Recruitment and Retention for 2027

[Liverbird with Phins up]

"Arms length"...... sure. We all buy that one.

You could very well be right.

I for one, wouldn't think it was worth it. The prize money for winning the comp is $1 mil. Why would you risk getting fined, to win 1 mil as an NRL club.

You have owners like Bruce Gordon, who is amongst the richest owners in the league, who literally does nothing with the club. He owns the club so he can put WIN TV on free to air TV every weekend. I don't think he honestly cares about winning. And there is no relegation, so meh.

However, I agree, there maybe are clubs that cheat ( clubs for example that have gm's that are at risk of losing their jobs, the GM may think about getting an advantage - in that situation probably), but I think in our day and times, I don't think its as prevalent, as every club despite where they finish get a grant from the NRL as per the value of the TV rites deal. So really the only point in winning is the fans. Even game day revenue/ members rev is quite low. I posted a graph below. Look at one of the bigger segments, Corporate, if you were found cheating, as a club, would you risk your biggest income stream for a 1mil prize cheque at the end of the year? I dont think that would be wise.

However, look at Brisbane, and marry that up with what I said about TPA markets. Which are insignificant, but I discuss because of the belief the Sydney market is the biggest, this indirectly suggest the more powerful market of brisbane, despite the entry of the Dolphins.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Do I think clubs used to cheat?

I'm happy to talk about this over a beer with you at the game one day.

Not happy to write anything here

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Out of all these teams who do you think is cheating the cap?

If I look at it honestly, I can only think of one team that I may suspect would be over.

I preface this by saying i know nothing, and this is just a guess.

Only team would be the Bulldogs, why? because the roster is such a mess, with players being punted and brought in left right and centre, and I would assume that having to pay the freight on those exiting, and the pressure to win now. That the only team I could think that might be pressing that button.

I dont think any of the others squads look like they would be over.

However, I could be naive. interested to hear who you guys may think look over the odds and why.

 

[midlands hobo]

View attachment 196


Here is a graph for you. This is the most recent publication of TPA's per club, they are so insignificant you cant find newer ones, or at least I cant.

And as you can see in the graph they are dropping to a point, where they will be relatively unused.

The cap back then may have been 10mil? I know its about 11.9 now.

I could sit here and say the Roosters or all Sydney clubs are trash. But I wont, because they are insignificant. They are so not an issue, that I doubt they even come up in negotiations.

Now if you do a nudge nudge wink wink deal, and get caught. Ask the Bulldogs about the 31 point point story.

Anything pre COVID is basically irrelevant though. Besides these don't account for under the table post retirement deals