WHY SOME CLUBS ARE ALWAYS ON TOP

An article by Paul Crawley “
 
They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. And after copping it for years about their so-called salary cap sombrero, now it seems rival clubs are trying to buy what the Roosters have developed. 
 
The NRL’s changing landscape was highlighted this week when Newcastle parted ways with Nathan Brown — and Roosters coach Trent Robinson’s assistants Craig Fitzgibbon and Adam O’Brien went straight to the top of the Knights’ most wanted list.
 
But as Roosters have tried to tell us for years, it’s not as easy as just going out and buying the best.
 
For so long this has been the annual jealousy campaign run against the Roosters.
 
But finally people are starting to wake up to the fact that it is the system and structures Nick Politis has put in place that is the backbone to the Roosters’ ongoing success.
 
Just putting the Roosters’ squad up against this weekend’s opponents St George Illawarra is a good example that it is not always about how much you spend.
 
For instance, the Dragons spent more than $1 million-a-season for Ben Hunt on a five-year deal that is already starting to look very shaky.
 
Yet the Roosters spent in the same ballpark for Cooper Cronk but only on a two-year deal, and Cronk already has a premiership to show for it.
 
Other marquee halves earning similar money include Michael Morgan, Anthony Milford, Ash Taylor, Mitchell Pearce, Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran.
 
Who would be considered the shrewdest buy?
 
Cronk’s experience and professionalism have also been instrumental in the development of other players.
 
Luke Keary was picked up for a bargain because he was on the outer at South Sydney and has since established himself as one of the competition’s genuine superstars, and Cronk’s influence has played no small part.
 
On the flip side James Tedesco is a wonderful example of how the right club can also bring out the best in the player.
 
Like with Cronk, plenty of rival clubs would have paid every cent if not more than the Roosters were offering Tedesco.
 
But since moving from Wests Tigers, Tedesco has gone from being a very good fullback to arguably the game’s best player.
 
I can’t help but wonder if that would have been the case if Tedesco had chosen the Bulldogs instead.
 
The other thing about the Roosters is that they have an amazing knack of identifying junior talent and then developing it into long term success.
 
Daniel Tupou came from playing under 20s at Parramatta. Latrell Mitchell came through the Roosters’ junior system as did Joey Manu. They are now rated among the game’s best centres.
 
Both are negotiating new deals as we speak.
 
Manu is expected to stay for less than he could receive elsewhere, although the Roosters might struggle to keep Mitchell.
 
The Roosters have made it known they want Latrell but will not be drawn into a bidding war.
 
If Latrell goes, sure as night follows day, they will find someone to replace him.
 
They always do.
 
When the Roosters couldn’t afford to match the money Parramatta was offering Blake Ferguson they went and bought two world class replacements in Brett Morris and Ryan Hall for basically a two-for-one deal.
 
Remember, Morris was unwanted by the Bulldogs, while the Englishman wanted the chance to prove himself in the NRL.
 
In the forwards, the Roosters have an outstanding mix of experience and youth. But is the Roosters’ pack any more star-studded than the Dragons’ forwards, or many of the NRL’s packs?
 
Significantly, only Angus Crichton was poached on big money.
 
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves had only played a handful of first grade games at Manly before he arrived, and he has since knocked back huge offers to stay at Bondi.
 
Co-captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend were developed as teenagers and could command more money elsewhere, as could veteran Mitch Aubusson who is one of the game’s genuine unsung heroes. Victor Radley also came through the system.
 
Sio Siua Taukeiaho had played one NRL game for the Warriors in 2013 before he signed with the Roosters in 2015. Isaac Liu was in the Wests Tigers under 20s. Sam Verrills was a Manly junior. Zane Tetevano was unwanted after running into some trouble at Newcastle.
 
Would these players be as highly rated if they were at rival clubs?
 
The other thing the Roosters do so well is know when it is time to make the tough decisions, like we saw with Pearce when Cronk became available.
 
They also made the call to let the likes of Aidan Guerra, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Connor Watson also go to Newcastle, Kane Evans to Parramatta, while Dylan Napa was free to take a bigger offer at the Bulldogs.
 
The Roosters don’t regret too many decisions when it comes to recruitment.
 
But they rarely get the recognition they deserve.
 
The fact is sustained success does not necessarily come down to who has the most money, but how wisely it is spent.

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Reading that all it does is confirm that the Roosters are definitely cheating the cap. 

    Read those names. $1m for Cronk, $1m for Tedesco, Chricton poached on ‘big money’. 

    They got Keary cheap because he was unwanted at Souths. Anyone who believes he’s still on a cheap contract is a bona-fide  idiot. 

    No one ever said the Roosters aren’t a well run club or a well coached side. They most definitely are. 

    They identify junior talent extremely well. But when those young guys become worthy of bigger money they miraculously just re-sign. Funny that. 

    NRL is the Formaula One of our sport. All teams are professional, well coached and have talent. But you only need a 10% advantage and you’re on the podium every race. 

    As such a well run club and well coached side it’s a shame they are clearly cheating too. 

