Recruitment and Retention

It has been painfully obvious to all Parra fans that our recruitment and retention policy in much of the past 30 years has left a lot to be desired. The premiership has been littered with ex-players who have gone on to successful careers with other clubs whilst we have been left bemoaning the lack of talent in their positions. Further frustrating for fans were the quotes made by people in charge at the Eels such as Dennis Fitzgerald who stated that the club was proud to be able to produce quality players for the NRL, to be the nursery for the competition.At the same time, Parramatta seemed intent on recruiting players that were paid well above their market value and who rarely produced the standard of play that would be expected of someone on such a salary.So where are we at right now?Within the last 12 months many popular players have been moved on, allowed to leave or retired. This will probably continue to occur, so how will this be different to any previous years?The first difference will be in the management of the salary cap. Parramatta now has a far more balanced salary cap with space that is not just the result of not having Jarryd Hayne on the books. We are seeing a greater use of short term deals, meaning that players are turning in the standard of performances required to secure longer term deals.Furthermore, we are seeing players signed for market value or less, with motivating factors such as the coach or the treatment by the club being viewed as important by the players. (Tepai Moeroa's signing being a prime example).The recruitment of players from outside the club has been further enhanced by the standing of Brad Arthur within the NRL community. Players talk, and word gets around. I can assure you that a recent recruit has stated that this is the first time that he has ever been "coached" in the NRL. His previous coaches have simply expected that contracted players know what they need to know on the field. What this means is that Parramatta is increasingly becoming a club that players want to play at. Some recent and upcoming recruitment is actually being instigated by approaches to the club, not approaches by the club. This has been the source of many rumours but it doesn't mean that the club is interested in all of those approaches.So herein lies a major difference. Brad Arthur looks to develop contracted players into being better players. You might say, "isn't that what all coaches do?" It's what the good coaches do. A good coach isn't satisfied with just the skill set that a player offers. A good coach adds to that skill set and challenges the player to be better. Players want that because ultimately it adds to their career and to their likelihood of success. When players want that, you are less likely to pay above market value for their services.So finally from a retention perspective, all of this means that players will be judged on whether they are improving or whether they have plateaued. We'll continue to see players such as Moi Moi, Sio, Allgood and others moved on and continue to play football. It just means that a judgement has been made that they are no longer developing as a player in comparison with others at the club.The club won't be infallible in its decisions, but Parramatta will be a club with a much smarter management of its roster and its future.

I've commented on this numerous times in the past Sixties, the sad part is most fans accepted the clubs stupidity and mediocrity in regards to player retention and recruitment "paying players overs and keeping players beyond their used by dates how many times can you sign a player that was injury prone? I've never understood the mentality behind it and I never will, the club has long history of this rot and not only that the club also seems to revel engaging in price wars with other clubs and eventually paying overs for players!

Has the rot stopped?who knows but I found the way the club handled Moimois departure interesting considering they dropped him like a "bad habit" but years previously had persisted with signing injury prone club favourites for years on end!

"To have someone with 190 games expierence as a depth signing if someone gets injured is pretty good to me. Kelly isn't a starter, he might not even be 1st man up after an injury, but he is good to have in a squad. Not complaining."

"I give him 2 more weeks before I cast judgment. For a 1 year signing, he better hit the ground running. Storm and Brisbane away is a big ask, but if he's shit vs the Dragons, goodbye."

Replies

Rise of an empire February 15, 2015 at 11:05am

I hope your right sixties & I think IMO you are it's been frustrating for us all for way to long
- Black heat > Rise of an empire February 15, 2015 at 6:57pm
  
  Just like to know what IMO stand for
aveel February 15, 2015 at 11:34am

I think we are going to pay above market value for Foran and did so with Watmough.
- CP > aveel February 15, 2015 at 11:53am
  
  Watmough is a premiership, SOO and Australian forward who brings leadership, experience and toughness. Mannah would be our next experienced forward who has played a total of 15mins at origin. Foran would bring a similar resume. We need these players at our club for the right balance and lead our young team.
- CP > aveel February 15, 2015 at 1:50pm
  
  With watmough, it's what he brings off the field. He'll make 5 Eels forwards better. People won't realise what Brent kite brought to the Penrith forwards and what Ben Kennedy brought to the Manly forwards. We are buying experience.
aveel February 15, 2015 at 11:39am

they will want to sign with us because we have demonstrated we will pay overs for players from other clubs. We can add Sandow and Hoppa to that list.
- aveel > aveel February 15, 2015 at 11:44am
  
  Yep and BA has demonstrated he will do the same (watmough and likely Foran). I like BA but all of you who think top players will come to Parra for unders are dreaming. Money talks and players and mangers will want top dollar
- CP > aveel February 15, 2015 at 11:58am
  
  BA has turned players away cause they were asking too much. Eg Sims. Main difference is players are wanting to come to Parra now.
Eeldarado February 15, 2015 at 11:42am

I've commented on this numerous times in the past Sixties, the sad part is most fans accepted the clubs stupidity and mediocrity in regards to player retention and recruitment "paying players overs and keeping players beyond their used by dates how many times can you sign a player that was injury prone? I've never understood the mentality behind it and I never will, the club has long history of this rot and not only that the club also seems to revel engaging in price wars with other clubs and eventually paying overs for players!

Has the rot stopped?who knows but I found the way the club handled Moimois departure interesting considering they dropped him like a "bad habit" but years previously had persisted with signing injury prone club favourites for years on end!
- sixtiesboy > Eeldarado February 15, 2015 at 2:13pm
  
  There was influence from individuals on the board in the past. Not happening now and if it did BA probably wouldn't stick around.

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