The Roosters are again copping it from all angles over poaching players from other teams.
But is it their fault that other clubs are run in such a slipshod fashion that they can convince potential recruits to leave?
Or that a switch to the Roosters is often seen as the best option by stars leaving successful clubs who have been squeezed out by the salary cap or bigger names ahead of them on the pecking order like young Penrith prop Spencer Leniu?
The Roosters rarely put themselves in a position where they have to offload a player with a year or more left on their contract because they’ve overvalued someone on a long-term deal.
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Their success in managing their roster should make fans from other clubs angry … at their own teams for not following suit.
In a salary-capped sports league, the best competitive advantage you can have is competence in the front office and the Roosters exploit this off-field superiority.
Like Wes Mantooth’s anger for Ron Burgundy, you can pure, straight hate them but you have to respect them.
It wasn’t always the case with the Roosters.
This was a club known as the Transit Lounge.
In the 1990s, the club was notorious for signing washed-up players who were well past their best like Paul Vautin after he was dumped by Manly and Dale Shearer or they were brief stopovers for star players who quickly headed elsewhere like Gary Freeman, Terry Hill and John Simon, or Martin Offiah dropping in for a couple of short-lived stints.
Other clubs now have that mantle of cycling players in and out of their set-up, often picking up the freight when they’ve shipped them off to their next port of call.
Brandon Smith talks to Roosters coach Trent Robinson and teammate Victor Radley. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The Wests Tigers have been the poster child for this flawed thinking in recent years after overpaying for a slew of recruits who didn’t work out as hoped and moving them on rather than continuing to fork out top dollar.
St George Illawarra have come up with a policy of taking on players under contract but unwanted at other clubs in recent years – that ain’t Moneyball, that’s accepting sloppy seconds. There was a reason why those other teams were happy to see the backs of players who didn’t live up to their perceived value on the field or detracted from the club’s value off the field with grubby behaviour.
Culture is one of the most overused terms in the modern NRL lexicon but the Roosters have established an identity over the past couple of decades since Ricky Stuart capitalised on the groundwork laid before him by Graham Murray to win the 2002 title.
Since then the Roosters have added three more trophies in the decade since Trent Robinson began his no-nonsense stint at the coaching helm – no other club has won as many legitimate premierships in that timeframe. The Roosters are the only club that has won four Grand Finals in the past two decades.
Spencer Leniu. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
They must be doing something right and unless anyone can locate the second set of books that proves the existence of the mythical salary sombrero, they should be afforded begrudging respect.
Of course there should be a rule in place in the NRL that rewards developing local talent.
There should be discounts for players who have grown up in the area, progressed through the junior system and beaten the tremendous odds to become an NRL player from a pool of thousands of hopefuls.
But that debate has been raging for decades and head office has shown little inclination to bring in these incentives. A cynic would say it’s because a couple of the most well-connected clubs who wield plenty of power behind the scenes – the Roosters and the Storm – have miniscule nurseries compared to most of the other clubs.
Although the Roosters have officially announced Knights winger Dominic Young’s acquisition for next year they are yet to do likewise with Leniu but you don’t have to be a salary specialist to see how they’ve tempted both players with lucrative deals.
Out wide, Joseph Suaali’i has until midway through the season to let the club know if he is sticking around and if he does, then off-contract veteran Daniel Tupou may be deemed surplus to requirements.
Dominic Young. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
In the front row, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will be 35 by the time next season kicks off and is also a free agent at season’s end. He’s already out of Round 1 with a back injury and after 300-plus combined matches in the NRL and Test arenas, his sizeable frame and salary will create space for Leniu.
Kangaroos prop Lindsay Collins defended the latest barrage of criticism when he fronted the media on Tuesday. The 26-year-old Maroons forward came to the club six years ago after representing Queensland under 20s while in the Broncos pathways.
He was an example of a rising star at another strong club having his path to the NRL blocked by more experienced players so he was open to the overtures from the Roosters.
“I think it’s pretty self-explanatory, really. We’ve got a great culture here. Those who come here play their best footy,” he said.
“I think we have got some really great coaching staff – they strive to be the best which feeds down to us striving to be the best and get the best out of us.
“If players are looking to squeeze the juice out of the lemon as much as they can, they probably want to see what the talk is about and come here and experience it and get the best out of their careers.
“The more you get professional, the less you worry about money and the more you worry about winning.”
Collins added the potshots from critics don’t affect the players whatsoever.
