Salary Cap

[Crusher_Cleal]

Just finished reading "Storm Cloud" (about Melbourne's salary cap cheating from 2006 to 2010). Interesting read.
In early 2010 (before they were caught), acting CEO Matt Hanson got asked a question by a journo about whether he thought that, because the Storm had made 4 successive GF's, whether their dynasy was likely coming to an end (ie with it being almost impossible for one crop of players to keep winning for many years straight in the salary cap era, due to rising players salaries as a result of being so successful). 4 GF's in a row is certainly an outlier.
Got me thinking - we've been to 9 straight finals and 4 GF's, with the same core group of players (albeit with some fresh faces a la DCE, Foran, Tafua, etc). Pretty amazing to do that while staying under the cap (especially considering all the teams that have been caught out over the past half-decade, ie Warriors, Saints, Raiders, Knights, Tigers).

 

[StuBoot]

Yep, it'd be a tough job that us fans just don't quite grasp.

We're all bleating about losing Kitey and Joe. A snippet in the paper last w/end mentioned that Ballin was all but signed and sealed with the Cows last year as was Kite to the Tigers. Rumours of Lyon going to the Gold Coast this year and Stevie to Cronulla was doing the rounds last year.

Facts are DCE went from a $120k player to a $450k player in a season ( or something like that ) and will be more next time, we had to fend off the Dogs for Foz. Jorge will be looking for an upgrade next time.

Throw in Snake, Killer, Stevie,Glenn and Choc and there's five elite players that rightfully command big $$$. Wolfie is one of the best finishers in the game and he too went from zero to hero quite quickly.King has been sidelined for nearly two years but it's still in the cap. It seems like we've played hardball with Wolfie and Rose but that's the way it goes.

Not to mention trying to lock up Jake and Gutherson, Hiku will be looking for an upgrade and I'm sure Lawrence, Horo and T-Red will be too next time.

The Storm's approach of keeping their Big 3 together on big $$ and building around that with journeyman and the like has kept them in good stead and it's something that we're needing to do.

We haven't had a marquee signing for years as half our top 17 are marquee players in themselves. Back your recruitment, culture, system and juniors and cross your fingers.

We'll need to throw everything we've got at DCE next time contract negotiation time whilst still being competitive so he wants to stay.

 

[Fluffy]

We have had a group of 3 or 4 players come through and play way above their pay grade. This is what you need to be at or near the top and under the cap.

This year Horo, Symonds, Lawrence, Hiku, Gower and Hasson all played above their pay grade.

Foz, Dce, Hoppa and Buhrer got us through 2011

2008 saw wolfman, Glen stewy, Hall and gulavau propel us to glory.

Rabbits have the burgess boys but there are reports that Mrs Burgess has really upgraded her living arrangement.

The roosters this year had Cordner and RJS come out of no where and Moa, Friend and Guerra play some good footy however the doubts are with the number of marquee buy ins (SBW aside as he is paid by NRL for promo work and 9)

 

[The Who]

As Choc mentioned several times, some of our senior players are on less money to remain at Manly because they love the culture etc.
I can't see those mercenaries at Easts doing the same. This is why Easts performances season-to-season are as volatile as the stock market.