A few of you will remember I wrote a piece up after a sit-down I had with Peter Nolan. Of all the things we discussed that day, the one that stuck with me, was just how hard he claimed it was to get players to come to Parramatta.
The club's lowly position and it's reputation for being poorly managed, meant that player managers only came talking to Parramatta when they had no other options. And when we were doing the chasing, we had to pay big-time overs or give deals that were probably a year too long.
We were told that Stephen Kearney, as Kiwi national coach, would be able to attract elite players; we were told that Ricky Stuart, with his extensive history in rep football would bring in the marquee signings. However, neither had any real success on the recruitment front.
The reality is the best players in the game have options and there is more to be considered than just money - rep football is not only a primary goal for all elite players but its also worth a considerable bump on any salary. Clubs with a reputation of boosting your rep chances, have an enormous advantage.
On the flipside, I've been told that a number of player managers considered Parramatta as a career-killer. Jarryd Hayne was more often than not our only rep player, and even the great one struggled to keep his rep standing alive over the past couple of years.
And for those players with premiership aspirations, well, forget about it.
However, what a difference a year can make. Suddenly Parramatta are seen as a club on the rise. Brad Arthur is one of the most respected coaches in the business. And players, it seem, want to come to Parramatta again.
Choc Watmough apparently wants to turn his back on Manly to link up with Arthur and today we announced the signing of Beau Champion.
I'm not going to pretend that Champion is an elite player. However, he's a talented player who has struggled with injury. And he's in the position where he's probably prepared to accepts a reasonable contract for a club that will get his career back-on-track. And he's chosen Parramatta.
Over the years we've seen plenty of players go to clubs like Manly and Melbourne for those kinds of opportunities. Those clubs have been able to top-up their roster with experienced players who aren't clawing for every dime. That helps.
Parramatta has been doubly fortunate that we're also in the position where our roster has been strengthened considerably by talented juniors who we've been able to secure into the future.
Suddenly, Parramatta can afford to be choosy. We don't have many obvious gaps in our roster - there is depth in almost every position. So we don't have to bend-over. That has a flow-on effect - every dollar you save on every player lets you reinvest that elsewhere.
And that's what excites me about our club at the moment. The here and now is pretty damned good, but I love, love, love what our future is looking like.
Replies
Time for another team list blog including all the players who want to come to Parra now!
Whaddayareckon BM?
lol
I'm feeling good.
HUGE CREDIT must go to BA and Steve Sharp for the turn around, and SS's demands for BA have proven to be nothing less than a master stroke.
Break out the Unicorn milk boys.
Champion is not such a great acquisition imo.
Who else is on the radar?
Choc?? - in the twilight of his career and starting to slow down a bit.
If we have a follow up performance in 2015 where we COMFORTABLY make the 8 then I think this blog will have relevance.
How would everyone have rated our signings of Peats, Gower, DeGois prior to this year. Safe to say that they weren't name players and their first grade careers had been far from stellar. But they have been a good fit with the roster and our needs. Each club has short term and long term needs. The success or failure can be aligned with how they fit in with the clubs roster and those needs.
Col, the article has relevance now mate given where we were 12 months ago and with our current cap situation the players you mentioned would still be great signings...
Choc watmough isn't the only elite player that wants to come..don't worry about that.
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