News NRL’s false economy as lesser players score big-money contracts

One of the NRL’s most experienced and respected recruitment chiefs has declared “idiots” have created an inflated player market for $1 million wannabes and it is putting young stars in dangerous territory.

Latrell Mitchell’s decision to reject the Sydney Roosters’ $800,000-a-season offer has created a huge debate about what makes a genuine million-dollar footballer in the player market.

Asked for his opinion on the topic, Canberra’s Peter Mulholland didn’t hold back: “The idiots who want to pay it.

“Seriously, we are living in a very false economy.

“What makes a million dollar player should be someone who every week has an influence on the outcome of a game.

“It is a player that gives you, I believe, a 70 per cent chance of winning the game you are in. Not a 50/50 per cent, it has to be 70-75 per cent.

“He has to be a complete person, and that is both as a player and a citizen. He has to set a standard for himself and others.

“Now, you may get players who are great leaders and role models. But the million dollar man also has to be the bloke who can win you the game on his own.”

And right now that elite field is being overrun by players who just don’t live up to the price tag or the pressure that goes with it.

St George Illawarra’s Ben Hunt and Gold Coast’s Ash Taylor are two examples of players who have buckled under the heat of not aiming up to their seven-figure salaries.

The likes of Cameron Smith, Daly Cherry-Evans, Mitchell Pearce, Kieran Foran, Anthony Milford, Jason Taumalolo and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are all said to be in the NRL’s million dollar club.

Of those only Smith could legitimately tick every box of the list of requirements Mulholland identified.

The retirement in recent seasons of the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess and Cooper Cronk has created a void of proven champions.

James Tedesco is rated the world’s best player but is said to be happy pocketing $900,000 at the Roosters, making the claims that Mitchell wanted more even more astonishing.

Of the current crop Tedesco, Cherry-Evans, Luke Keary, Cameron Munster and Josh Hodgson are probably the closest to that top shelf bracket who could potentially move into the champion status.

While Taumalolo would also have his admirers the fact is the Cowboys again missed the top eight this year.

Young guns like Kalyn Ponga and David Fifita are also being talked up as potential million dollar men in waiting.

But according to Mulholland, both players and clubs need to be careful what they wish for.

“The false economy is created by desperation,” Mulholland explained.

“It is created by clubs who have got an extraordinary amount of money in their pocket and for one reason they are looking for a quick fix.”

South Sydney boss Shane Richardson said this week that while his club had no interest in signing Mitchell his advice to the 22-year-old would be for him to stay at the Roosters.

Mulholland agreed “100 per cent”.

“You have to be careful because the pressure it puts on the kids is ridiculous,” Mulholland said.

“There are players who can handle it but they are the minority.”

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/4308007ccec0b5f8fd4c77007658a959

 

So Latrell isn't joining the Raiders anytime soon..

 

Spot on

 

How dare they try and get what they are worth! Better to be good little boys and keep getting underpaid. Don't dare try to get fair compensation for destroying your body in the guise of entertainment for the masses.

 

This article hits the nail on the head. This whole saga with lattrell Mitchell and his expectations of earning a million per season is over the top.

 

I honestly think he's not far off the Mil a season mark now. He is a superstar of the game and will only improve. There are a number of players who are a Mil a year on the other hand that are not worth it at all.

 

I know tilers and Shearer's who have bad backs by 30 years of age who earn sweet fuck all.

 

The only fuckwits are the NRL. They created this beast. Let's put the shoe on the other foot. If it were another player being headhunted that wasn't from the Roosters, will there be so much hype? Hypocrisy and favoritism at its best.

 

Moses Mbye on a million dollars.... the fraud..

 

More like kiss assign, that politis is so dodgy. And the media never say a bad thing about the roosters . Dunno about you but literally hate the nrl these days I only watch solely for bulldogs and origin

 

Great article . The view by Mullholland makes sense. Desperation creates a false economy that only the player wins.

 

Concretors.

Big Papi gets 650k...now thats obscene (by comparison) and makes LM's 800-1mil in the realms of justified.

 

Throw in Hunt, Milford, Taylor and Mbye aswell.

 

Throw in almost everyone on this list...
https://www.zerotackle.com/rugby-league/players/highest-paid-players/

 

Forgot about Crichton.

 

TPJ is a steal, as is Haas.
Manu only above board figures shown.

 

Here here.

 

It’s just messy. And we still have no new signings to show .. still waiting for something lol.

 

Case in point: Newcastle's big money dud recruitment drive

 

LOL The Titans feature on that list 9 times

We are on that list 3 times. 1 of those is Foran who shouldn't even be here. Thank you Des, Dibsaster and Raelene Clownstle

Titans spent big money yet they are the biggest basket case of a club.