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Bulldogs veteran Luke Patten says he understands why Karmichael Hunt has chased the dollars in AFL and believes NRL players deserve a bigger slice of the game's growing revenues.
Hunt's three-year deal with Gold Coast beginning in 2010 is reportedly worth $3 million as well as a six-month period of leave which would allow him to play rugby union overseas.
Patten said although he sees no threat from AFL he does believe rugby league players deserve an increase in the salary cap to help keep the top stars in the game.
“It's over-reacting to say we're under threat but having said that you don't want to be losing players to other codes obviously,'' Patten said.
“In the future (the salary cap) definitely should be looked at.
“With the new TV rights coming up as well, more money coming into the game, definitely players should be getting a bigger slice of the pie.
“That's something that needs to be looked at in the future for sure.''
Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore backed Patten and said as more money comes into the NRL, more should be invested in starving off the advances of other codes.
“Certainly, that's something the NRL have got to look at, along with the clubs,'' Moore said.
“Everyone has got to continue to try to grow the revenue streams within the game and the more the game can make, the more it can put back into players and I certainly think they deserve that.''
Hunt's defection has highlighted the battle the NRL has on its hands, with the proposed Western Sydney AFL franchise set to try and poach young athletes in what has traditionally been a rugby league heartland.
Patten recognises the talent pool which feeds his club could potentially dry up with the encroachment of a Western Sydney team.
He said the NRL needed to lift its games in promoting rugby league at a grassroots level.
“I guess there's a chance of that happening, especially if the Western Sydney AFL team comes in,'' Patten said.
“I think as the NRL as a whole, we can do more to get out there and push our game a little bit more.
“I heard John Cartwright say earlier in the year, that the State of Origin, I think it should be stand alone and that week the players who aren't involved in that should be going out and doing more the promote the game.
“I think it's a great idea and something that should be looked at.''
At training on Thursday, Moore said there were a number of Bulldogs players keeping an eye out for AFL scouts with some hoping to grab a Hunt-esque headline for themselves.
“I think a few of the boys were hoping the scouts were out here,'' Moore said.
“Andrew Ryan reckons he's got a pretty good AFL game, he announced to the boys at the start of training that he's got a tough decision to make in the next couple of weeks.''
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25858064-23209,00.html
Hunt's three-year deal with Gold Coast beginning in 2010 is reportedly worth $3 million as well as a six-month period of leave which would allow him to play rugby union overseas.
Patten said although he sees no threat from AFL he does believe rugby league players deserve an increase in the salary cap to help keep the top stars in the game.
“It's over-reacting to say we're under threat but having said that you don't want to be losing players to other codes obviously,'' Patten said.
“In the future (the salary cap) definitely should be looked at.
“With the new TV rights coming up as well, more money coming into the game, definitely players should be getting a bigger slice of the pie.
“That's something that needs to be looked at in the future for sure.''
Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore backed Patten and said as more money comes into the NRL, more should be invested in starving off the advances of other codes.
“Certainly, that's something the NRL have got to look at, along with the clubs,'' Moore said.
“Everyone has got to continue to try to grow the revenue streams within the game and the more the game can make, the more it can put back into players and I certainly think they deserve that.''
Hunt's defection has highlighted the battle the NRL has on its hands, with the proposed Western Sydney AFL franchise set to try and poach young athletes in what has traditionally been a rugby league heartland.
Patten recognises the talent pool which feeds his club could potentially dry up with the encroachment of a Western Sydney team.
He said the NRL needed to lift its games in promoting rugby league at a grassroots level.
“I guess there's a chance of that happening, especially if the Western Sydney AFL team comes in,'' Patten said.
“I think as the NRL as a whole, we can do more to get out there and push our game a little bit more.
“I heard John Cartwright say earlier in the year, that the State of Origin, I think it should be stand alone and that week the players who aren't involved in that should be going out and doing more the promote the game.
“I think it's a great idea and something that should be looked at.''
At training on Thursday, Moore said there were a number of Bulldogs players keeping an eye out for AFL scouts with some hoping to grab a Hunt-esque headline for themselves.
“I think a few of the boys were hoping the scouts were out here,'' Moore said.
“Andrew Ryan reckons he's got a pretty good AFL game, he announced to the boys at the start of training that he's got a tough decision to make in the next couple of weeks.''
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25858064-23209,00.html
