In the countdown to the NRL season, the coaches have called on the NRL to fix the player transfer system, several rules and the use of the Bunker, while also calling on head office to provide more support.
Both NewsCorp and the Sydney Morning Herald have published polls of the coaches after surveying them on a range of hot-button topics for on and off-field issues.
The main talking point is player signings. According to the SMH poll, which had responses from 10 of the 16 head coaches, 70% believe the NRL should ban clubs from signing players more than a year out from their arrival with 89% calling for at least one transfer window.
The NewsCorp poll, which questioned more than 30 coaches and assistants, sent a similar message to the NRL with 77.4&% saying a transfer window needed to be introduced.
Under the current rules, an NRL club can offer a contract to a player entering the final year of their deal from November 1. This has led to many players announcing their departures from clubs more than a year in advance, much to the chagrin of fans and team officials.
Melbourne have been one of the hardest hit by the rule this off-season with established stars Felise Kaufusi, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, who are joining the Dolphins next year, and Brandon Smith, who is off to the Roosters, announcing they will not be at the club in 2023 despite having a full season left at the Storm.
Canterbury recruited Matt Burton from Penrith prior to the start of last season and have already nabbed Eels hooker Reed Mahoney for next year. Parramatta have also lost Marata Niukore to the Warriors, Isaiah Papali’i to the Wests Tigers and Ray Stone to the Dolphins for next season.
As far as the potential for bringing in a draft to help struggling clubs have a better chance of attracting talent, the coaches were adamant it was not the way to go with 89% in the SMH and 61% in the NewsCorp polls canning the idea.
And the coaches are adamant that clubs are using illegal third-party deals to pay players with 75% of respondents in the SMH poll claiming that tactic was going on behind the scenes to circumvent the salary cap.
The coaches, who were polled anonymously in each poll, believe the NRL is not listening to their pleas. Just under three quarters of them in the NewsCorp survey believe there is not enough support for coaches with 71% saying they are not consulted enough.
With the NRL set to test video technology for forward passes during the trials and NRLW season, the coaches are split on whether it is worth the investment with 51.6% in favour and 45.2% against in the NewsCorp poll.
The ongoing issue over the use of the Bunker is also dividing opinion – 51.6% said the current amount was right with the rest saying it should be less, according to the NewsCorp results, while in the SMH poll, 70% of the coaches wanted it to be used less.
With the NRL changing the six-again rule to award a penalty for infringements in the 40-metre zone for teams coming off their own goal line, there was a 60-40 split in favour of the change in the SMH results.
Another contentious rule, the concussion protocols which have allowed for free interchanges for head injuries, is being exploited, according to the coaches with 55% saying some clubs do it with the rest surveyed by the SMH saying all teams are at it.
When asked about which players are the best of the best, Dally M winner Tom Trbojevic, Clive Churchill Medallist Nathan Cleary and NSW captain James Tedeco stood out from the rest.
Trbojevic was named the best player in the NRL by NewsCorp at 59% ahead of Cleary (28%) and Tedesco (10%) with new Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray fourth with 3.4%.
“Turbo” was named the player that coaches do most homework on when formulating their game plans with 78% of the SMH respondents, ahead of Cleary and James Tedesco at 11%, while the Penrith co-captain was an overwhelming winner as the first player a coach would sign at 56% with Trbojevic (33%) and Tedesco (11%) next best.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds was a standout for the likely best recruit for 2022 with 50% ahead of Raiders half Jamal Fogarty, Warriors veteran Shaun Johnson, Dragons second-rower Jaydn Su’A and Sharks forward Dale Finucane.
Cronulla and Canberra were rated the teams most likely to return to the finals after missing out last year while Storm mentor Craig Bellamy was the coaches’ pick as the cream of their crop.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Where would one see that info?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I hope you are rightbut the last TPI statement released had them on nearly 1mil and a lot of clubs under a tenth of that. Thats extra mil gets you a long way.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Thanks Nat , saves me saying it.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It can happen pretty quickly and most don't see it coming. It would be a great thing for the comp if the Storm had a spell at the wobbly end of the ladder.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The Storm are mirroring the Broncs a lot, They won a premiership earlier and their success has last a bit longer but their CEO has left, the coach is going soon and all the great players have moved on. They still have quality and will be good for a year or two then we might see the gradual decline just like the Broncs. Maybe we are already seeing it .
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Poorly run clubs tend squander priority picks and well-run clubs tend to add value to theirs.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah it drew a 'lol' from me ...
Adam
Roar Guru
Cause drafts help the AFL?
Nat
Roar Guru
It's only a rort if you're not in on it.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
A solution to signing 12 months out, player manager influence, and all that circus was put forward, but the clubs and RLPA rejected it. They cant whinge about something they support
KenW
Roar Rookie
I imagine it would just warrant unwanted attention on individuals and a football club wanting to make a run. That was definitely a factor. Months of stories, player seen entering this office or with that agent. Then all the deals officially happening. Followed by further weeks of muttering that those deals were definitely organised before. They were trying to reduce the circus - whether or not we're better off now is debateable, but that was the intent. As for the draft. The 2 separate leagues thing isn't relevant, the separate Super League comp was just 1 year (1997). The draft was implemented by the NSWRL who ran the comp at the time. A bunch of players didn't want it, hired some very good lawyers and took it to the highest court in the land. It was ruled as a restraint of trade and against common law to force employees to be hired by a specific employer. As I understand it, nothing legally has changed since then, the players would have to accept some sort of collective agreement to waive those rights. While the original players involved are long since retired, there seems little appetite to go down that path again.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Well, I guess they could go down the baseball route, or even the football route, but I think the league concluded that any limitations they introduced couldn't be effectively enforced. Technically, in football, you're not allowed to negotiate until six months out from the end of your contract, but everybody knows it happens. In baseball, you're not allowed to negotiate until after the world series but, again, agents work behind the scenes and then make things official when they're allowed to. Rugby league's just more open about what happens, IMO. As for the draft, it was an internal draft, not an amateur draft like the AFL. It was successfully challenged by a group of players led by Terry Hill in '91. http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/SydLawRw/1993/5.pdf
mushi
Roar Guru
If they're so concerned about the transfer/signing why not chat their CEO? Surely if this is important to the coaches they could figure our an offer to table to the RLPA. As for backroom deals... that's like the Mexican cartels complaining about drugs in society.
Jake Fish
Roar Rookie
My question would be why even the mid year signings in June? Why the need to do it mid season especially with finals around the corner. I imagine it would just warrant unwanted attention on individuals and a football club wanting to make a run. Finish your season and then have a period in the off season for player movement. As for the draft I'm not aware there actually was one in the 80/90s? What exactly happened, why didn't it work? I know the NRL back then wasn't a thing and there were 2 seperate leagues but that was 30 years ago and I think it would greatly benefit the NRL if they moved to a draft system. Look how big and successful drafts are in the NFL,NBA and AFL and the interest and revenue they draw.
Paul
Roar Guru
The Sgt Schultz defence.
Paul
Roar Guru
Just trying to picture Harry Bath or Jack Gibson in angels wings & halos. Harry would have had a fag in one hand and a beer in the other for a start.
Tony
Roar Guru
Thanks for clarifying
Paul
Roar Guru
None Tony. All coaches are angels :happy:
Paul
Roar Guru
agreed and I'd bet more than a few would be faux up in arms at the suggestion their Club would do such a thing
Mel Storm
Guest
Incorrect. Sport is definitely not about parity. It is about the pursuit of excellence. A draft is a terrible idea. Nobody bemoans the big 3 winning virtually all of the major tennis titles for the last 18 years. Indeed tennis fans have embraced this era.