  • Or how many back door TPA deals that aren’t recorded.

    • Almost certainly 

  • I agree they are a well run club with a good coaching staff. I think many will agree with that. But you don't need to be good at math to realize that that the Roosters roster is over the cap. 

    Do you work with Nick or his lover because you are obsessed with the man. 

    • I just like seeing people  like you bitch and moan about other club's success , it's like looking at a bogans face when he gets out of his VS Commodore with faded paint and sees a man get out of range rover . 

  • No matter how much u try to fit the roosters team under the cap it doesn't make any sense. There current team looks better or just as good as  the 2009 Melbourne storm team, that were reported 2million over the cap for that year.

    Tedesco, latrel, cronk, keary, cordner are all $1million  dollar players

    Then you have chrichton, taukeiaho, Jake friend, JWH, radley and Joseph Manu all would command between 700-900k a year

     

  • The roosters identify talent better than anyone in current comp, and have proven that with the names mentioned above that debuted and then made their name.  They also have a lot of unknown names on minimum or very low contracts relying on the big names or young players to do the job where other teams try to have to much depth or over invest to keep juniors in fear of letting a potential super star go. 

    Four top line star players might mean you have at least 2 or 3 playing regardless of injury, where other teams have too many mid tier players (Parra included) without a superstar who can single handedly win a match.  That said a superstar won't join the Eels until we are a genuine threat.

    The thing that draws attention of fans though is the 3 biggest established players that were off contract in a 2 year span including Cronk, Tedesco and  Crighton, despite attracting massive offers everywhere all went to the roosters.  

    Lucky they had a fringe first grader in jayden Nikorima on over 400k to release as per stories from the same journalist of this roosters fluff piece.  Where is Nikorima now and what is he worth.  Sorry but the roosters recruitment don't make mistakes that big.  Fair enough they released Pearce for Cronk but the other player values don't add up.  Also the players that start out with roosters never seem to be upgraded despite being regular SOO or international representatives.

    For a club that is able to attract talent on reduced deals for the opportunity to win a premiership the reported Nikorima value proves this isn't 100% true..

    Good on them as they won premierships while Parra got a spoon while cheating, however no one can deny something is going on.  The NRL media continually claim the roosters have the top businessmen in the game (true) which bring advantages and financial opportunity (true)however financial incentives can not be used to entice a player to sign as per NRL rules beyond their cap value.  There is no doubt deals are done for side money, investment opportunities and connections for post playing career.

    All contract offers should be made available to the NRL and if someone signs for massive unders an automatic investigation launched and the contract put on hold.  Also publish the cap value of each player and let the fans monitor what is legitimate value for players.  If they are on a club permitted TPA that can be used to entice players that should be published as well.  It will clear up the misunderstanding fans have of player values as I don't think roosters are over as much as many think ,but they are definitely outside of the rules by offering financial incentives whether they be direct or indirect, and blind reporting and justification from the likes of Crawley just gets fans further offside.

     

     

     

     

    • FM what about TPAs that don't involve the club and that don't need NRL approval? What about those? Example , remember when Jarryd Hayne signed with the Titans because he was offered a 200k a year TPA from Trip a deal to play for them ?  These are the TPAs that 95% of high profile players receive .

       

       

       

       

      • This reply was deleted.
        • Pop  i wonder how long it will be before you leave the site in shame and disgrace like you once did because you were caught out sending messages to the moderators telling them who would be banned like you once did? 

           

          Then I wonder how long you will wait to make new account and send a message to certain members  asking  permission if you could return to the site as long as you kept out of their way like also once did?

           

          Then I wonder how long it will take you to tell everyone why you were petrified of a certain article that many of us read regarding you being posted on to site ?  Those of us who have read it ( and many of us have ) know you would leave the site if was posted for all to see as it shows what a 24 carat gold hypocritical low grub you are . 

           

           

          Remember that unlike a shameless grub like you im not petrified of posting my name as I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of like you. Regards Paul Sergi  . 

          • Frankie, I really had to laugh at your post ... Looking back over your promises, personal vindictive, name calling etc I am not sure you understand the concepts of shame and disgrace *smile*. 

            Why haven't you left this site because of shame and in disgrace? Going on the precedent you have set I don't think anyone ever neeeds to leave.   

            GeeWizz talk about a case of the pot calling the ketttle black!

             

This reply was deleted.

More stuff to read

Kurupt - Monkey Magic replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 3 Team List v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
"Probably how they'll defend "
3 seconds ago
Mannah-Brow replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 3 Team List v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
"How is Moretti in front of Greig? Moretti made less metres than greigs post contact metres. What a joke."
5 seconds ago
Cumberland Eel replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 3 Team List v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
"Has he played 1st grade before "
30 seconds ago
Cumberland Eel replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 3 Team List v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
"I like the inclusion of Moretti! Not to sure about Harper on the wing. It's going to be a tough game. I think Nathan Brown will be out to prove a point. I really can't see the Eels pulling this game off especially if Moses and Gutherson aren't 100%"
1 minute ago
More…