Canberra Raiders boss wants Sonny Bill Williams cost exemptions for all NRL clubs

Post by **greeneyed** » August 5, 2020, 10:54 pm

Canberra Raiders boss Don Furner wants Sonny Bill Williams cost exemptions for all NRL clubs

The Canberra Raiders NRL team is calling for cost exemptions across the competition after former All Blacks back Sonny Bill Williams' expensive return to the competition.

"The reasonableness test was always tough, but it sounds like it is being loosened," Furner said. "If that's the way they want to go, that's fine, but as long as it applies to every other club. That actually opens the floodgates because the figure for clubs has always been capped at $10,000. If a player comes from England, you could spend up to $10,000, and it was up to the club if you spend that money on flights, accommodation or even removalists.

Read more: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12354073

‘Opens the floodgates’: Raiders boss hopes SBW relocation spending applies to every club

The Roosters’ lavish isolation set-up for superstar recruit Sonny Bill Williams and his family has ruffled some feathers at rival NRL clubs.

“Happy days – if that’s the new reasonableness test, that’s great. At least we know now.’’

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 6fb90af036

Raiders want 'SBW rule' in place for rivals as Chooks splash cash

The NRL has confirmed the Sydney Roosters are allowed to pay for Sonny Bill Williams' accommodation and all reasonable relocation costs for up to 28 days, which are exempt from the salary cap.

But the Raiders were stunned to learn the premiers had been given the green light to splash unlimited cash on their global star, and the "unspoken rule" had always been a soft cap of around $10,000 for any flights, accommodation and even removalists.

Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/raider ... 55ihc.html

Post by **greeneyed** » August 5, 2020, 11:20 pm

Next time someone tells me that the NRL doesn't favour certain clubs... Sydney clubs... I will refer them to this thread!

Apart from the disgraceful undervaluation on the salary cap for Sonny Bill Williams... they add this!

The NRL Chairman will soon find out that all this "flexibility" is going to create him a lot of problems.

-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » August 6, 2020, 6:20 am

Nick Politis bought toys for Sonnys kids...

That'll do me !!

kona_dream · Post by **kona_dream** » August 6, 2020, 6:38 am

I would love to know what the total bill will come to over the 28 days. The flights alone will have been close to $45k. Gee for that money they are going to pay we could fly JB’s daughter over on a private jet.

-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » August 6, 2020, 6:39 am

This smells eh ?

The cost of housing 6 humans in a luxury Sydney CBD penthouse apartment for 14 days would smash the reportedly $150,000 the Chooks are paying SBW.

The woft is artrocious, and every single person outside the Chooks bubble is standing down wind...

SBW can afford to buy Uno cards.

Rickmando · Post by **Rickmando** » August 6, 2020, 7:01 am

Typical NRL with their elastic guidelines rather than black and white rules. Joke of an organisation.

Seiffert82 · Post by **Seiffert82** » August 6, 2020, 7:46 am

Yeah, what I don't like is how opaque this arrangement is. It's not OK for the NRL to have certain rules and then make exemptions for certain clubs or certain players without a) making it very clear what the exceptions are and why and b) explaining if this is a new standard for the clubs and if not, why not.

This is precisely why fans are cynical about these sort of circumstances. I appreciate the COVID situation is unusual, but at the end of the day the competition needs to maintain a level playing field to keep some sort of integrity.

gerg · Post by **gerg** » August 6, 2020, 7:57 am

This whole SBW issue has layers of stench about it. If the NRL actually had a reliable and decent integrity unit (sorry reptar) we wouldn't be in this situation where every fan of the game just accepts the woft coming out of Bondi. And it's a defeated acceptance because we all know that the organising body will do nothing about it.

Sent from my SM-G570F using Tapatalk

BJ · Post by BJ » August 6, 2020, 9:08 am

It does amaze me that Roosters and Storm have been the two clubs to benefit from the Toronto team situation.

BadnMean · Post by **BadnMean** » August 6, 2020, 9:39 am

Where will Sonny and family be staying during the season?

Presumably any property he had was rented out when he moved to Canada/Britain...

-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » August 6, 2020, 10:19 am

$BW should have been told "Warriors or forget it".

Their current situation is terrible, players on loan just to fill the team sheet.

And $BW strolls back into Bondi..it stinks !!

But then again..it's the Roosters..a pungent reek of chook ****.

reptar · Post by **reptar** » August 6, 2020, 10:31 am

I'll get the integrity unit onto it.

FuiFui BradBrad · Post by **FuiFui BradBrad** » August 6, 2020, 11:13 am

BJ wrote:It does amaze me that Roosters and Storm have been the two clubs to benefit from the Toronto team situation.

Still waiting for the McCrone announcement. If he doesn’t get a contract, along with a Penthouse apartment and some toys while in quarantine, that’ll do me

Northern Raider · Post by **Northern Raider** » August 6, 2020, 11:28 am

-PJ- wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 10:19 am $BW should have been told "Warriors or forget it".

Their current situation is terrible, players on loan just to fill the team sheet.

And $BW strolls back into Bondi..it stinks !!

But then again..it's the Roosters..a pungent reek of chook ****.

I'm on board with that. If SBW had been allowed back into the NRL on the proviso it was with the Warriors, nobody would be complaining. The fact that he's been allowed to walk right into a cushy spot with the 2 time defending premiers without anybody else getting a look it has a massive stench to it.

BJ · Post by BJ » August 6, 2020, 1:08 pm

Fuifui Bradbrad wrote:
BJ wrote:It does amaze me that Roosters and Storm have been the two clubs to benefit from the Toronto team situation.
Still waiting for the McCrone announcement. If he doesn’t get a contract, along with a Penthouse apartment and some toys while in quarantine, that’ll do me

NRL is privately concerned by a hint of inconsistency in the SBW Roosters hotel agreement.

