As Bismarck mentions Sonny Bill Williams has broken his chain, dug under the fence and off to join second division French rugby union club Toulon. And if we never see Sonny again in the NRL it won’t be Toulon for most of us.
The main reason seems to be $3 million for two years work. Sonny Bill was on $450,000/year contract with the Dogs until 2012. There is more to this story of course and over the next few days expect both the Bulldogs and Sonny Bill’s camp to give their (differing I bet) sides to what has happened. But leaving your club when they are struggling is not a good look. And this from a person who criticised Willie Mason for leaving the Dogs last year. The mote is firmly implanted in you eye Sonny Bill.
Until we get more, I’ll leave the rest of speculation to any behind the scenes shenanigans alone. What we need to do is try and stop this mid-season contract breaking code jumping. Some ideas to generate discussion:
1. Stop contracts with “get out’ clauses. A contract is a contract. If a player breaks it they should be penalised.
2. Place third party contracts outside the salary cap. But make them proper third party contracts that if they fall through, the clubs are not allowed to make up any shortfall. If a player or manager reckons they can do the biz then they can wear the risk.
3. Exempt from the salary cap any player with 10 years or more service to one club. Start to reward loyalty. A system of grading brought in when player reaches five years could also be considered for further reductions.
There are other suggestions so what do the Sidelined readers reckon?
10 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 26, 2008 at 10:12 pm
In this instance there’s more to it as you rightly state however there’s a bigger issue.
We’re playing professional Rugby League with a salary cap in a world where the rules are different – indeed completely the opposite – EG: Luchre Rules.
This is contrary to how Soccer works. The world (as far as I know) has a single mechanism which means English and Ausie players are jointly in demand in Romania as Romanian players are in the UK and Oz. Easy.
I had always thought a Draft, AFL-Stylie, or a Father/Son thing would be good for the NRL (locally these notions have legs) but can see that there’s still no competition if overseas clubs have an open cheque book and cable TV so they can scout ‘from afar’.
Can the NRL seriously stop SBW from doing what he’s doing?
Q: How can we hope to keep our good players?
A: Scrap the Cap (how very un-Australian)?
A: Contractural restrictions with hefty legal ramifications (I like this one)?
A: Something else…..
Anyhow. The Tiges just lost & I’m ticked-off so it’s beddy-byes for this O’M.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 26, 2008 at 10:14 pm
B TW Shaunie – you’re ‘Add-An_Answer’ button doesn’t work.
I tried adding myself!!!
Mungo Amanda // Jul 27, 2008 at 1:23 pm
SBW is something of a special case in the way his relationship with the Dogs has unraveled over the last little while. I am honestly pretty relaxed about players buggering off over there, even with a complete salary free for all the Euro clubs are always going to have certain advantages in what they can offer. Always. I reserve the right too change my mind about this if K.Gidley packs up.
I don’t want the salary cap scrapped but sure there is room for tweaking, as you suggest.
I am quite fascinated to see how this plays out especially with the contract situation. Pass the popcorn!
Finally yawn and hiss @ AFL crybabies on the Offsiders today. Go, Roy!
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 27, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Same here.
The Clown Johns brother recons it signals the end of the game as we know it.
As quoted on the Sunday Footy Show, he was supposedly duped into signing with the Dogs for 5 years cos they paid some quack to tell him his knee was shot and he should sign up for as long as he could while he could.
The CEO wants the IRB to come to his defence but there’s no way this is going to happen – we’ve been pinching their players for years & are nothing more than a minor annoyance to them.
Let the fun begin.
BTW : My queezy feeling came off with the Warriors today… shame I didn’t have the nuts to tip them!
Stephen Hill // Jul 28, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Don’t worry its Brad Morrin to the rescue, if he acquires the taste for human flesh he’ll run, run, run rather slowly and get tackled about three metres later.
Stephen Hill // Jul 28, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Just what a young side short on confidence needs, a howler by Nenai, and its 6-0
Stephen Hill // Jul 28, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Make that 22-0
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 28, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Have the Bulldogs turned up yet?
26-0 at half time and no signs of life.
Shaun // Jul 29, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Sorry I haven’t responded. Rebuilt my PC after adding in a new hard drive over the weekend.
The story is still going after Phil Gould got stuck into Gallop on the radio earlier tonight. And rightly too. Gallop was a good compromise CEO but he is a lame duck now. League needs leadership.
Been thinking of whether the comp needs restructuring. I’m thinking it may be but only because of the lack of foresight from some CEOs especially but the Eels.
Oh and bugger News Ltd out of controlling the game.
Shaun // Jul 31, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I watched The Footy Show and the bit on Sonny Bill in Urualla both broke my little league heart and made me mad.
Those kids were rapt in adoration that they were being coached by Sonny Bill. He was a natural. It was a joy to watch but heart breaking knowing the next day he jumped on a plane to betray us all.
Of all the things he has done wrong, betraying those kids trust by telling them hollow platitides of sticking by your team was the worst.