realise how far off the pace you are…
The Barry
Roar Guru
Ssshhhh… this has nothing to do with sheek… sssshhhhh You’ll be ok
The Barry
Roar Guru
Is that all you take out of all of that…? Really…? Do yourself a favour and read the rest of it I’m at the point that I only pity you at the moment. You’re at the point you’re inventing a Tom Ripley fake identity to try and impress a bunch of randos on the internet. It’s not working. Read my whole comment, reflect. I’m trying to be kind to you here Do you really want to be universally despised? Does it bring you any pleasure? You can be better…
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Is this you letting things go, GB?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
A complete pr.ick? Like calling sheek a gutless coward for no reason? He was expressing an contrary opinion and you overreacted. Look in the mirror H Y P O C R I T E :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I know you are. But what am I? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: This is priceless. This wingnut still thinks he is in high school. Classic! :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
“Isn’t that what you’ve just done….?” . You really aren’t that bright are you? The fun is seeing you in an infinite loop trying to have the last word but not getting it LWS boy. :laughing: . If you really cared about this forum as you claim to you would put your ego on hold and stop feeding this foolishness. I let things go but you just had to keep coming after me. Didn’t you, hero?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Correct. St George won an auction for Hunt By definition the winner of the auction has overpaid, because they are willing to pay more then what the rest of the market valued him