I find it interesting how often there is media speculation regarding NRL players who have been linked to a new club.
Often this is happening when the player has considerable time, maybe years, left at his existing club on his current contract.
There was a time in our game when, if a player during the season was even linked to another club, that player would suffer the glare of his coach that would melt an iceberg.
It came into the realms of what we understood and considered to be loyalty. Coaches knew it, players knew it, and more importantly, fans knew it.
But, and it’s a big but, in that era the players did often get taken for a ride. Maybe that opened the gap for the era of player managers to enter the fray?
Whenever or whatever it was, they have certainly created an industry for themselves that, in my opinion, has too much to say and too much sway.
I totally accept that some players need plenty of help when it comes to negotiating their futures, and many player managers do a great job in this role. However, it makes you wonder if the power of a handshake and your own word still carries the power it used to.
I wonder what my old mentor, the legendary, late great Bob Bax would think of the current contract setup?
Famous for signing some of his players on the back of a beer coaster, Baxy secured a bond and loyalty with those players that was simply the best!
I remember vividly one of his comments, when he called and offered me the coaching role at Norths Devils. After painting quite a grim picture of where Norths were at the time, he finished up by saying “and if we don’t think you’re any good after a few weeks, we’ll tell you to bugger off back to New Zealand!”
That straight talking genius of the man captured my eternal loyalty, love and respect – there wasn’t a player manager in sight!
