STOP THIS DISASTER!
End Million Pound mayhem
LUKE WALSH and Greg Bird have urged RFL bosses to ditch a relegation system they say is disastrous.
The two stars were part of a Catalans Dragons side that doomed Leigh to the drop in the ‘Million Pound Game’.
But despite saving their own skins, both players claim the ruthless way of relegating a team is completely unfair.
Walsh, who kicked five goals in the 26-10 win, said: “It has got to go, in my opinion, 100 per cent. You do not have a contract if you lose and that is a terrible feeling. I just do not like the relegation side of it.”
Former Australia Test star Bird added: “I’ve played in some big games but I’ve never had to play for my job.
“You hear so much about player welfare, but for 30 blokes to potentially have their contracts torn up, I think that’s way worse than having to worry about people’s concussions on the field.
“It’s a hard position to be in. It’s not just me and the players, it’s our families, our wives, our kids.
Scrapped
“We moved to play Super League from Australia and relocated, and to try and pick up a contract at this time of year would have been tough.”
Leigh now return to the Championship after a year in Super League with owner Derek Beaumont pledging to keep a full-time squad.
But coach Neil Jukes also joined the clamour for the Million Pound Game to be scrapped, saying: “It is hypocritical.
“They talk about player welfare and mental health but that comes around job security and finances. Ultimately people will lose jobs and that is sickening.”
Opponents of the system claim the relegation scrap leaves it difficult for teams involved to recruit for next year.
And Catalans coach Steve McNamara took a swipe at clubs who had tried to pick off his players before the season was over.
He said: “Honestly it is like vultures. Clubs circle you in this situation and add all sorts of pressure.
“Some of the pressure is really uncalled for by some of the clubs.
“There has got to be more respect from certain people.”