More money's no guarantee for stars
Peter Fitzgerald
Saturday, 13 May 2006
An expected salary cap increase next year will not result in the Canberra Raiders becoming instant heavyweights in the open player market, general manager Don Furner said yesterday.
The NRL has proposed a salary cap rise from $3.365million to $4million for the 2007 season.
While it may appear a significant rise, it only equates to less than $250,000 once payment allowances are accounted for.
On top of the current cap base figure of $3.365million is a $100,000 veterans players allowance, $200,000 sponsorship serving allowance and $100,000 third party agreement allowance per club, taking the overall figure to $3.765 million.
In the proposed new cap, the base figure will be $3.9million, with a $100,000 veterans allowance.
The NRL will scrap all other allowances.
Furner applauded the rise but dismissed the possibility of it equating to the Raiders becoming key figures in the trading period post the NRL's anti-tampering deadline of June 30.
"At the end of the day, everyone else gets the same rise as we do so it pretty much cancels everything out," he said.
"There's a huge misconception out there when a club says it needs more money to retain a player because everyone else has the same money to pluck them.
"It's not like we're the only club with the extra $250,000. We'll definitely be out there having a look around [in the player market] but this doesn't change anything really."
The salary cap rise will be confirmed should the Rugby League Players' Association agree with the proposed figure in a meeting next week.
The Raiders will be in the market for a back-rower and possibly a half to replace the expected departure of Jason Croker and Jason Smith.
The club does not intend to chase a high-profile player, instead preferring to concentrate on gaining a player with about 150 matches of NRL experience.
"We've never really attracted a high-profile Sydney player in our history," Furner said.
"We've had Queenslanders and local kids, but we could never get the Brett Kenny's or Peter Sterling's of the world.
"We accept that and will continue to do as we have in the past."
Meanwhile, a training session at Canberra Stadium this morning will assist coach Matt Elliott in finalising his side for tomorrow's clash against the Cronulla Sharks.
Elliott still has an extended six-man bench and will give his injured players until this afternoon to prove their fitness, before cutting two from the squad.
Interchange forward Ben Jones suffered a neck injury in last weekend's win over Parramatta. Although he was restricted at training through the week, he is likely to play.
Troy Thompson, who was bed-ridden with the flu on Wednesday and only did light training on Thursday, will be monitored.
Phil Graham's thumb injury will also come under the microscope.
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