Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Timing is crucial for Manly in deciding who to splash out on
Stuart Honeysett
November 21, 2011
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/timing-is-crucial-for-manly-in-deciding-who-to-splash-out-on/story-e6frg7mf-1226200604755
MANLY chairman Scott Penn has said the premier will not be rushed into making any hasty decisions about its star players until it knows exactly how much it stands to benefit from the next television deal for the game.
The Sea Eagles were faced with fresh rumours yesterday that two of their best players, brothers Brett and Glenn Stewart, were being chased by the Sydney Roosters as the fallout continues over coach Des Hasler's decision to defect to Canterbury.
The Stewart brothers have also been linked with a move to the Dragons while five-eighth Kieran Foran has been tipped to follow Hasler to the Bulldogs when he comes off contract at the end of 2012.
Brett Stewart and Foran are both off contract at the end of next season while Glenn Stewart has a get-out clause in his contract. However, The Australian was told yesterday Glenn could earn about $700,000 a season at Manly when the salary cap eventually goes up.
Penn said that some clubs had been guilty of making premature decisions about salary cap increases.
Parramatta recently splurged $800,000 a season on former Manly back Will Hopoate when he returns from a two-year Mormon mission.
"I think we've already seen some clubs jumping the gun prior to now on the hope that the TV deal was going to be front-ended and on the presumption that the TV deal is going to cascade into the salary cap," Penn said.
"That's not necessarily the case. We've got 14 or 15 out of 16 clubs that are unprofitable currently.
"I think the independent commission have looked at the clubs and one of their priorities is to ensure clubs are sustainable going forward. If the grant is lifted, or more money is able to come to clubs, then that won't necessarily come purely in the form of the salary cap, otherwise how do the clubs sustain themselves?"
Penn's comments follow a goodwill move from the IC last week in which clubs were told they could receive a $500,000 cash injection if the next television contract delivers the game the substantial windfall that everyone is banking on.
Given there is a difference of about $600,000 between the annual grant and the salary cap, it is safe to assume clubs would not want to pass any of that on to the players if it comes to fruition.
The players' union could have something to say about that.
It will sit down with the independent commission soon to sort out the next collective bargaining agreement.
If the next television contract delivers a payday in the vicinity of $1 billion, players will be looking for significant wage increases. NRL chief executive David Gallop said there were several things for the independent commission to consider when it assumes power.
There is a sense of optimism from most of the key stakeholders in the game that significant progress for the commission can be made before the annual conference next week.
"The position of the players and the new collective bargaining agreement are issues to be considered down the track," Gallop said.
"There is a sub-committee involving club CEOs that has been heavily involved in a consultation process around the level of the grant and the cap over recent years.
"I would expect that committee will convene in the near future to discuss those issues.
"Closing the gap between the grant and the player payments, including those outside the top 25, has been a long held goal of the game."
Stuart Honeysett
November 21, 2011
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/timing-is-crucial-for-manly-in-deciding-who-to-splash-out-on/story-e6frg7mf-1226200604755
MANLY chairman Scott Penn has said the premier will not be rushed into making any hasty decisions about its star players until it knows exactly how much it stands to benefit from the next television deal for the game.
The Sea Eagles were faced with fresh rumours yesterday that two of their best players, brothers Brett and Glenn Stewart, were being chased by the Sydney Roosters as the fallout continues over coach Des Hasler's decision to defect to Canterbury.
The Stewart brothers have also been linked with a move to the Dragons while five-eighth Kieran Foran has been tipped to follow Hasler to the Bulldogs when he comes off contract at the end of 2012.
Brett Stewart and Foran are both off contract at the end of next season while Glenn Stewart has a get-out clause in his contract. However, The Australian was told yesterday Glenn could earn about $700,000 a season at Manly when the salary cap eventually goes up.
Penn said that some clubs had been guilty of making premature decisions about salary cap increases.
Parramatta recently splurged $800,000 a season on former Manly back Will Hopoate when he returns from a two-year Mormon mission.
"I think we've already seen some clubs jumping the gun prior to now on the hope that the TV deal was going to be front-ended and on the presumption that the TV deal is going to cascade into the salary cap," Penn said.
"That's not necessarily the case. We've got 14 or 15 out of 16 clubs that are unprofitable currently.
"I think the independent commission have looked at the clubs and one of their priorities is to ensure clubs are sustainable going forward. If the grant is lifted, or more money is able to come to clubs, then that won't necessarily come purely in the form of the salary cap, otherwise how do the clubs sustain themselves?"
Penn's comments follow a goodwill move from the IC last week in which clubs were told they could receive a $500,000 cash injection if the next television contract delivers the game the substantial windfall that everyone is banking on.
Given there is a difference of about $600,000 between the annual grant and the salary cap, it is safe to assume clubs would not want to pass any of that on to the players if it comes to fruition.
The players' union could have something to say about that.
It will sit down with the independent commission soon to sort out the next collective bargaining agreement.
If the next television contract delivers a payday in the vicinity of $1 billion, players will be looking for significant wage increases. NRL chief executive David Gallop said there were several things for the independent commission to consider when it assumes power.
There is a sense of optimism from most of the key stakeholders in the game that significant progress for the commission can be made before the annual conference next week.
"The position of the players and the new collective bargaining agreement are issues to be considered down the track," Gallop said.
"There is a sub-committee involving club CEOs that has been heavily involved in a consultation process around the level of the grant and the cap over recent years.
"I would expect that committee will convene in the near future to discuss those issues.
"Closing the gap between the grant and the player payments, including those outside the top 25, has been a long held goal of the game."