Manly Sea Eagles veteran raises key concern over proposed financial incentive for rugby players
He believes there is a better way to do it.
Manly Sea Eagles veteran forward Aaron Woods has raised a concern about the possible financial incentive on the table for players in other codes to switch to the NRL.
It came to light through a report late last week that the Sydney Roosters could be chasing Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase, with The Sydney Morning Herald then reporting that the Australian Rugby League Commission were considering salary cap exemptions.
It’s something that has been floated as a potential option since as early as April, but now appears to be picking up steam as the NRL look to hit back at Rugby Australia for their poaching of Joseph Suaalii and chase of others on a list that has included Payne Haas, Cameron Murray, Will Penisini and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, as well as Angus Crichton who now seems unlikely to switch to the 15-man game.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said it wasn’t about hitting back, but that other code players could improve the NRL as a product.
“If we can come up with good incentives for us to attract athletes from other codes, the commission have said they are willing to look at that and that’s exciting for us,” Abdo said per Channel 9 News.
“We are focused on our sport and making it the best possible experience not just for fans, but for players as well.”
It’s understood the ARLC could have a policy drafted as soon as next month, but speaking on Triple M Radio, Woods said it was important that it wasn’t just the big clubs who could benefit from the policy.
“I just think it’s a hard one, because what if we say the Roosters get an extra million dollars cap to sign the Waratahs’ fullback,” Woods said on Triple M.
“The NRL should step in and put it in one of the bottom eight sides to make the competition a lot fairer.”
Manly confirm squad, supplementary and training contracts for 2024
The club has five new players joining them next season.
Having begun their pre-season training, the Manly Sea Eagles have confirmed the members of their Top 30 rosters and their supplementary players and train-and-triallists for 2024.
Headlined by former Dally M Halfback of the Year Luke Brooks, the Sea Eagles have five arrivals from rival clubs joining their Top 30 roster – Zane Dunford, Jaxson Paulo, Tommy Talau, and Corey Waddell.
Matt Lodge has also been awarded a Top 30 contract for next season, despite being on the sideline for a big chunk of next season due to rupturing his ACL in his right knee at the backend of last season.
Aaron Woods has been moved down to the supplementary list after joining the club in the middle of last season in a player swap with the Dragons.
Despite featuring in a couple of NRL games last season, Dean Matterson will join him on the list, and so will Aitasi James from the Wests Tigers and Bailey Hodgson from the Newcastle Knights.
The Sea Eagles have also provided an NRL lifeline to former NSW Blues representative Nathan Brown. The forward has been gifted a train-and-trial contract along with former Wests Tigers player Austin Dias, among others.
Squad for 2024
Josh Aloiai, Jake Arthur, Luke Brooks, Ethan Bullemor, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Daly Cherry-Evans, Ben Condon, Lachlan Croker, Zac Fulton, Reuben Garrick, Jamie Humphreys, Tolutau Koula, Karl Lawton, Matt Lodge, Haumole Olakau’atu, Brad Parker, Taniela Paseka, Jaxson Paulo, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Toafofoa Sipley, Tommy Talau, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Christian Tuipulotu, Corey Waddell
SEA EAGLES 2024 PLAYER MOVEMENTS
| 2024 GAINS Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers, 2027), Cameron Brown (2024), Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels, 2024), Zane Dunford (Canberra Raiders, 2024), Bailey Hodgson (Newcastle Knights, 2024), Aitasi James (Wests Tigers, 2025), Jaxson Paulo (Sydney Roosters, 2026), Tommy Talau (Wests Tigers, 2025), Charlie Thompson (2024), James Uesele (2024), Corey Waddell (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2024) |
| 2024 LOSSES Latu Fainu (Wests Tigers), Samuela Fainu (Wests Tigers), Morgan Harper (Parramatta Eels), Sean Keppie (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Kelma Tuilagi (Parramatta Eels), Kaeo Weekes (Canberra Raiders) |
| RE-SIGNED Jake Arthur (2025), Ethan Bullemor (2025), Gordon Chan Kum Tong (2024), Lachlan Croker (2026), Reuben Garrick (2026), Tolutau Koula (2027), Dean Matterson (2025), Brad Parker (2025), Taniela Paseka (2026), Josh Schuster (2027), Toafofoa Sipley (2025), Ben Trbojevic (2024), Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega (2024), Christian Tuipulotu (2025) |
| OFF CONTRACT 2024 Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Zane Dunford, Zac Fulton, Jamie Humphreys, Karl Lawton, Matthew Lodge, Fletcher Meyers, Ben Trbojevic, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Corey Waddell |
Best 17 and full squad
1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jason Saab
3. Reuben Garrick
4. Tolutau Koula
5. Christian Tuipulotu
6. Luke Brooks
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Taniela Paseka
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Jake Trbojevic
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
12. Josh Schuster
13. Josh Aloiai
14. Ben Trbojevic
15. Ethan Bullemor
16. Toafofoa Sipley
17. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
18. Karl Lawton
19. Jake Arthur
20. Ben Condon
21. Zac Fulton
22. Jaxson Paulo
23. Tommy Talau
24. Matthew Lodge
25. Corey Waddell
26. Brad Parker
27. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
28. Jamie Humphreys
29. No player signed
30. No player signed
Roster spots open: 2
2024 Supplementary List
1. Aaron Woods
2. Aitasi James
3. Bailey Hodgson
4. Dean Matterson
2024 Train-and-Trial List
1. Nathan Brown
2. Austin Dias
3. Cameron Brown
4. Charlie Thompson
5. Clayton Faulalo
6. James Uesele
7. Zane Dunford