Brandon Smith. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The Roosters enter Sunday’s Suncorp Stadium stoush against the Dolphins with all eyes on star recruit Brandon Smith. He should prove to be an impactful signing for 2023 and beyond but they will also get plenty of bang for much less buck from a few other astute purchases.
Utility back Corey Allan, who played for Queensland a few years ago but was unwanted by the Dogs, and young winger Jaxson Paulo, who was tipped for big things at Souths before his confidence was shot after one poor performance last year, will also make their Roosters debuts.
Former Broncos hooker Jake Turpin has been listed as the standby player in the jersey No.18 – it’s these kind of players that the Roosters have cashed in on big time in recent years to fill around the edges of their roster to complement their stars. Bargain basement pick-ups like Drew Hutchison, Adam Keighran, Kevin Naiqama, Paul Momirovski and Matt Ikuvalu.
There’s finite space in the salary cap and the smart clubs get value for money. It’s a far cry from the Transit Lounge era.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I so often hear 'nature of the Cap'. No offense, but I'll take more credence in that remark when it bites a team like the Roosters and they have to offload guys because of it. By conservative standards they're a mill over the cap already.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I have no problem with the Storm (ironically) because they never seem to sign the big player; they seem to need to continually find cap space to resign the players coming off contract who need upgrades. I do appreciate the Roosters lose players, and to that extent the cap is working. The best teams should lose players. But the roosters don’t lose more than others (Storm longer term, Penrith over the past 3/4 years) but still seem to be in the market when a marquee is in the market or (in the case of Haas) seemed to be linked to players on contract but unhappy.
Hugh McGonigle
Guest
Don't even bother trying to reason with them. They are all financial auditing wizards without any proof whatsoever. The concept of excellent rostering management is obviously an impossible scenario. Successful clubs attract Successful players.
Hondo
Roar Rookie
Thanks, Paul, for opening my eyes as to how poorly run all NRL clubs are other than the Roosters. As a result, this will be my last post to ROAR as I will no longer be using my account, as I have had enough of the NRL and its salary cap drama and instead will spend my time on finding something which makes more sense than the NRL, Goodbye and Goodluck.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Sorry. I didn't realise that when players signed up for 2024 they could be transported back to play in the Souths glory days of 1950s. I also didn't realise that Roar readers could strip clubs of premierships. I envy your rich fantasy life : )
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Suaalii $500k? Really? Where was this reported? That's $100k more than the figure you've given for the more experienced rep Tupou. Even if your figures were correct you've identified that the top 13 players take up $8.3 m. 6 of those players are eligible for the long serving player allowance of $188k outside the cap. That takes the cap total down to around $7.3m. 2023 salary cap is $11.45m for the top 30 players. That leaves over $4m for the remaining 17 players. That averages out to over $235k each. Some will be on as little as $100k, others closer to $300k. But the 30 players still fit comfortably within that salary cap.
Conelius
Guest
Papi Smurf forgot to tell everyone that any premierships won by the teamsouth of Sydney Roosters, was actually shared by the Roosters as a premiership for them. The NSWRL stole a massive chunk of the Roosters/ tri colour juniors, thus assisting your mob with their junior chunk to win those nine premierships and twice just missing out on five straight titles with Rooster juniors
Conelius
Guest
Yes a great accurate read Paul. However what Max said how Leniu wants out of a winning team is far from the truth. Penrith simply cannot retain him and he has chosen a team that is on coarse for a huge season. JWH is on the move after a magnificent career, his income alone will cover Leniu and top up Lodge. Fans get confused they think Roosters poach players but the truth is Players get choices and choose to come to the professionalism of the Sydney Roosters organisation. Mitchell Moses said “who doesn’t want to play for the Roosters” hit the nail on the head after he regretted knocking back the Roosters reneging on an offer to play for them after they won back to back premierships without him. Whether fans believe the obvious facts what Rooster players say or not believe. The facts are if you want to get good money and squeeze into the Roosters club, not the most money and play in a team that has the battle cry “ We play for Premierships” and play in a team with the best home ground and training facilities in the Rugby League world, then the majority of players willing sacrifice a small portion of their contract money to join and get on board. The exact same system Brisbane did in their heyday.
Adam
Roar Guru
All clubs certainly do. It does seem that the Tigers and Titans have a fair few of them though....
