Eye of the beholder ...
Croker
- Thread starter MW66
- Start date
Eye of the beholder ...
I reckon he is probably right Woodsie
It would make it messy if the player didn't ... but IMO ... the opinion of medical professionals would take precedence over the opinion of the player in any inquiry held ..
Peter C
Bencher
We have wasted six seasons with Manase, basically three seasons waiting for his case to be heard,and another two seasons with the Croker experiment, which hasn't really been a success.
The evidence against Manase was so overwhelming that if he pleaded guilty initially he would have been able to resume his career probably a season back, but waiting for a trial took so long that it would be doubtful if he could resume his career when released.
Some days I feel sorry for Missus Moose ...
Brookie1973
Reserve Grader
Is that like the eye of the bendover?
Yeah he should have negotiated a plea deal
This is a short summary of what a club would need to do in medically retiring a player, based on the recent retirements of Justin Olam and Christian Welsh.
To medically retire a player in the NRL, a club must follow these key steps and requirements:
1. Medical Assessment:
- Obtain a diagnosis from club medical staff confirming the player’s injury or condition prevents safe continuation of their NRL career.
- Secure an independent medical evaluation, if required by the NRL, to validate the diagnosis (e.g., specialist review for concussion or chronic injuries).
2. Player Consent:
- Engage with the player and their representatives (e.g., agent or RLPA) to secure agreement for medical retirement, as it is a career-ending decision.
3. Contract Payout:
- Arrange to pay out the remaining value of the player’s contract, as required by the NRL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), ensuring financial security for the player.
4. NRL Notification and Approval:
- Submit a formal application to the NRL, including medical reports and contract details, for review by the NRL Salary Cap Auditor and medical officers.
- Demonstrate the injury is a one-off event (not chronic) to qualify for a salary cap exemption, if sought.
5. Salary Cap Exemption Application:
- Apply for the player’s wage to be excluded from the club’s salary cap, subject to NRL approval, to free up space for new signings.
6. Support Player Transition:
- Provide access to NRL Wellbeing and Education programs, counseling, or RLPA support to assist the player’s transition to post-rugby life.
7. Finalise Retirement:
- Upon NRL approval, terminate the player’s contract on medical grounds and update the club’s roster and salary cap records.
These actions ensure compliance with NRL rules, CBA obligations, and player welfare priorities while managing salary cap implications.
"Engage to secure" is interesting ... if agreement is not secured .. as in the player says I'm good to go, all I need is a couple of needles ... but the club's medicos and the independent medicos say he is broken beyond repair ... I still believe he would be terminated .
Remembering the club also has a duty of care obligation ... for them to put a player on the paddock against medical advice would be corporate suicide ..
If Croker's only income is from footy, he can legally stay till his contract runs out.
Your thought could be correct, trying to find any guideline is difficult on what information the NRL have formalised.
Some points on what you mentioned. based on the two recent medical retirements.
Practical Application: Case Studies
- Justin Olam (Wests Tigers, 2025):
Olam, a 31-year-old centre, faced potential medical retirement due to a knee injury requiring off-season surgery. His inability to train fully prompted discussions with Wests Tigers management. A medical retirement would pay out his ~$600,000-a-season contract (expiring 2026) and potentially free up salary cap space, but the club must prove the injury is a one-off event, not chronic, to secure the exemption. Olam’s case highlights the medical and salary cap complexities involved.
- Christian Welch (Melbourne Storm, 2025):
Welch, a 30-year-old prop, retired medically due to a back injury and a recent concussion, having played 163 NRL games. His decision was driven by medical advice that his body could no longer handle NRL demands, and he received a contract payout. Welch’s Masters degree and RLPA involvement positioned him well for a post-playing career, reflecting the importance of NRL transition programs.
Challenges and Considerations
- Disputes Over Chronic vs. Acute Injuries: Clubs may face difficulties securing salary cap exemptions if the NRL deems an injury chronic (e.g., Olam’s knee issues dating back to Melbourne). This can lead to financial strain if the contract remains on the cap.
- Player Resistance: Players may resist retirement, hoping to return via medical interventions, which can delay the process and complicate club planning.
- Long-Term Health: The NRL and RLPA are increasingly focused on ensuring medical retirements prioritize player health over club
Reading through the Olam case this could have been a point from his employer, he was against the original decision of medical retirement though eventually agreeing to the terms.
I think this is where the difficult conversations start, @Woodsie makes a valid point (employer duty of care) and the Olam scenario is to your point he didn’t want to retire, though he eventually came to an agreement on his medical retirement.
He still gets paid his full entitlement if he is medically retired ...
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