Luke Brooks made his NRL debut for the Tigers tonight and played a superb match. His kicking game was terrific and he ran the team like an experienced campaigner, even scoring a try himself.
However, let me remind you why this kid made his debut. Because the Tigers appealed to Ian Schubert to allow Brooks to play. The second-tier salary cap was preventing him from making his debut as the Tigers had used it all.
Now, whilst I’m not in favour of the second-tier cap it is a part of the game that every club must abide by. Schubert’s reasoning for allowing Brooks to play was that it had no effect on the finals.
But Ian, there are 16 teams, not just the Top 8. What about the Dragons and Eels? The Dragons found out how good Brooks is and now sit four points above the Eels with Parramatta having a game in hand.
For me Brooks should never have made his debut. This ruling by Schubert stinks of double standards. In the interests of transparency how do you agree to let the Tigers break the cap to win one match?
So let’s say by some miracle Parramatta win their last three matches and St George lose their last two. Sure, people will say that they still had a chance to avoid the spoon but, is it not unfair that they were put in that position because the player that beat them in Round 24 was technically not supposed to be playing?
And what about Parramatta? They have been unable to debut a number of juniors this season because of the second tier salary cap but they have been out of finals contention for half the season.
If the NRL want to get serious about enforcing the salary cap then a couple of things need to happen. They need to get a new salary cap auditor, not an ex-player. Either raise the second-tier cap substantially or remove it entirely. And actually enforce it, with only situations such as the Matt Moylan case giving lee-way to clubs.
Brooks was not in Moylan’s position. The Tigers had a fit halfback but wanted to debut a rookie so he could play a game this season. If the ARLC want to be taken seriously then they should never have allowed this to happen.
Replies
That's not the bloody point. I'm not attacking him, I'm attacking the spineless ARLC and that pr!ck Schubert.
Mate the whole salary cap concept has to be a sham. When u look at the squads of most of the top sides, the salary cap can't be credible.
IMO with 2nd party deals, 3rd party deals, 4th party deals, 5th party deals, free Maccas, free cars, freee booze etc.etc.etc. its gotta be rafferty's rules, anything goes, an absolute shambles.
I seriously doubt if any footy fan, official, player or journo really believes the integrity of the Cap Concept as it currently stands.
You are absolutely right, Michael. I haven't a clue how it works with 2nd and 3rd party deals.. But a cap that does not work is still better than no cap, IMNSHO. And I agree with SE, one rule for some and another for others sucks.
Just how much can you forward you penalty cap? Let's forward it 100 years! We should have enough to buy the best players!
Again, 'rules' in the nrl are a complete joke.
Parra could ASK for next week and would get it too.
The salary cap is a farce with silly red tape rules. Good to see Brooks playing.
Anyway i'm sure they will sort out this mess in the off season.
We wanted to debut Kenny Edwards and possibly Dean Parata given Pritchard has been injured. Edwards said himself that he'd love to have played first grade this season but he can't due to the second-tier cap.
"No bearing on the table." Tell the Dragons that.
maybe we can get Ken Edwards a run using that same reasoning?
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