Here we are at the start of another season after a year that saw high profile player mid-season moves and announcements of departure that rocked fans and clubs and left everyone in the depths of frustration and disparity, so what is the answer?
There has been a number of suggestions that the NRL needs to fix this unruly enigma on the game which threatens the stability, popularity and future success of the game.
Other sporting codes like the AFL have for a number of years had a transfer system that has seemingly worked a treat for their sport so why not us!
What about an option that required players coming off contract and their clubs to commit to each other and/or to make a decision prior to the start of the last season of their contract or failing to do so will be put on the market at a fixed rate and be offered to the lowest placed team first and then the next lowest until a club agrees to terms with that player.
Players who are on a yearly contract would have a requirement to advise prior to the end of the current season.
This way both player and club have time to plan their future and this will then take some of the power away from player managers who create a lot of the media hype around player movements and the flow on the headaches for club officials and fans.
The clubs and players would be required to register their commitment or intentions with the NRL prior to the start of their final contracted season and the NRL would publish this via the media prior to the start of the new season.
This way at least, players, clubs and the fans move forward with clarity as to what is happening with them, their club and the team from day one instead of the mid-season innuendo and subsequent bombshell that eventually is dropped on clubs, fans and players dramatically.
Comments are closed.