Recruitment And Retention Discussion
- Thread starter HarVeeGee13
- Start date
Compensation is not going to happen. Besides the fact it's a restriction of trade which the players won league arguments over years ago so that way is already blocked, the NRL is in an expansion phase.
If NRL started putting compensation requirements on player recruitment (who decides what that would be) then there's no way to bring new clubs that will rely heavily on recruitment initially into the league.
This enviably leads to calls for a draft...which is also bad idea.
www.smh.com.au
PS. Melbourne now has local juniors making it into their NRL teams, it's only taken nearly 30 years. It never would have happened if they'd had to pay compensation for players.
If NRL started putting compensation requirements on player recruitment (who decides what that would be) then there's no way to bring new clubs that will rely heavily on recruitment initially into the league.
This enviably leads to calls for a draft...which is also bad idea.
Why an NRL player draft could benefit lawyers more than the league
Any attempt by the governing body to introduce an internal draft without the players’ backing would appear to be a non-starter, if previous cases are any guide.
PS. Melbourne now has local juniors making it into their NRL teams, it's only taken nearly 30 years. It never would have happened if they'd had to pay compensation for players.
Junior
Richard Clarke
anyone that has said comments along these lines are not listening to my point... There is NO ONE on the open market, Bulldogs need a prop, they've identified that in public and obviously behind the scenes. So you do exactly whatever it is you need to do to get him. He's a 24 international front rower, f*** 800k could be a masterstroke in a few years or could be a disaster but that goes with signing anyone on any money. If you think he's worth it or not in your opinion doesn't matter, the fact that there was multiple clubs willing to pay over 700k a season and a couple willing to pay over 800k shows that his market value because once again, NO ONE is on the market
Rattle off as many props as you want, but they're all locked down. He's the best available prop, good buy by the dogs. glad its not us that are paying that money but in saying that our clubs are in two very different spots roster wise
Gus is only got a narrow premiership window before the salary cap is going to bite him. Hopefully he misses it.Personally, I reckon the Dogs are going to be found out this season and struggle to even make the finals..
I know Karl Oloapu is recovering from a major injury but before that he was the next big thing at the dogs and is now another Junior Gus is possibly going to let walk.
Bulldogs GM of Football Phil Gould responds to Oloapu-Dolphins link
The teenage sensation has been linked with an exit out of Belmore.
www.zerotackle.com
Maybe well be the right call but even if the Dogs do lift the trophy in the next couple of seasons it's not looking like too many actual Dogs juniors in the team.
Albus Miles
George Carmont
The ignore button is awesome. Saved myself a lot of time trying to decipher an incoherent word salad.
Fair comment
If that happens , just more pressure on Leo in 26Personally, I reckon the Dogs are going to be found out this season and struggle to even make the finals..
Tom Hazelton isn't going to sign for anywhere near the money or contract length that the Dogs just signed Leo for though. RCG, Matt Lodge I'm sure there were/are others.
Leo was not the only prop available but even if he was it's still overs until he plays at that level...which he hasn't done for us yet....although I hope he does.
PS. I mean I doubt Hazelton will sign for that much or that long, there was an article that mentioned Hazleton and Knights and the word "payday" but those stores often come from managers. If the Knights do go in for Hazelton I doubt the offer more than they were offering for Leo (or as much).
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Whilst irony meters explode everywhere you could respond to the comments with a cogent argument. Good luck with that.
Junior
Richard Clarke
Hazelton (25) is good but not at Leos (24) level, and Jesus surely you didn't just throw Matt Lodge (29) and RCG (31) in that sentence. Dogs didn't sign RCG for good reason, doubt he was cheap considering he was released from his final year (that contract still having to be paid) and Lodge is yet to find a contract.
Leo is a better option than Hazelton, but a muchhh better option than the other two. Like I've said so many clubs wouldn't have been going for him even at his price if he wasn't worth it. Just stating what's infant of you
**edit: It'll be interesting to see Hazeltons asking price when he starts serious negotiations, because there's not many of that quality left on the market
If it's overs good luck the guy , he has won the lottery . Don't really care as long as we are not paying it's
Albus Miles
George Carmont
They have coin. Most of their roster is on peanuts. Gould mentioned they were nearly a million under the cap, and paid for some players to leave. He did the same at Penrith, when he moved on Jennings and Lewis, completely gut the losing culture, and shed the over paid players.
I wasn't claiming that Leo was as good as any of them, I was just pointing out that there were actually other props on the market. BTW including DSaf.
" Just stating what's infant of you"...huh?
Junior
Richard Clarke
infront* apologies
Yes but like RCG, DSaf had this hefty last year/s of a contract that still had to be met.
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Personally, I reckon the Dogs are going to be found out this season and struggle to even make the finals..
Nah, if they defend like they did last year they will walk into the finals, that type of line speed and commitment buys plenty of wins by itself.
Brad tighe
Michael Eagar
Gus also paid a similar amount to get tamou to Penrith which was a complete waste of money
Treadly
Todd Bates
This is do totally agree with. Locally developed talent should get cap compensation.
Even players staying at the same club long term should get something, as again, the club has placed alot into those players development.
Kurriboy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
This is what I want to see from our squad.
That level of desire.
Anyway, the old saying something is only worth what someone is willing to pay comes to mind. Leo got his market value. It's a crazy market.
When PNG enter the comp, with their tax free shenanigans it's going to get worse.
For 2026
Burton $750
Tupouniua $650
Mahoney $625
Kikau $800
Crighton $850
Thompson $825
Six players out of the top 30 at $4.5m of his $11,95m cap. We don't know how much Xeri, Kiraz, Hughes, Preston, Hayward, Tracey and King are costing him, I'm sure he got some bargains but I'm also sure they're not playing for "peanuts". Gould still doesn't have cover at hooker or FB for 2026 signed and they don't have a halfback signed at all.
He's going to have to let a few off-contract players walk and there seems to be a new story every week about a Dogs Junior moving to a new club.
Gould is not doing anything magical here, or even original. Bennett tried to do a similar thing at the Knights. As I recall it didn't work, what followed was a disaster.
It would be a real shame if Gus misses his premiership window (no it wouldn't).