Most people can remember the salary cap breaches of the past 20 years, Cronulla in 2019, Manly in 2018, Parra in 2016, Melbourne in 2010, Warriors in 2005 and the Bulldogs in 2002.
But by far the biggest rort of all isn't in this list and seldom gets discussed, Can you remeber which one?.
In 1991 the Canberra Raiders were $1.5 million over the salary cap. But consider this - according to NRL stats the salary cap 7 years later in 1998 was only $3.25 million.
In essence the Raiders rorted the cap by a staggering 50% or more. Or in 2020, that's the same as being over the cap by $5,000,000!
1987 Runners Up......1989 Premiers....1990 Minor Premiers and Premiers.....1991 Runners Up,
I find it very curious that the historical achievements of the Raiders don't come under more scrutiny in the discussion of cheating
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Very true, but the sheer size of their breach in comparison to the cap was massive and I think it's lost on most people just how big their breach was in comparison to others
If my memory is correct in 1990 they were $600k over the then $1.5m salary cap.
It would not surprise me if they are over this year.
We're lucky they didn't introduce a cap in 1985.
Adjusting for inflation, our '81 thru '86 sides would have been worth about a trillion bucks :)
lol very true K-man. Actually it's a great question, if you looked at the great sides since 1970, which team would have the highest market value using today's cap and salaries
1983 Eels side: E. Grothe $550,000, Ella $700,000, Cronin $750,000, Kenny $1.25m, Sterling $1.25m, Price $800,000, Edge $900,000 that's a tick over $6milion for 7 players lol.......yep a lot of those players were lucky at playing the pokies in the club, somehow won a lot of jackpots...go figure
I'm not sure some of those players would have been worth that much at that stage of their careers in the 1983 side. Maybe in 1986, but the side still was balanced with a number of cheapies. Most of the backline had only been playing top grade for a few years. Even Cronin as a centre probably would not command $750,000.
Hi Poppa, it's all fun speculation I suppose but in response to some of the names you mentioned, Ella would definitely fetch $700k in todays market as by the time it was 1983 we had won 3 GFs and I'm pretty sure played for NSW (but happy to be corrected)
Edge had by then won 4 GFs with two different clubs so in comparison to todays market he would be right up there with Cam Smith who is over $1m.
You're dead set right about Pricey, but it's just a bit of fun thinking about values in today's market and locks in 2020 don't get as much as players in the spine rightly or wrongly.
I think I've heard it mentioned that Fergo is the highest (or close to) paid winger in the NRL on $500,000 so that's how I came up with the value for Guru.
If there was a cap in the 1980s we'd be buggered lol. Do you remeber a little fullback called Steve McKenzie? only played 2 years 1980 and 1981...came down from Wauchope as a back up 7 for Sterlo. We had an injury at fullback and he ended up playing in the 81 GF - he was my mum's first cousin and a bit like a Will Smith type player today.
Morning Pops, I was in my late teens at that stage so probably not as learned as others, but if Steve Edge was playing today as a 4 x premiership winning captain, then I'm pretty confident there would be a bidding war and he would definitely be $900,000 I say this because in 2020 contracts often aren't a reflection of abilty, talent or true worth.
Nowadays its really an issue of supply versus demand.
Case in point - Ben Hunt. At the time the Dragons were desperate for a 7 and there was a shortage of supply - and so the player's agent was able to leverage that and ta-dah...the bloke is on $1m+ over 5 years.
So I think It's reasonable to say that if Steve Edge was on the open market in 2020 after just winning his 4th premiership as a captain, then he would easily command $900,000 a year based on his leadership + the fact he'd get the club captain allowance + he would help attarct other players to that club who signed him.
As i said it's all fun speculation and rugby league in 1983 is almost unrecognisable in comparison to rugby league in 2020 on and off the field.
It's a great discussion, and yes Edge himself has stated he sees himself more s a Parra man.
Pops my dear old dad now 80 saw the Thornetts and said Ken was brilliant.
If you put all our greatest players on the open market in 2020 I think you could make a pretty good case that he'd be the highest paid player ever wearing Blue n Gold
What's your gut feeling about this game tonight?
Partly because in those days the salary cap was different for each club, it was based on each club’s revenue base. The Raiders at the time vastly inflated their revenues to allow them to spend the way they did.
They paid a heavy price though, all their players contracts were declared null & void, they had to significantly renegotiate every contract. They lost the likes of Glenn Lazarus, Kevin Walters, etc.