In the wake of the news that the Sydney Roosters will not be renewing the contract of Braith Anasta it has left players, former greats and fans alike scratching their heads wondering what could be going through the minds of the people in charge of this decision.
Is it purely just that it is a bad decision or is everyone in shock that it could happen to a player and not the other way around. Usually it is the player that is getting a better deal elsewhere, whether that be with the Afl, Rugby or the English League.
How would the Broncos board have felt at the decision of Greg Inglis to walk out on a handshake deal? Or The Bulldogs when Sonny Bill ran away? It has become clear that clubs have chosen to carefully examine the relationship that the club has with its players and whether they are part of their overall plan.
The decision made not to extend Braith Anastas contract will eventually be proven to be wrong or right. But is it fair that clubs should have to justify their decisions on player contract negotiations when loyalty is clearly a word that depends on what dollars are on the table.
No one can blame the players for chasing more money especially since players only have a limited time to make their money before their bodies cannot handle the stress anymore. Maybe there should be more incentives to keep players at clubs so that they are not lost to other codes or other clubs?
On the other hand is this a way of accelerating the induction of a new breed of Rugby League players?
Give us your thoughts on the subject? Is Loyalty dead in sport?
Coming from someone who knows very little about the world of Rugby League, I don't believe loyalty in sport exists anymore as a whole, but only in a select few.
ReplyDeleteI have heard on the news of players signing with the same club because they want to start and end their career with the same club. That right there is loyalty.
As previously stated in another entry of yours, the national sports have become more of a business. Players are constantly chasing money, money, money, and are getting paid bucketloads for plying their trade.
That's not to say they don't work their asses off. Knowing some of the Raiders boys, I've heard their regime, I have heard of all the shit they have to do during the days- it makes everyone who complains about working a 9-5 M-F look like a pussy.
From my own expertise in Football though, loyalty is rare as well. Players from Australia seek to play in countries such as England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, etc..
But who can blame them?
If you were offered a job that paid double what you were earning, required the same amount of work, and all you needed to do was to wear different clothes and go somewhere else, would you turn it down?
So realistically, the world of sport has become nothing more than a way to make oneself famous and rich. Loyalty went right out the door as soon as money was concerned.
That, my friend, is a sad, sad, state of affairs.
Loyalty in sport... it has long since gone!!
ReplyDeleteThe AFL has created a meat market with its trade weeks etc and now players can be subjected to intense demands to be part of a club and its culture only to be traded whilst they sleep.
Winning is all that is focused on and in the end, it is all that the fans care about