Dutski
Roar Guru
Sigh. It’s called list management. You see, there is a list of players. When seven of them leave, and four come in, you make sure that the numbers add up. Verrills (and six others) left, Smith (and three others) came. The value of Verrills and the other six is equivalent of Smith and the other three. I’m not sure this is that hard to fathom. Or are people being deliberately obtuse?
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
all the same things were said about the Storm before they were exposed as cheats Textbook logical non-sequitur Robert. a > All cheats deny cheating b > Roosters deny cheating c > Roosters must be cheats
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
They sign them for “unders” apparently, but when they release them it apparently opens huge amounts of cap space
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Yes, my Eels are fairly top heavy too with big money committed to Moses, Brown(s), Gutho, RCG, Paulo, Matterson, Lane and possibly Sivo, but that’s the reason we lost Mahoney, Papali’i, Kaufusi & Niukore. We lost four of our best 17 from last year, all players either in their prime or coming into their prime from a GF team. The Roosters at best lost two of their best 17 and recruited a blue chipper in Smith. See where the skepticism comes in ? Anyhoo, we’ll still kick your arse
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
How is Taukehiaho more expensive than Smith? He's not. Roosters released SST and Verrills. Their combined contracts (as published when they were contracted) add up to several hundred thousand more than Smith's. It's like one of those primary school Maths questions: If Nick has two marbles worth 10 cents each and Justin has one marble worth 15 cents... etc.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Melbourne Storm have won five Grand finals in the last two decades
Conelius
Guest
See people are being programmed from various media to believe every time Sydney buys a player, he has been poached. But it is not true. 1. Keary, Crowe blamed him for Souths woeful 2016 season and showed him their transit lounge door. 2. Allen. Canterbury wanted to free up salary space and are still paying the majority of his contract. 3. Paulo. Had one shocker of a game and Souths showed him their transit lounge exit door. 4. Lodge, shown the exit door from the Warriors mid season in 2022. 5. May, couldn’t get a fair go at Penrith so went in search of a team that would. 6. Crichton, after first playing in the Roosters pathway teams Souths poached him away. It was inevitable he would return to where he belonged. 7. Tedesco sick of never playing semi final football with Wests. He willingly put himself on the open market for a club that could fulfil his ambitions. He chose the right decision. Not poached and self managed. 8. JWH 6 game rookie couldn’t get a look in at the the powerful Manly team. So he joined the 2009 wooden spooners the Roosters to get NRL experience and proved his worth to Manly by playing his role transforming the Roosters into grand finalists in 2010. His ambitions lead him to the Roosters. Not poached for Manly had 6 props already. 9 Brandon Smith like Latrell Mitchell walked to play in a preferred position. Not poached his choice to continue to play hooker with a genuine contender. Now the dolphins signed thirty players but every headline was a signing. The Roosters make four signings and every signing is a poach. Please explain.
The Mexican
Roar Rookie
How is Taukehiaho more expensive than Smith?, he's a good player but no where near Smith's quality & price. Maybe the secret is doubling the value of players like Taukheiauho & halving the value of players like Smith, then all of a sudden their cap makes sense!
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
So you are saying that the "pre-NRL" era should be forgotten? Not surprisingly because the Roosters were only able to win 11 premierships to Souths 20 premierships during that period. So you want to wipe the slate clean and start again? After Nick Politis conspired to have Souths removed from the NRL as an obstacle for the Roosters and so they could claim (falsely) to be the oldest NRL club? But hang on. If we are going to reinvent the truth by calling the start of the NRL era the start of Rugby League in Australia how do Roosters fans claim to be the oldest team in the NRL? Surely this title is shared with the majority of the teams in the NRL? It's not hard to imagine why you want to forget history considering that the Roosters were only able to win 2 premierships (1974, 1975) since the end of World War II in 1945. While Souths won NINE premierships during the same period and narrowly missed out on winning 5 premierships in a row TWICE during that period. I can understand why someone who calls themselves Short Memory might forget these facts. You also forgot the Roosters only have one legitimate premiership since the NRL began. Their bogus over the salary cap premierships in 2013, 2018 and 2019 were stripped by Papi Smurf right here on this forum. So it is 1 NRL premiership each in truth.
The Mexican
Roar Rookie
if Verrills was of the same quality & price as Smith I will agree with you but your argument sounds like someone swapping an old crappy Korean made Holden for a Bentley and then arguing that the swap is genuine because they are both sedans!
Rellum
Roar Guru
It is clearly part of the pitch. Just a giant loophole they can exploit