Monday Buzz: NRL must rein in greedy player agents
One thing was missing from Peter V’landys’ impressive first media conference — but it’s something the NRL desperately needs to fix, writes Phil Rothfield.
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Commission chairman Peter V’landys recently revealed his seven-point plan to fix rugby league.
Suburban grounds, the survival of traditional clubs, referees, bush footy and juniors were the highlights of an impressive first-up media conference.
Yet nothing was mentioned about an issue that infuriates fans more than anything else — the integrity of an NRL contract.
The fact that many players, agents, chief executives, coaches or the NRL have no regard for a legal agreement.
We’ll start with the Ryan Matterson case at the Wests Tigers.
He started his career at Parramatta, captaining the under-20s in 2014 and re-signing with them that season on a three-year contract that the club said would keep him in blue and gold “until at least the end of the 2017 season”.
Then in 2016 he signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Roosters.
Unhappy playing off the bench at the Roosters, at the end of last year he switched to the Wests Tigers on a $1 million, three-year contract.
He had an outstanding season, learning under Michael Maguire, and made the NSW State of Origin squad as 18th man.
At the end of the season, he packed up and left. To hell with the contract and the Wests Tigers.
There were more lucrative opportunities elsewhere.
The NRL just sat back and did nothing about it. Now he’s back at Parramatta and the NRL happily registered his contract for double what he was previously earning.
Unbelievable disloyalty.
So what’s to stop the next disgruntled player doing exactly the same thing?
There is mail around that Josh Addo-Carr wants to return home to Sydney, possibly with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Never mind that he has two years to run on his contract at the Storm.
Bronson Xerri is apparently being pursued by the Roosters as a long-term replacement for Latrell Mitchell. Can he just get up and go like Matterson did?
What about Tyson Frizell at the Dragons. He has a year to go but what’s to stop him demanding a release to replace Sam Burgess at the Rabbitohs. Matterson got away with it, so why can’t he?
It’s a serious issue that the NRL needs to address, according to outgoing Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell.
He thinks the disloyalty and disregard for a contract is driven by money-hungry agents.
“Player managers are letting the game down,” O’Farrell said.
“I get it that players have limited career time and need to maximise their earnings.
“However, rugby league is the only business where a contract means bugger all.
“I wish Matto all the best at the Eels but there’s something seriously wrong when, halfway through a contract, he can walk away and the Wests Tigers get no benefit at all.”
O’Farrell believes there should at least be some type of compensation for the clubs.
And that V’landys needs to get tough on the agents who openly encourage players to break contracts.
“It’s heartbreaking for the fans,” O’Farrell said.
“I’m used to the fact when we don’t have many one-club players.
“But other sports don’t seem to have the curse of player managers.
“Unless the commission gets a handle on managers, it’s going to get worse. There needs to be consequences for breaking a contract.
“I hope Peter V’landys has a close look at this. He’s inherited a game that’s in a position to become the No.1 sport.
“It won’t be if contracts mean nothing and players can walk away whenever they feel like it.”
Originally published as Monday Buzz: NRL must rein in greedy player agents