: Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:20 am  

Maybe something like the England rugby union had a few years ago?
POssibly a system where one or two players per club can be paid highly, subsidised by the league?
Either way, you can't let many more stars like this walk out..
As a British occasional fan of the NRL, games are certainly less appealing to me first thing on a weekend morning when these guys aren't playing.

When the NRL chiefs first started to talk about the loss of so many players to SL and union I laughed it off saying they were a bit OTT and the aussies will always produce more...I don't see the next Gasnier or SBW on the horizon, maybe they were right.

Oh well, you're getting ol' Trent back next year ;]
You can take King too if you like

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:42 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

you could blame his agent. And you could cite Gasnie's french girlfriend and SBW's 'special' circumstances (whatever they may be).

FACT - in the last week 2 NRL sides have lost their only genuine star players.

The only question is whether the NRL actually have a look at doing something about the money for the few stars the game has.

What? Gasnier's "French" girlfriend who was born on Sydney's north shore and has only ever been to France on holiday? (her parents emigrated before she was born).

How about we blame St George who failed to make sure Gaz got paid what his contract stated and left the loophole open? Makes more sense.
The fact is that Gaz's contract included 100K in third party payments and they couldn't find anyone to fill it. If it had been a Million it wouldn't have mattered. No company seemed to want Mark "Fire up bitch" Gasnier as the face of their product.

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:03 am  

anthony ''the man''choc mundene is making millions$ from boxing

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:35 am  

getdownmonkeyman wrote: How can a French second division side offer Aus$3 million over two years? http://rugbyleaguelive.com.au/Articles/ ... rance.aspx Apparently most of the clubs over there are backed by men with deep pockets. BrisbaneRhino wrote: FACT - in the last week 2 NRL sides have lost their only genuine star players. There'll be more SBW / Gasniers and the like come through. Personally I'm not overly concerned at all this doomsday talk. It's amazing how big the issue becomes when it directly effects those in Sydney. There was nowhere near this sort of frenzy when Qld lost Tiquiri, Sailor and Rogers to RU. Dico wrote: As a British occasional fan of the NRL, games are certainly less appealing to me first thing on a weekend morning when these guys aren't playing. LOL, gee in that case we'd better act now.

getdownmonkeyman wrote: How can a French second division side offer Aus$3 million over two years? http://rugbyleaguelive.com.au/Articles/ ... rance.aspx Apparently most of the clubs over there are backed by men with deep pockets. BrisbaneRhino wrote: FACT - in the last week 2 NRL sides have lost their only genuine star players. There'll be more SBW / Gasniers and the like come through. Personally I'm not overly concerned at all this doomsday talk. It's amazing how big the issue becomes when it directly effects those in Sydney. There was nowhere near this sort of frenzy when Qld lost Tiquiri, Sailor and Rogers to RU. Dico wrote: As a British occasional fan of the NRL, games are certainly less appealing to me first thing on a weekend morning when these guys aren't playing. LOL, gee in that case we'd better act now.

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:39 am  

Stormin' Robin wrote:

The fact is that Gaz's contract included 100K in third party payments and they couldn't find anyone to fill it.

Exactly. The money's simply not there. So those that are crying for Salary Cap increases need to STFU because chances are your club can't afford it.
That said, get rid of the SC and let the weak die!!

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:09 am  

yes ok bronco scum . you have already loved up 4 teams . go too hell scum suckers

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:17 am  

fredie wrote:

yes ok bronco scum . you have already loved up 4 teams . go too hell scum suckers

It seems the Dragons' master-work is finished.
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you....


....fredie! The complete idiot!

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:14 am  

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/417227/1946917

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/417227/1946917

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:17 am  

Enough with this set spending limit and dull and boring, trying to make it an even, competition. Its time for a change. The NRL needs to evolve and expand into untapped markets. Money needs to start pouring in from the sponsors. The salary cap has to go. The teams that can promote the game, bring in the fans and sponsors would succeed and the teams who can't keep up should merge or go away. Let the teams decide their own fate in the years to come.

: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:14 pm  

Dico wrote: As a British occasional fan of the NRL, games are certainly less appealing to me first thing on a weekend morning when these guys aren't playing.

LOL, gee in that case we'd better act now.

My point was it takes a few years and a lot of money bringing through these players and turning them into household names. If Union keeps on cherry picking them it makes your product far less attractive to neutrals and casual spectators all over the place, I was using myse;f as an example.