If we look at this realistically, we have had plenty of good players leave us because of the salary cap. We have had some great junior halves go for exactly that reason (Trent Hodkinson, Joey Lussick, Josh Drinkwater, Gary Riccardi) but also because they want a crack at first grade. With DCE and Foz so young, they see their opportunities elsewhere. Interestingly aside from Hodkinson, none who have left us so far have progressed (Lussick may be an exception in the future).
The salary cap was an issue with Trent Hodkinson and probably Des's belief that DCE was just as good if not better, was the main reason he let him go (proven correct - I don't think Des knew he was going to the Bulldogs at the time).
For a club to survive it has to be profitable and last year David Perry managed to return a profit for the club, which helps to secure our long term future and if he has his way, it will continue.
Basically if you work through all the salary cap rubbish, the average salary of a player is about $284,000, if they also use the tertiary education fund (roughly $30k a year) with the minimum at $80K + for a player in the top 25. I reckon the least any player in the Top 25 is on with us is $150k with all benefits added in. There maybe two on $100k.
So now we have the NSW Cup with a salary cap in 2013 of $500k (I don't know what 2014 is but it wouldn't be much more) and allowing for the fact that there will probably be at least 4 injuries at any one time in the Top 25, they have to have at least 13 contracted, maybe 17, but let's say 13 for the hell of it (this is as they posted last year when they announced the squad). That means these guys are being paid on average less than $40k a year or game payments!!! (Go get another job!)
This is why the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles was so attractive as an option. Rather than having an additional 13 to 17 players on the payroll we had an arrangement with the Sunshine Coast as a feeder club and supplied up to 5 players (unknown earlier in the week) on game day and a couple full timers, who were fringe players. Sunshine Coast was a stand alone club and a very affordable and developmental option for us whereas NSW Cup is anything but.
The NRL needs to take it's finger out of it's butt to clubs who are potentially in financially difficult situations since the Pokie tax and say "Well, if that's the best financial avenue for your long term survival, then do it." What on earth does the NSW Cup offer the NRL other than a pathway for some clubs? Sponsorship is nil to nothing and patronage is diddly squat. They've made it 'Park football'.
What the NRL has now is unsustainable and good potential players could be lost to Rugby Union, particularly in the halves and outside backs. Sydney University alone has funding available of well over a million for player payments and Manly is less than that, but not substantially so (although they'd say it is - well yeah it probably is, maybe $500k).
I'd rather go back to our relationship with the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles. It worked for us and it certainly provided a wonderful development opportunity for many of those now playing first grade.
