Declan, Garry, and Steve with another big off-season version of the Wests Tigers Podcast. Bateman's visa issues, Mitchell Moses, and a whole lot of other Tigers topics are discussed. https://weststigerspodcast.com.au/wests-tigers-podcast-0228/
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Listening to it now.......5 mins in Ive already heard "we only sign excellence" and "all quiet since Boxing Day"...BOOM....Brandon Wakeham. Surely its worthy of a poddy on its own?
Interesting discussion about purchasing an "Ethan Sanders" type junior half, especially on the day we sign Wakeham.
Declan goes well as host 👍
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
post grand final free agent frenzy is a hill the NRL should die on in negotiations with the RLPA.
Players would then never have contracts with two teams at once which is the case with the current system, remember the Isaiah Papali'i contract renege media circus anyone?
I suppose the chances of Marshall in a playing roll can be now snuffed out 😜Listening to it now.......5 mins in Ive already heard "we only sign excellence" and "all quiet since Boxing Day"...BOOM....Brandon Wakeham. Surely its worthy of a poddy on its own?
post grand final free agent frenzy is a hill the NRL should die on in negotiations with the RLPA.
Players would then never have contracts with two teams at once which is the case with the current system, remember the Isaiah Papali'i contract renege media circus anyone?
Im not Garry, but I disagree with you that it should be a hill to die on, and I dont think the NRL see it that way either. IMO Post GF is an ambit claim and the NRL knows that the RLPA will never accept it because it is legitimately not enough time to uproot your family and potentially move to NQ, Melb, NZ. IMO it will settle back to Jun 30, the way it used to be and it worked fine. The argument against Jun 30 was that there was too much focus on Contracts, particularly during SoO, but now the Contract focus literally drags on for over 12 months.
Also post GF free agency will detract from the finals and GF because a lot of media and fan focus (particularly for fans who are not in the finals) will be on Contracts rather than the GF. It will end up Jun 30 again IMO.
post grand final free agent frenzy is a hill the NRL should die on in negotiations with the RLPA.
Players would then never have contracts with two teams at once which is the case with the current system, remember the Isaiah Papali'i contract renege media circus anyone?
Im not Garry, but I disagree with you that it should be a hill to die on, and I dont think the NRL see it that way either. IMO Post GF is an ambit claim and the NRL knows that the RLPA will never accept it because it is legitimately not enough time to uproot your family and potentially move to NQ, Melb, NZ. IMO it will settle back to Jun 30, the way it used to be and it worked fine. The argument against Jun 30 was that there was too much focus on Contracts, particularly during SoO, but now the Contract focus literally drags on for over 12 months.
Also post GF free agency will detract from the finals and GF because a lot of media and fan focus (particularly for fans who are not in the finals) will be on Contracts rather than the GF. It will end up Jun 30 again IMO.
I am Garry, I think the major issue with players not being able to sign until after the Grand Final is the lack of protection for players that would create. A player playing the finals on the last year of their contract would be at financial risk if they were to be injured. Say a lower to mid level player that is off contract does his ACL, that rules him out for the majority of the next season, they are unlikely to be signed by anyone in that situation.
I would love a system that has players signing at seasons end but agree that June 30 is the most likely outcome.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
great job Declan sterling job as first time host! Very sad that Wakeham was the last number in the squad for the year
I am Garry, I think the major issue with players not being able to sign until after the Grand Final is the lack of protection for players that would create. A player playing the finals on the last year of their contract would be at financial risk if they were to be injured. Say a lower to mid level player that is off contract does his ACL, that rules him out for the majority of the next season, they are unlikely to be signed by anyone in that situation.
I would love a system that has players signing at seasons end but agree that June 30 is the most likely outcome.
If the NRL wants something (for example, true free agency), then the players would be mad not to have demands in return.
For example as the RLPA I would push for a greater slice of the revenue pie going to players with the majority going to increasing the base player payment.
Financial risk to lower/mid level players from injuries is always huge as they are almost always on only 1-2 year deals at best.
They are essentially always coming off contract or close to it no matter the system.
A greater payment through the period of the contract they have signed means at least they make more for the risk they take of being redundant at any seasons end.
The business of professional sport is brutal. How to split the revenue pie leads to no shortage of argument.
Look at the number of opinions on here (which is great) on just when players should be allowed to negotiate contracts.
Just of note, under a true free agency players can negotiate a new contract (extension) with their current club at any time,
normally this can mean players often stay with the same team more often and will take slightly less money (per year) for that longer term security.
players can be traded also (like Hastings was) and then seek extension with new club.
Players that bet on themselves, see out their contract, play well and are injury free will always get the greatest reward but yes they are taking the greatest risk as has been pointed out.
