The 2006 RLW Player’s Poll: The Players’ Voice
October 6th 2006 02:18
Category: Movies
The Rugby League Week Player’s Poll, it would be agreed amongst most true NRL fans, is an under-rated system of analyzing and addressing rugby league’s most controversial issues. RLW has always made it its duty to be the voice of the NRL, answering those probing questions, and giving insight to the reader about the league’s players, coaches and officials, before and after kick-off. Two such issues which RLW addressed when questioning players this year, were two very pressing and current matters affecting the NRL; that of the external pressure for rugby league scalps from the Australian Rugby Union, and the problem of drugs in the sport. Although the players in these two cases are only given a ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ option in answering the questions, the statistics speak louder than words. When asked if the NRL was doing enough to stop players being poached by the ARU, 63% of respondents replied ‘NO’. This problem is a backlash from the Super League war where players were seen to be getting overpaid. The problem is now, that players no longer receive competitive salaries in comparison to their code counterparts. In a sentence, players are being UNDERPAID. For the level of commitment, dedication, and athleticism require to compete in our game, the pay-packages are non-reflective. The solution is simple; increase the team salary caps a further 1.5-2 million dollars, whilst excluding junior-developed players by the club, as well at 10 year single club veterans from the salary cap. Such a financial buffer would be enough to deter the ARU from poaching our both skilled and athletically superior players. In reference to the problem of drugs in the NRL, only 29% of respondents admitted to knowing of other players using recreational drugs. However, only 2% of players admitted to being tested more than 1-5 times. This leaves a lot to be desired in terms of mandatory drug testing in the NRL. Testing should be more frequent and more regulated. It is not acceptable for a player who has a Friday night game, to plan his weekend in the belief that by the next time he gets tested, his drug of choice would have left his system. To add to the drug problem, 65% of players admitted to there being a binge drinking culture in the NRL which was well and truly alive. It is not right that because of their high profile/important status that players be able to act as recklessly as they choose, in whichever city they find themselves. So David Gallop take note, the cold hard facts are there for the taking; how you choose to approach these issues is at your discretion, but at the very least cannot be ignored.
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