Smith question's plan for discretionary spending.

Cameron Smith

Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith has questioned the fairness of NRL boss David Smith's discretionary power to top up the contracts of stars thinking of leaving the sport.

The ARL commission head said this week he would have exercised the self-appointed privilege for the first time if there was a chance it would have kept Jarryd Hayne – who has left to pursue a career in the NFL – in the competition.

"The game needs to look at ways to keep our best players – I'm not too sure whether this whole discretionary, marquee player allowance thing is the go … where Dave Smith can pick where he throws money at players. Who picks and chooses that? Who says 'this bloke gets cash', where 'he can't'," Smith told Fairfax Media in Brisbane, where he is preparing for the coming Four Nations.

Three of the players recently judged among the top 12 in the world have left since the end of the NRL season, an unprecedented exodus that the Melbourne Storm rake said concerned him greatly.

Saw something in the chat about this thought people would enjoy it.

"I just found out that in QLD cup you can have multiple feeder sides. It's similar I guess to the old system in UK soccer where it still sorta exists, and you can send your players on loan to these clubs and basically force them to play and develop…"

"At first I was like nah, but then thought you know what SL is practically these days near NSW cup level as it is, you have a point. Why should someone like Clifford for example consider going to England when he could be a decent back-up elsewhere.…"

Replies

Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown October 20, 2014 at 5:22pm

Smith is right, its not fair at all.

There needs to be a rule that for your 1 big marque player you can spend 1m over and above the cap, so that means each team can effectively give their best player an extra 1m dollars, every team gets the advantage not just one or two at dave smiths discression.
- Craig Marshall > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown October 20, 2014 at 5:30pm
  
  Agree completely Snake.Imagine if we signed Folau and then Hayne came back and the NRL allowed us to spend an extra million on Hayne.We then win the next 2 premierships.Yes us Parra fans would be thrilled but imagine everyone else.
  
  Love the idea of a Marque player the A League and even the NBL have now got it
eelkev October 20, 2014 at 5:31pm

It was ok when all the money went into Storm players. Now thats what i call unfair!
Muttman October 20, 2014 at 6:05pm

Precisely
Ham Sammich October 20, 2014 at 6:07pm

Smith is used to signing two contracts so he knows exactly what to do.
Bup October 20, 2014 at 6:07pm

He's an expert on contracts. Usually signs two different ones. Of course it's unfair for Cam and his storm. No benefit for them. Oh well back to pre season training to come up with a new wrestling move.
Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" October 20, 2014 at 6:09pm

LMFAO - and this from a scumbag that had to tear up one of his contracts.

Just dirty he won't get picked for a top up.
macybrown October 20, 2014 at 6:21pm

Cronk to Parra!
- Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" > macybrown October 20, 2014 at 6:23pm
  
  Onya macy
  
  CRONK TO EELS
  
  CRONK TO EELS
  
  CRONK TO EELS.
Alan Hunt October 20, 2014 at 6:28pm

Fancy Mr 3 signed contracts Smith having an opinion with a straight face, he still believes they were unlawfully stripped of 2 titles when they were systematically rorting the cap but this is unfair lol.