Now this is not new but imo much fairer and easier than the current system. There has been plenty of talk about the cap, how in reality it is probably rorted by all clubs, and the TPA system. If anybody, other than the NRL that is, believes that the clubs divorce themselves from the process of acquiring TPAs for their players than you live in fairyland.
The fairest method of policing the cap would be for a points cap to be introduced, players are free to earn what they like. This would limit clubs stockpiling good players and ensure a more even distribution of good players between clubs.
Lets start with a cap of 335 points for a 30 man squad and the points are allocated thus:
Current rep player 20 points
Former rep player up to 3 yrs ago 15 points (> 3 years 5 points deducted)
NRL player 10 points
Local junior 8 points (clubs compensated for developing juniors)
Long serving player > 6 yrs 2 points deducted
You get the idea based on above, there may be other permutations adding and subtracting from the cap.
The cap of 335 would be a good starting base, so a team could be made up of 3 internationals, one former rep player and 26 other NRL players on 10 points.
One advantage would be no need for an audit on the salaries paid, the NRL would know your playing roster and calculate the points cap. Another advantage would be that there is a more even distribution of good players between all the clubs, poorer clubs could acquire the rep or former rep player/s needed. However, the main advantage would be that no team can have a roster full of rep and former rep players.
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It would be interesting to know where this system would sit with current NRL teams. Anyone have time?
This points system could work, but not as outlined above.
We would need a team of independents to assess players and allocate points for that player.
Just like a Fantasy League.
Each team allocated 1500 points.
Thurston is worth 150 points
Norman is worth 100 points and so on....
I believe that a similar point system as mentioned above would work. Obviously it needs to be done properly, I wouldn't rate city/country as a rep game, and I would give those players who play rep games for minor countries (Samoa, tonga etc) and if a player plays SOO but not for Australia less point worth than the players who play for the big countries. But as a rough guide, the point system outlined above would work.
Assume points would be calculated at start of season and stay fixed for the year irrespective of how many new rep players the club eventually has during year. No different to a money cap where if play representative game it triggers extra money so at year end someone has to go.
Don't regard City v Country as a rep match, which country do they represent again?