Talking Footy

Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith wants NRL draft to end mid-season signings 'joke'
Melissa Woods
AAP
March 12, 20121:07PM

MELBOURNE Storm skipper Cameron Smith says other sports view rugby league's mid-season signings as a "joke" and is united with his coach Craig Bellamy supporting calls for an NRL draft.

The situation has come to a head again just two weeks into the season after St George Illawarra star Beau Scott revealed he'd signed a four-year deal to join his former coach Wayne Bennett at Newcastle from 2013.

Bennett described the current signings process as "diabolical" and said the Knights were only doing the same as every other NRL club.

South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson and his Canterbury counterpart Todd Greenberg both called for the NRL to again review the possibility of a player draft.

Kangaroos captain-in-waiting Smith and Bellamy said it was the only way to go.

"I think we need to bring a draft in, it's fair for everyone," said Smith after Melbourne's 24-10 win over South Sydney.

"In other sports it's spoken about as a bit of a joke the way we sign players mid-season and they've got to play a whole competition season knowing they're going to be leaving in the next year."

The draft concept was crushed back in 1991 when Terry Hill challenged the system in the High Court as a restraint of trade after he was drafted by Eastern Suburbs.

Bellamy said he'd long believed the draft, which is successfully used by the AFL, was a good idea.

Last year Bellamy's Storm centre Beau Champion signed with Gold Coast in May, with months of the season to run.

"I think we should have a draft, I've thought that for a long time," he said.

"We're about evening out the game and that's one way of doing it.

"I know there's some negatives to it as well with guys brought up in one area having to go somewhere else and play.

"But at the same time I think guys going to another club, when they have to play the whole year or half the year at the club they're at before they leave, I don't think that's good for our game.

"It's what we've been used to for so long and I think we're a bit blase.

"I suppose this Beau Scott thing has brought it up again.

"I've always been a fan of the draft. It's not my decision but that's my opinion."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6297100157

Beaussie wrote:

Comon NRL, no shame in copying the AFL yet again, this time with a draft.

Is it any wonder why NRL fans have no passion for their clubs and code when they see the money hungry grubs in their game signing contracts mid season even in the pre season.

Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith wants NRL draft to end mid-season signings 'joke'
Melissa Woods
AAP
March 12, 20121:07PM

MELBOURNE Storm skipper Cameron Smith says other sports view rugby league's mid-season signings as a "joke" and is united with his coach Craig Bellamy supporting calls for an NRL draft.

The situation has come to a head again just two weeks into the season after St George Illawarra star Beau Scott revealed he'd signed a four-year deal to join his former coach Wayne Bennett at Newcastle from 2013.

Bennett described the current signings process as "diabolical" and said the Knights were only doing the same as every other NRL club.

South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson and his Canterbury counterpart Todd Greenberg both called for the NRL to again review the possibility of a player draft.

Kangaroos captain-in-waiting Smith and Bellamy said it was the only way to go.

"I think we need to bring a draft in, it's fair for everyone," said Smith after Melbourne's 24-10 win over South Sydney.

"In other sports it's spoken about as a bit of a joke the way we sign players mid-season and they've got to play a whole competition season knowing they're going to be leaving in the next year."

The draft concept was crushed back in 1991 when Terry Hill challenged the system in the High Court as a restraint of trade after he was drafted by Eastern Suburbs.

Bellamy said he'd long believed the draft, which is successfully used by the AFL, was a good idea.

Last year Bellamy's Storm centre Beau Champion signed with Gold Coast in May, with months of the season to run.

"I think we should have a draft, I've thought that for a long time," he said.

"We're about evening out the game and that's one way of doing it.

"I know there's some negatives to it as well with guys brought up in one area having to go somewhere else and play.

"But at the same time I think guys going to another club, when they have to play the whole year or half the year at the club they're at before they leave, I don't think that's good for our game.

"It's what we've been used to for so long and I think we're a bit blase.

"I suppose this Beau Scott thing has brought it up again.

"I've always been a fan of the draft. It's not my decision but that's my opinion."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6297100157

Raiderdave wrote:

Beaussie wrote:

Comon NRL, no shame in copying the AFL yet again, this time with a draft.

Is it any wonder why NRL fans have no passion for their clubs and code when they see the money hungry grubs in their game signing contracts mid season even in the pre season.

Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith wants NRL draft to end mid-season signings 'joke'
Melissa Woods
AAP
March 12, 20121:07PM

MELBOURNE Storm skipper Cameron Smith says other sports view rugby league's mid-season signings as a "joke" and is united with his coach Craig Bellamy supporting calls for an NRL draft.

