A number of us have been speculating over the off season who is in and not in our NRL top 25 squad, particularly with all of the new signings we have. Today the NRL's Official Information Handbook (2015 Season Guide) went on sale at your local newsagency. This book is produced by the NRL.
In my opinion there is some surprises with our squad discuss below. Having a top 25 contract is important because if a player has a second tier (NSW Cup) contract they are limited to how many games they can play in the NRL. As we have lost Edwards for most likely the whole season we will receive dispensation for his injury so a non 25 player will benefit. I have listed our NRL top 25 in position to make it a little clearer how much depth we have in each position. I have only listed each player once even though they may play multiple positions.
Fullback: Will Hopoate
Wing: Semi Radradra / Reece Robinson / Vai Toutai
Centre: Brad Takairangi / Ryan Morgan / Beau Champion
5/8: Corey Norman / Ryan Matterson
Half: Chris Sandow
Prop: Tim Mannah / Junior Paulo / Darcy Lussick / Danny Wicks / David Gower / Richard Fa'aoso
Hooker: Nathan Peats / Isaac De Gois
Secondrow: Tepai Moeroa / Manu Ma'u / Kenny Edwards / Pauli Pauli / Pene Terepo
Lock: Anthony Watmough / Joseph Paulo
Kelly, Crooks, Folau, Quinlan, Faraimo, Pritchard, Nelson, Goodall, Alvaro, Ualesi, Tui, Gorman, Aloiai have 2nd and/ or 3rd tier contracts.
The big surprise in my opinion is Kelly not being in the top 25 and Matterson is considering Kelly had a top 25 contract previously. I'm also surprised that Crooks has left the Super League for a 2nd tier contract and I'm also surprised that Quinlan does not have a top 25 contract even though he replaced Hunt who had a top 25 contract (who benefit from Hunt going?).
It is also great news that 3 Holden Cup players in Moeroa, Pauli and Matterson have top grade contracts for 2015.
You now know what BA and DA think of each player and where they fall in the pecking order prior to Round 1 contract wise.
It will be interesting to see who will be the beneficiary of Edwards injury.
Replies
Crooks = 2nd tier?
Like you I find that very unusual.
Edwards must be out for a minimum 12 weeks for us to get dispensation.
The real problem will be if Sandow gets hurt - doesn't appear to be anyone to take on the role.
An ACL is between 6 to 12 months. If Edwards has done his meniscus as well as his ACL he will be gone for 12 months.
The top 25 looks good. Where has haynes money gone.
I have been told he is on 200k this season and on the payroll. Eels paying him this cause they owe him this amount due to third party deals not being paid.
Also this is the only thing keeping him attached to the eels and honouring his contract. Of he were to come back he can't complain about not being paid. He fails nfl then we have massive fight to bring him back. Eels offered a new deal last year and his manager reject it due to third party deals. There are some issues with new board and old he is not happy with either. DA issue is also a sticking point with Hayne
In regards to Quinlan I reckon Dragons would be paying some of his salary so he can be put on our books as 2nd tier. And likewise we would be doing the same with Hunt. Quite smart by both teams. It opens up a top 25 spot for someone else while still having a player who can cover the fullback position (Not so smart by dragons because Justin Hunt is fucken gash)
Plenty of money to spend on a TEAM!
Crooks is not even mentioned in the book as an extended NRL player (ie., 2nd tier). There is only six 2nd tier players listed in the NRL book - Faraimo, Folau, Kelly, Nelson, Pritchard & Quinlan, where most clubs have more than six 2nd tier listed.
Showing my age!
This line is not necessarily true, Big Dave: "Having a top 25 contract is important because if a player has a second tier (NSW Cup) contract they are limited to how many games they can play in the NRL."
Having a second tier (non-top 25 NRL contract) just means that you only count against the cap if you play first grade. So once you've played one game you count against the cap and you can play in all the rest of the games. Semi Radradra had a second tier contract last year and he played every game.
The exception is where the second tier cap is full but you need to play a second tier player due to other injuries in the squad. Then you apply to the NRL for special dispensation and you are allowed to play another second tier player for one game, then you need to reapply for each future game.
The players in our top 25 that you might be surprised about are probably the ones who signed one year contracts. It is very difficult to get a player to sign for only one year because he is basically off contract as soon as he signs, as players like to have their futures sorted out a year before their contract expires. Most retentions for the next year are done prior to round one of the current year to avoid the circus of off contract players distracting the team.
Robinson, Takairangi, Champion, Wicks, Fa'aoso... all the guys who were signed after Hayne announced he was leaving. Plenty of people assumed these guys were on peanuts, but if they were then other clubs would have gotten some of them. They are all on one year deals, which cost more per-year than longer contracts. A one year contract benefits the club more than the player (unless the player is an absolute star) so therefore the club has to pay more.
As for all those blokes on second tier contracts, most of them would have signed for two or more years. We know Crooks and Nelson signed two year deals, and the second year of those contracts (i.e. 2016) could have them on upgrades so that they're inside the top 25. Others like Folau and Lavaka just graduated from NYC and the club didn't announce their re-signings, so they could be on multiple year deals that also place them inside the top 25 starting 2016 (or later).
Pauli Pauli signed for three years when he turned 18 (in 2012), and he would have been in massive demand (for a kid) so this final year of that contract could have been the sweetener to get him to commit to the club. It's rare to find an 18 year old signed past his NYC eligibility, which finished last year. Most of them are off contract at the end of the year in which they turn 20. That means Dockar-Clay and Aloiai were both off contract at the end of this year, but with them coming into the NRL squad (and playing for Wenty) they were probably recently extended (and therefore probably upgraded), meaning they are now on too much to fit under the NYC cap. I guess we'll know if they play any NYC this year.
As for Quinlan replacing Hunt, that isn't technically true either. Both players would have received a partial payout from their former clubs so that neither is out of pocket, but both are now outside the top 25 at their new clubs. I'm sure if Hunt would have had to take up a top 25 slot at the Dragons they wouldn't have agreed to sign him.
It was alleged early last year that West Tigers approached Luke Kelly with a two year $300K per year ($600K) contract and BA wouldn't release him. If true he must be a little depressed now having a 2nd tier contract.
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