Monday Buzz: Time to move on from NRL transfer farce

THE most crucial job for the NRL’s next boss is to fix the farcical player transfer market. Here, PHIL ROTHFIELD shows how to solve the problem.

Daily Telegraph Sport Columnist Phil Rothfield

THE first and most crucial job for the NRL’s next chief executive is to fix the farcical rules that govern the player transfer market.

Right now it is a joke, an embarrassment to the code and a huge turn-off for fans.

Players are now signing with rival clubs two years in advance.

We had the absolute fiasco earlier this year involving Daly Cherry-Evans and the Gold Coast Titans.

South Sydney’s outstanding young edge forward Chris Grevsmuhl has done a deal with the Penrith Panthers for 2017.

Rabbitohs centre Dylan Walker has apparently already signed with the Manly Sea Eagles for 2017.

Marty Taupau did the same and signed with Manly recently. At least the Wests Tigers did the right thing and released him 12 months early rather than carry a player who doesn’t want to be there.

Cronulla Sharks rookie-of-the-year Jack Bird is not a free agent until 2017 yet half a dozen clubs have been desperately trying to sign him for weeks, again two years in advance.

Other players have done deals for 2017 — it’s just that we haven’t heard about them yet.

It is a complete farce and no other sport or business on this planet allows it to happen.

Martin Taupau is off to Manly next season.

Here is a game asking fans to sign up as members and show long-term loyalty.

At the same time, the game is allowing players to do the exact opposite and jump ship whenever the big money or best offer becomes available.

Imagine someone working for the Commonwealth Bank and securing a job with Westpac for 2017 but staying with CBA for another 18 months. It just doesn’t happen in any form of employment.

There is an easy solution to this by banning player signings outside of an official transfer window.

This is how it could work:

● EVERY year in mid-June around State of Origin time when the competition flattens out, the NRL could hold a transfer or trade conference, a bit like in the NFL.

● SHOW it live on Fox Sports and it would be one of the highest rating shows of the year.

● PLAYERS who want to switch clubs before the June 30 deadline register their names with the NRL.

● THE full list is made available to all the clubs who can negotiate with the player agents before the conference. If Canterbury needs a hooker, Des Hasler keeps an eye on the list for No. 9s. If the Knights need a winger, Nathan Brown can do the same.

● THE club coaches and chief executives turn up for the conference and bid for the players or confirm the deals they have already negotiated with the player agents.

Jack Bird is not a free agent until 2017 yet half a dozen clubs have been desperately trying to sign him.

It would make fabulous television. Even players wanting to change clubs the following season could register themselves for the trade week. At the end of each season and a couple of weeks after the grand final, the NRL could hold a second conference.

It would work the same way. Players who want to leave their clubs are registered on the official NRL trade list.

Surely a system like this would give clubs ample time to sort out their rosters and players enough time to sort out their futures.

BUZZ’S TRANSFER WINDOW GUIDE

● Hold a mid-June transfer/trade conference

● List of players who want to switch clubs before June 30 deadline is registered and made available to clubs

● Clubs can negotiate with player agents before the conference. Then coaches and chief executives bid for players/confirm deals at the conference

● Potential for a second conference post-season for players wanting to change clubs for the following season

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Time to move on from NRL transfer farce