Rugby League, for the majority of it's existence has nurtured it's tribalism. Players are expected to be bound to their word and see out their contracts.
Yet, in this day and age, is it practical in both an economic and squad balance sense, to continue operating this way?
Rugby League is a business, it has been for a long time and yet it retains the trade setup of yesteryear.
Players sign a contract for a set period of time. They see out that contract and re-negotiate. In that time, their club can elect to pay them out and release them from their contract or a player can choose to ask for a release, forfeiting their payout.
A player can also sign for another team whilst still playing for their current team. They are then given until June 30th of that season to stick to the contract they have just signed or back-out.
It's an antiquated system that sees an almost continual revolving door throughout the season.
A look across to football in Europe suggests what seems a more logical system.
In football, you have two transfer windows. One in the off-season, termed the summer transfer, the other in mid-season January, termed the winter transfer.
Players can sign their contracts during the transfer window and move immediately to that club. A transfer fee is negotiated between that player's two clubs and then the deal is finalised.
As an example: Player X plays for Liverpool Football Club, he is out of form and the club wants to move him on to free up some money.
The January transfer window rolls around and Liverpool inform the player that he is free to go elsewhere. Leicester City tell Liverpool they'll pay them $4 million for Player X. Liverpool agrees to the valuation and Player X moves to Leicester City.
All parties are happy. The player is out of the spotlight of playing for Liverpool, Leicester have another player and Liverpool have extra money. No one ends up out of pocket.
No one is dragged around for the rest of the season and there's no waiting period for the player.
Players can also sign deals in the winter transfer window for the following season, but this is rare as they prefer to move as soon as they can.
The other system that could be investigated is a loan system.
This is often used for players who are usually not getting a lot of game time but the club doesn't want to sell them.
The player often gets loaned to a team outside of their "home" team's competition or to a club in a lower division.
As an example. Liverpool currently have sent 19 year old Divock Origi on loan to French Ligue 1 side, Lille.
Origi is not yet ready for the physicality and demands of competition in England. But he's a talented, front line player at Lille.
This agreement means Liverpool retain buying rights over Origi; Lille can't sell him to another club.
But it gives Origi time to develop in top flight competition, without the stress of the Premier League.
Teams can also loan with the option to sell. Meaning they can loan that player to a team who are looking at buying him but want to see him playing under their system.
It's essentially try before you buy.
How can these systems be used in the NRL?
The transfer window system is probably the easiest to implement. Whilst it would probably require the re-working of the salary cap at an administrative level, it would be a smoother system than the one we currently have.
It would also cut down on the number of players signing for an opponent at the start of 2015, yet not joining that club until 2016.
Like football, you have two transfer windows. One during season and one post season. They are the only times that players can move teams.
You bring in a transfer fee and teams can be compensated for releasing a player.
The loan system would be a little more difficult as only Australia and England have fully professional leagues. Then again, the loan system is used in the English Super League with some effect.
So, would you like to see a transfer window and loan system used in the NRL? Or are you happy with the current revolving door policy through the season?
Replies
I think youve made some very good points here super, in fact a few of then could fix whats going on with this june 30 deadline, certainly worth looking into, you should send a copy of this to a few people in the nrl.
Transfer would be a good idea the nrl needs it.
Super i seriously think your on the money with most of this, im feeling like the fruits of my labour are finally coming to fruition.
English Premier League Clubs now have a salary cap and the transfer market still works. Yes we could and should adopt some elements of the EPL as it would make it far easier for clubs to manage their rosters and players to manage their careers. In saying that under that system we probably would not have had IDG until the mid season transfer.
Totally agree something needs to change, SuperEel, and that the NRL should be looking to other codes to see what will work best. Wouldn't it be cool to have the same excitement of draft picks etc as other codes?
I just wanted to discuss one of the points you made, however. In the example you give of the January transfer window where Leicester City tells Liverpool they'll pay them $4 million for Player X and the player moves to Leicester City, you say that no one ends up out of pocket. Is this correct? Leicester City has to come up with $4 mil to get the player, and then has to pay their salary as well. Leicester City is in fact $4 mil out of pocket. My point is, does this still not favour the teams with more money who can afford to pay a club for a player and then pay that player's salary?