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Joe Barton AAPTue, Apr 12, 2011 - 5:24 PM
http://nrl.com/money-talks-as-idris-walks/tabid/10874/newsid/62237/default.aspx
Desperate as they were to retain superstar centre Jamal Idris, the Bulldogs simply couldn't match the dollars on offer from the Gold Coast.
Idris' status as the NRL's most sought after player was confirmed on Tuesday when he accepted a five-year deal with the Titans rumoured to be worth in excess of $2 million.
Chief executive Todd Greenburg admitted it was simply money that would lead the outstanding 20-year-old out of Belmore at the end of the year.
"Just raw dollars (was the difference)," Greenburg told the media on Tuesday.
"The salary cap is there for a reason, it takes talent across the board and on this occasion we simply couldn't match it.
"Obviously as a club we're disappointed we couldn't retain Jamal, you never want to lose high-profile players, but we simply could not compete with the commercial terms on offer.
"I made it very clear from the outset that we wouldn't get into a bidding war for his services.
"I'll never put this club under pressure in relation to the adherence of the rules and procedures around the salary cap.
"Rugby league is big business and players are looking to maximise their earning capacity and why wouldn't they?
"I'm not so surprised, I think it was always going to be tough to keep someone like Jamal at the Bulldogs."
Greenburg insisted that it was not an issue of loyalty, or that Idris had let the Bulldogs down in any way.
"Loyalty has got nothing to do with this," he added.
"To me, rugby league loyalty is about within the terms of your contract and Jamal has been extremely loyal to this club over four years.
"He's given us nothing but wonderful service ... he needs to maximise his earning capacity."
The signing does open the door for the Bulldogs to attract a big name signing, with Greenburg admitting the club was still very keen to lure English international prop James Graham.
"We're interested, absolutely ... people have told me there's a deal that has beendone but that's not the case," Greenburg told AAP.
"We're still having discussions with his management but that may take some time.
"(Losing Idris) may (help us secure Graham), but they're not mutually exclusive."
Idris said he was now 100 per cent committed to delivering the Bulldogs a premiership this year.
"(My motivation) shouldn't be questioned at all," he said.
"I'm going to play as hard as I can, if not harder. I'm going to give it all I've got because at the end of the day these are my boys."
http://nrl.com/money-talks-as-idris-walks/tabid/10874/newsid/62237/default.aspx
Desperate as they were to retain superstar centre Jamal Idris, the Bulldogs simply couldn't match the dollars on offer from the Gold Coast.
Idris' status as the NRL's most sought after player was confirmed on Tuesday when he accepted a five-year deal with the Titans rumoured to be worth in excess of $2 million.
Chief executive Todd Greenburg admitted it was simply money that would lead the outstanding 20-year-old out of Belmore at the end of the year.
"Just raw dollars (was the difference)," Greenburg told the media on Tuesday.
"The salary cap is there for a reason, it takes talent across the board and on this occasion we simply couldn't match it.
"Obviously as a club we're disappointed we couldn't retain Jamal, you never want to lose high-profile players, but we simply could not compete with the commercial terms on offer.
"I made it very clear from the outset that we wouldn't get into a bidding war for his services.
"I'll never put this club under pressure in relation to the adherence of the rules and procedures around the salary cap.
"Rugby league is big business and players are looking to maximise their earning capacity and why wouldn't they?
"I'm not so surprised, I think it was always going to be tough to keep someone like Jamal at the Bulldogs."
Greenburg insisted that it was not an issue of loyalty, or that Idris had let the Bulldogs down in any way.
"Loyalty has got nothing to do with this," he added.
"To me, rugby league loyalty is about within the terms of your contract and Jamal has been extremely loyal to this club over four years.
"He's given us nothing but wonderful service ... he needs to maximise his earning capacity."
The signing does open the door for the Bulldogs to attract a big name signing, with Greenburg admitting the club was still very keen to lure English international prop James Graham.
"We're interested, absolutely ... people have told me there's a deal that has beendone but that's not the case," Greenburg told AAP.
"We're still having discussions with his management but that may take some time.
"(Losing Idris) may (help us secure Graham), but they're not mutually exclusive."
Idris said he was now 100 per cent committed to delivering the Bulldogs a premiership this year.
"(My motivation) shouldn't be questioned at all," he said.
"I'm going to play as hard as I can, if not harder. I'm going to give it all I've got because at the end of the day these are my boys."