BJ Mole now exclusively reports that Josh McCrone has been cleared by the NRL to resume at Canberra and is kindly allowed accomodation at the Kambah tavern and access to all the clothing and toys he wants from the spillover area surrounding the charity bins in the car park.

McCrone was quoted to comment “mumble mumble mumble” through his mouth guard.

Northern Raider · Post by **Northern Raider** » August 6, 2020, 1:44 pm

I've lost confidence in BJ Mole. Let me down far too often.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » August 6, 2020, 1:56 pm

He’s over-rated who cares!

Roger Kenworthy · Post by **Roger Kenworthy** » August 6, 2020, 2:32 pm

Loving the way the NRL is moving. We now have full transparency of how how rigged the competition is.

BJ · Post by BJ » August 6, 2020, 2:50 pm

Northern Raider wrote:I've lost confidence in BJ Mole. Let me down far too often.

Would you believe McCrone can stay at the Tent embassy and access toys from the green shed.

Northern Raider · Post by **Northern Raider** » August 6, 2020, 2:51 pm

BJ wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 2:50 pm
Northern Raider wrote:I've lost confidence in BJ Mole. Let me down far too often.
Would you believe McCrone can stay at the Tent embassy and access toys from the green shed.

Such reports are not enhancing your reputation

-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » August 6, 2020, 3:58 pm

Where is $BW and his family going to be living after the 2week penthouse stay ?

Seiffert82 · Post by **Seiffert82** » August 6, 2020, 4:06 pm

Roger Kenworthy wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 2:32 pm Loving the way the NRL is moving. We now have full transparency of how how rigged the competition is.

Kinda sums it up right now.

Botman · Post by **Botman** » August 6, 2020, 4:09 pm

Some quotes from Donny which interest me greatly.

“That actually opens the floodgates because the figure for clubs has always been capped at $10,000. If a player comes from England, you could spend up to $10,000, and it was up to the club if you spend that money on flights, accommodation or even removalists."

“But happy days – if that’s the new reasonableness test, that’s great. At least we know now.’’

Sounds like this could suit us quite nicely if this is applied consistently given the level of recruitment we're doing out of England. Happy days indeed. We can get guys over here sparing virtually no expenses.

yeh raiders · Post by **yeh raiders** » August 6, 2020, 4:26 pm

Peter wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 1:56 pm He’s over-rated who cares!

Still intrigued to see how well he goes at 35/36 years old, coming off the bench.

Riaan · Post by **Riaan** » August 6, 2020, 5:14 pm

yeh raiders wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 4:26 pm
Peter wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 1:56 pm He’s over-rated who cares!
Still intrigued to see how well he goes at 35/36 years old, coming off the bench.

He was absolutely phoning it in before the lockdown and even didn’t look very keen to run the ball. He will have a target on his back now, will be very

Dr Zaius · Post by **Dr Zaius** » August 6, 2020, 6:27 pm

BJ wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 9:08 am It does amaze me that Roosters and Storm have been the two clubs to benefit from the Toronto team situation.

Except that the Storm player was denied at first, until shouted down for inconsistancies

kona_dream · Post by **kona_dream** » August 6, 2020, 7:51 pm

Really looking forward to see how we can use the ability to have 2 concurrent contacts for next year. If there are players in teams not going that well it should be possible just before June 30 to bring them over. Should be able to do this on a minimal wage for the back end of the season and finals. They can keep their super league contract but still play NRL. We might still see Bateman back under this situation.

Bay53 · Post by **Bay53** » August 6, 2020, 9:49 pm

kona_dream wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 7:51 pm Really looking forward to see how we can use the ability to have 2 concurrent contacts for next year. If there are players in teams not going that well it should be possible just before June 30 to bring them over. Should be able to do this on a minimal wage for the back end of the season and finals. They can keep their super league contract but still play NRL. We might still see Bateman back under this situation.

I thing you could argue that some of the treatment is unfair, but I don’t have an issue with the two contracts. This is an extraordinary situation where one of the less than 30 full time professional teams in the world pulled out mid season.

I have no issue with the Toronto players being allowed to play NRL.

Northern Raider · Post by **Northern Raider** » August 7, 2020, 8:48 am

Botman wrote: ↑August 6, 2020, 4:09 pm Some quotes from Donny which interest me greatly.

“That actually opens the floodgates because the figure for clubs has always been capped at $10,000. If a player comes from England, you could spend up to $10,000, and it was up to the club if you spend that money on flights, accommodation or even removalists."

“But happy days – if that’s the new reasonableness test, that’s great. At least we know now.’’

Sounds like this could suit us quite nicely if this is applied consistently given the level of recruitment we're doing out of England. Happy days indeed. We can get guys over here sparing virtually no expenses.

Certainly extreme levels of smartassness in Donnie's comments.

benda · Post by **benda** » August 7, 2020, 1:11 pm

$150K is probably what Sonny could make in a fight with 3 months of training without having all the hassles involved in playing for the Roosters/NRL.

I hope there are no side arrangements where there are additional incentives to Sonny being routed via his current club overseas or other channels. Even the fact it's pro-rated is a concern.

Its difficult to be critical of Peter V'landys, someone who has done a fabulous job! However the obvious concern with what he has allowed to happen here (further) undermines the entire salary cap system.

Smart business should be for sure rewarded... but in my opinion it can and should only go so far in building a superior roster. Last night Roosters rested or had 7 players "unavailable" and still beat St George. Whichever way you cut it unless they are long term injuries its very good PR to shift attention away from the fact there is a far superior roster at the Roosters already.