Storm to keep fab 4

Just read on fox sports news mel are poised to keep inglis as well as there other super stars smith, slater, cronk!!! I find this an absolute disgrace!! If u add up these 4 contract values it's well over 2 million.. Leaving just over 2 million to sign 21 other players... Over the past 5-10 years parra have lost millions of dollars in playing talent !! Why?? Because we abide by the salary cap rules!! It seems to me the nrl are helping this cheating team stay strong in Mel by letting there big players take pay cuts to play on.. Cast ur mind back 8-9 months .... Kevin Kingston ... Wanted to remain an eel , and players were willing to take pay cuts to keep him, but the nrl and mr gallop said no.. Now can anyone pls explain to me how the storm are able to pay 21 players in just under 2 million dollars?? I know they will shed up to 8 other players in there squad.. But considering they must have 25 players in there squad inside there cap.. I find it impossible for them to retain there "fab 4" without the nrl allowing them to take a pay cut.. Please explain????

We can blame the salary cap but as I remember the Eels had 2 players they wanted to resign after last years grand final. They were robson and kingston. they obviously chose to keep robson which meant kingston had to be let go. Not only that we paid big dollars for players like tahu, poore and shackleton who have been duds. So A good look at the managements player retention and player acquisition issues. When you break up a squad after making a grandfinal there are major issues within the club. I mean teams like the roosters, manly and melbourne made consequetive grand finals and the key was keeping the squad the same without making too many changes. I ve lost all faith in the way the club is being run Its a joke.

On top of this we chase the Idea of bringing a big half to the club by letting 4 quality players go in the hopes of getting 1. Great team management........ I think people in the club are guilty of reading into too much media hype and not smart with ideas on how this team is succesful or was succesful.

"I don't think Cleary is really that interested in playing Origin, the biggest incentive for him is the extra $$$ and a bit more fame if he's able to produce the goods which he hasn't. He's also obviously playing injured. The State of Origin as a…"

Replies

Roger Truffle August 8, 2010 at 11:32am

It's a good point Dennis, and your frustration is justified. Assuming they do abide by the salary cap rules this time, and 21 other players are squeezed in around the four (which in my opinion is a massive assumption - just figure in the minimum wage for example) then I for one will enjoy watching 3 games in particular: the three games Melbourne play immediately before each SOO. It will be a much-deserved bloodbath, and hilarious viewing. Doubtless the NRL will schedule byes for them prior to two of these, so I'm down to one, but I'll have the beer and chippies all ready for that one. Can't wait already. Even Cronulla will dismantle them.
David August 8, 2010 at 11:39am

They can keep him if they want. They'll have loads of players on under 100k though which screws them up and they will have a terrible forward pack in 2 years time unless they get some real good juniors. We'll take Adam Blair or Sika Manu if we can't get a good halfback.
Sir Penny Wong August 8, 2010 at 11:45am

No way they will keep the 4, its all a ploy! its just not practical for any team to have a schedule like that.. time will tell!
joeyboy August 8, 2010 at 11:47am

Arrogance comes to mind as a high ranked Melbourne official states their is no edict on how they have to stay under just that they have to be under the cap,seriously these nuggets are in contempt of the NRL rules.I can be forgiven for thinking that maybe once bitten twice shy but its obvious that they have the antitidote to the legalities of the current ruling,maybe Parramatta should blow our salary cap to double for 2011 cop the fine run the loophole that Melbourne has to retain the top players on a reduced wage tell other clubs to F off and prepare for 2012.That would be a BIG loophole a long one but a loophole none the less,but i dont think we could as a club based on moral grounds but would be funny to see it on the Telegraph tommorrow as a leaked story.
paul taylor August 8, 2010 at 11:56am

If they keep the big 4 and jam the remaining 21 players under the $2M what it does is create a CANCER within the club. The players all know where they fit in the pecking order both in terms of money and ability. If your an up and comer working your backside out for a bsiac wage whilst INGLIS puts in his regular 15 minutes a game - then that cancer starts to manifest.

Thye can have them all and the all the problems that go with it. They will miss BLAIR, HOFFMAN and co more that they think. They will get what they deserve for another few years ....
Blue & Gold Blood August 8, 2010 at 12:17pm

I know ...its bullshit, its all about melb and keeping them strong so they get support down there. if they were dismantled they the fans would lose interest down there. ohh we cant have that.

Im just watching the doogies newcastle toyota cup game and cam smith is in commentary. good to see his "$100 000" a yearis earned to appear once a week to commentate. what a load of shit. he only says a few words every ten minutes. easiest job in the world. wanker.queenslander.
gf August 8, 2010 at 12:35pm

We can blame the salary cap but as I remember the Eels had 2 players they wanted to resign after last years grand final. They were robson and kingston. they obviously chose to keep robson which meant kingston had to be let go. Not only that we paid big dollars for players like tahu, poore and shackleton who have been duds. So A good look at the managements player retention and player acquisition issues. When you break up a squad after making a grandfinal there are major issues within the club. I mean teams like the roosters, manly and melbourne made consequetive grand finals and the key was keeping the squad the same without making too many changes. I ve lost all faith in the way the club is being run Its a joke.

On top of this we chase the Idea of bringing a big half to the club by letting 4 quality players go in the hopes of getting 1. Great team management........ I think people in the club are guilty of reading into too much media hype and not smart with ideas on how this team is succesful or was succesful.
Blue & Gold Blood August 8, 2010 at 3:12pm

Hang on gone fishing..... just on the issue of breaking up a grand final team....im assuming u mean why did we buy tahu poore and shackleton? well if u remember at that time we were coming 14th mate and poore was an origin player shackleton was and still is a great forward to have, give him a go he has been cruelly injuired and unable to prove himself..... he was going great in the trials. Tahu a devastating player and everyone including u i bet were happy to take on board. all this is not managements fault.

However i agree with the situation we are now banking on cronk and it back firing. We have to recruit well now or we are in deep shit next year. Dont know if there is much to choose from.
Dennis August 8, 2010 at 3:33pm

Agree 100 per cent Richard ... Was gonna say exactly the same thing, but u beat me to it.... We bought those players cause we were really going terrible, and we wanted to keep Kingston as well but the salary cap is what it is... My point is I think the only way the storm are gonna keep there fab 4 is if the nrl allow them to take pay cuts, which Is not allowed, as the nrl changed there policies after the dogs kept there whole squad after they got caught cheating the cap ...
Dennis August 8, 2010 at 3:58pm

That's where your wrong parra, ur only allowed a certain amount of players on 2nd tier contracts....not sure how many it is though ....

of 2

This reply was deleted.

Eels Blogs

Storm to keep fab 4

Replies

More stuff to read

Eels blogs

Is Jarome Luai worth going after?

IEE AI usage poll

Poppas Corner: Origin Blindness

Cleary isn't an Origin player

Note: this page contains paid content.

Social Blogs

LUKE METCALF

NSW Origin Squad 2025

I say if we lose this week against Newcastle we will come last

Jim Sarantinos on SEN: Moses an outside chance before R9

Note: this page contains paid content.