NRL Player Poll: The club transfer lie that rugby league stars want to refute

Over 450 NRL players responded to the exclusive News Corp poll run in conjunction with the RLPA and they revealed which commonly accepted and even celebrated rugby league truism most annoys them.

Players have slammed the widely-held belief that they change clubs to chase richer deals with rival outfits.

While financial reasons are a contributing factor, they are nowhere near the most significant motive for moving clubs according to the most detailed players poll in the game’s history.

Instead players cited reasons to do with their former club as the no. 1 influencer when it comes to defecting teams.

It is understood that those contributing factors include their former club not offering them a new deal or asking them to move on mid-contract, poor coaching and high-performance environments and some being driven to seek change because of a lack of positive club culture.

The “reasons to do with previous club” topped the poll at 48 per cent while “reasons to do with the new club” ranked next at 40 per cent.

That could include players who switch clubs based on their hope that they are joining a more competitive out-fit and make a premiership tilt, or a change in lifestyle choice.

Remarkably just 30 per cent of players said their move to another club was motivated by money.

RLPA boss Clint Newton said the poll dispelled the notion that players were chasing more money when they leave their club.

“It’s commonly accepted and even celebrated in the community that someone leaves a job for a better salary,” Newton said.

“In rugby league, a decision like that has historically come with a lot of public scrutiny and criticism for players.

“What our survey does show, however, is that financial reasons are not the primary driver for players changing clubs. Players are more often leaving their previous club in search of a club that provides them with superior ‘non-financial’ opportunities, including stronger club culture, improved high-performance environments, and preferable coaching set-ups.”

Originally published as NRL Player Poll: The club transfer lie that rugby league stars want to refute