Some Thoughts About Semi

Firstly, let's put all of that silly newspaper talk to bed. Semi is happy at Parra, he loves BA (who really takes care of Semi), he loves his team mates and he is not about to leave the Eels.The other reality is that Semi has had a quantum change in his life. It wasn't that long ago that he was living in Fiji in a lifestyle so far removed from where he's at right now that it would be difficult for us to find a comparison in our own experiences. The upgrading of his contract money would be less of a concern for Semi as it would be for his manager.That's not to say that Semi wouldn't be unconcerned about being paid what he's worth. I'm sure that if we had re-signed Hoppa for $800K just after Semi re-signed for a much lower figure that he would have been a bit miffed.Nonetheless, Semi is a winger. A very valuable winger who is a quality component in the Eels team, but a winger all the same. By position, there are limitations as to what percentage of the cap you pay him. He deserves the top level for a winger and no doubt he will be upgraded, but are there many wingers who are in the top bracket of their team's cap?Consider these high profile players lost to union. Sailor, Tuqiri, Rogers were high profile league wingers that clubs could not match Union dollars for. Couldn't come close. Not just because Union was by its structure able to offer bigger dollars in general, but also because NRL clubs could not try to compete with those types of contracts for a winger.Assembling a roster and juggling the cap is never an easy task. Wingers, by virtue of their role, will often feature in leader boards - try scorers and metres gained. Even average wingers will feature here. It's their job. Return the kicks, finish the tries. Still, it gets them noticed. However, no club will use a significant proportion of their cap on a winger.A bloke like Semi gets a bit more attention and rightly so. He is faster than average, bigger than average, more talented than average. He's new to the game and yet is in the upper echelon of wingers. He creates opportunities for others. We use him differently to other wingers. We have to because he is a special talent. It means he deserves more money than other wingers but we can't afford to pay him the type of money that players in the spine earn.It also means that we will never match Union money.Hopefully his manager will realise what makes Semi happy and what helps him to produce his best football.Here's my thoughts about managers - http://thecumberlandthrow.com/2016/03/25/player-managers-walking-a-fine-line/Let's hope he bases his advice on a balanced perspective. Then Semi will be an Eel for life.

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  • I can also see Semi being an EEL for life too. The guy is an entertainer, a crowd pleaser, A great advertising product

  • Semi may be a winger, but i haven't seen many wingers who can individually win a game like him. I see him developing his game in the centres, possibly fullback (maybe, i dunno???), but whatever the scenario, I see him as an absolute priority to the Eels.

  • Semi has improved in leaps and bounds since 2013. He will continue to make an impact in the game. Just what is his true value is the big question. But these days managers are quick to up the value of their player pretty quickly.
  • Nice write up Sixties.

    I enjoy reading TCT, but I wonder if Phil would mind you guys posting a "weekly wrap up" over here, so that others on here can get more visibility of your work there, as well as encourage a bit of 1EE/TCT discussion on this forum.

    • Thanks PP. I have consistently said that we aren't in competition with 1ee. This is a forum where everyone has a voice, which is fantastic and why I still visit. The Cumberland Throw is run like a news website with original material totally devoted to footy. That said, we haven't posted our articles here as it would defeat the purpose of having a dedicated site.
      As for me posting this Semi article here, I felt it was relevant due to the recent discussions on here about the big bloke. The fabrication in the media was infuriating, but we have to be realistic about Semi's position. I don't think he'll ever leave, but we can't ever pay him a king's ransom. Hopefully the arm's length TPAs will flood his way! His manager needs to chase those up.
  • As usual high quality thoughts & work Sixties, here & on TCT.

    Let's hope Semi's next 2 years aren't the last. He would be a massive loss & is the most valuable winger in the game.

    Semi adds that rare freakish x-factor to break a game open (similar to what Hayne, Jennings, Norman can do). He also works tirelessly in offense & defence - being all about backing up the team. He's also becoming a smarter football player. It's frightening to think he may not of peaked yet.

    Semi may be forced to leave. Not because he isn't personally happy - but because his happiness would also be intrinsically tied to his family.

    It's quite normal & expected in many ways, to put the happiness of your family above your own personal well-being & happiness in Asian culture.

    He will be torn by it nonetheless when the decision time comes - by loyalty to his Eels family versus loyalty to what's doing best for his family.

    Living here permanently would heighten this conflict, as we value individuality & the satisfaction of oneself, very highly.

    A cunning manager will play the family card. A humane bigger picture manager will want Semi to be happy (regardless of how the cards fall).

    I will be sad to see him go, as an Eels fan, devastated, but if it makes him happy, then I'm happy.
    • Thanks mate and interesting perspective. I believe that Semi's manager only has a small book of clients so hopefully that means close attention to each one. Semi is certainly his marquee client.
  • I agree with your blog but he is worth 450k now tops.

    We should do everything to top him up to that figure. He may not be a spine player but he works his arse off and should be on more than the entire backline outside of foran and norman.

    So based on the fact he should command a little more than Gutherson, it appears we paid overs for.

    If Semi is not on more than Gutherson, I would say Semi go get a big fat contract because mate you deserve it and we are too dumb to give you more. I am sure jennings is on some huge contract and so is Gordon even if it is 1 year.

    Semi to fullback in 2017 and an upgrade to 450k thanks.

  • The thing with Semi is that he appears to be getting better. His last game was the best game of rugby league he has ever played. He doesn't play like a normal winger - it would be more apt to call him a winger/centre/backrower who is named on the wing each week. I'm not sure there is another back in the game that can realistically be compared to him.

    There's every chance he will end up being one of the games all time greats I reckon.

    Semi's already all over the NRL advertisements, he's on every highlight reel. Kids go to Parra games to watch Semi play - 90% of kids, and a fair wack of adults, rate Semi as their favourite player. It's not a fluke that the media is already making waves about him playing origin.

    Semi is already arguably the games biggest cult player and the fans, from all clubs, love him.

    He GENERATES REAL MONEY for the club and the game.

    Semi is worth a hell of a lot to us and the NRL - he should be paid accordingly.

    Parra need to think outside the box here.

  • I would think with Semi's high profile that if RU tried to entice him away that hopefully the NRL would step in and subsidise his pay to keep him in RL.

    Maybe he could be developed into a centre for next year thus justifying a higher price tag.

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