Hmmmm, so who managers the bulk of our players? I admit, I dont normally bother myself with this side of things coz I find it tedious but the managers do seem to have more influence than they should. But reading the discussion makes it sound like we have some kind of mafioso running the NRL. It all serms very odd to me. But anyway .....
(Posted earlier in this thread - Edited)
IMHO, certain NRL player agents have become destabilising stains on the clubs they deal with and on the game of Rugby League as a whole. It's not entirely their fault, though. I don't completely blame them for the dodgy tactics they regularly employ as player representatives, i.e. holding clubs to ransom under constant threat of player release, leaking confidential contract details, utilising insider information provided by club staff illegally, consistently breaching NRL contract rules etc.
Arguably, such practices are unethical and tantamount to blackmail and extortion over the clubs. I blame the NRL for enabling these player agents to game the system. I blame the NRL for not enforcing their own rules when our more colourful agents breach these rules with seeming impunity. It could be argued that such practices destabilise the clubs they deal with and the game itself.
Not only does it sound like we have some mafioso running the NRL @Seagles68 , we do. I believe the NRL should be held accountable for enabling the evolution of these Mafia-style practices amongst some player agents. I also think that the NRL has to change the system immediately. The game itself is threatened by these agents (in the long term) if these practices are allowed to continue.