The situation has come to a head again just two weeks into the season after St George Illawarra star Beau Scott revealed he'd signed a four-year deal to join his former coach Wayne Bennett at Newcastle from 2013.

Bennett described the current signings process as "diabolical" and said the Knights were only doing the same as every other NRL club.

South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson and his Canterbury counterpart Todd Greenberg both called for the NRL to again review the possibility of a player draft.

Kangaroos captain-in-waiting Smith and Bellamy said it was the only way to go.

"I think we need to bring a draft in, it's fair for everyone," said Smith after Melbourne's 24-10 win over South Sydney.

"In other sports it's spoken about as a bit of a joke the way we sign players mid-season and they've got to play a whole competition season knowing they're going to be leaving in the next year."

The draft concept was crushed back in 1991 when Terry Hill challenged the system in the High Court as a restraint of trade after he was drafted by Eastern Suburbs.

Bellamy said he'd long believed the draft, which is successfully used by the AFL, was a good idea.

Last year Bellamy's Storm centre Beau Champion signed with Gold Coast in May, with months of the season to run.

"I think we should have a draft, I've thought that for a long time," he said.

"We're about evening out the game and that's one way of doing it.

"I know there's some negatives to it as well with guys brought up in one area having to go somewhere else and play.

"But at the same time I think guys going to another club, when they have to play the whole year or half the year at the club they're at before they leave, I don't think that's good for our game.

"It's what we've been used to for so long and I think we're a bit blase.

"I suppose this Beau Scott thing has brought it up again.

"I've always been a fan of the draft. It's not my decision but that's my opinion."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6297100157

There cannot be a draft in the NRL

the ARL looked at it 20 years ago ............... but unlike the VFL's .... our players association has b@lls
.. it took the game to court

& won

the Draft is Illegal ... a restraint of trade
& if the gutless girls who play vicky kicky didn't have nutz the size of smarties ... it would have been thrown out of the VFL many many years ago

the NRL has the best system of a very bad lot ...
the draft is ludicrous for a country as small as australia ... its drachonian .. inflexible .. young lads are forced away from their homes & their families .. friends ...
in the NRL .. if my son wnats to play for the raiders .. he can... without being a piece of meat in a draft & traded like horse flesh


just another thing the VFL has got wrong
on a very very long list.

Xman wrote:

Raiderdave wrote:

Beaussie wrote:

Comon NRL, no shame in copying the AFL yet again, this time with a draft.

Is it any wonder why NRL fans have no passion for their clubs and code when they see the money hungry grubs in their game signing contracts mid season even in the pre season.

There cannot be a draft in the NRL

the ARL looked at it 20 years ago ............... but unlike the VFL's .... our players association has b@lls
.. it took the game to court

& won

the Draft is Illegal ... a restraint of trade
& if the gutless girls who play vicky kicky didn't have nutz the size of smarties ... it would have been thrown out of the VFL many many years ago

the NRL has the best system of a very bad lot ...
the draft is ludicrous for a country as small as australia ... its drachonian .. inflexible .. young lads are forced away from their homes & their families .. friends ...
in the NRL .. if my son wnats to play for the raiders .. he can... without being a piece of meat in a draft & traded like horse flesh


just another thing the VFL has got wrong
on a very very long list.

Yet players of which code are complaining?

Beaussie wrote:

And Wayne Bennett describing the current process as "diabolical"?

Bellamy saying the draft in the AFL is successful and a good idea?

You're an idiot with your head in the sand Raider. Wake up stupid.

Beaussie wrote:

Mal Meninga is now calling for a draft in the NRL and says the AFL system works well. Mal Meninga Raider.

Xman wrote:

Thats funny. AFL players are usually thrilled to be drafted!

Raiderdave wrote:

Xman wrote:

Thats funny. AFL players are usually thrilled to be drafted!

they're idiots , traded like pieces of meat ... too stupid to realise

Xman wrote:

Raiderdave wrote:

Xman wrote:

Thats funny. AFL players are usually thrilled to be drafted!

they're idiots , traded like pieces of meat ... too stupid to realise

Lol you have no idea!

The AFL isn't the only competition that runs a draft!

Players in the NRL are obviously too stupid for not realizing the benefits and are too selfish to accept it for the betterment of the game.

Xman wrote:

Yet now a chorus of complaints are coming from NRL folk about your ridiculous system and asking for a draft! LOL

Raiderdave wrote:

Xman wrote:

Yet now a chorus of complaints are coming from NRL folk about your ridiculous system and asking for a draft! LOL

its the best free agency system of a bad lot
people want perfection

it doesn't exist

the draft is the worst possible solution .............. but perfect for the VFL
a w@nk of a system for a w@nk of a sport