Players walk as big money starts to talk

RUGBY League Gold Coast’s coaching fraternity is at loggerheads before a single ball has been kicked in anger, with the competition’s leading minds in disagreement over one club’s approach to team building for season 2022.

Southport Tigers made national headlines last year when Clive Palmer bankrolled the acquisition of Israel Folau and Tony Williams, helping the club go from wooden spoon contender to the cusp of an AGrade grand final.

Though Folau and Williams have moved on, Southport has continued its big-name recruiting spree by bringing on former Gold Coast Titans stars Kane Elgey and Greg Bird, as well as ex-canterbury winger Sione Katoa, alongside a host of other top-tier talents.

It’s left more than one rival coach lamenting the rising cost of keeping players on their books – inflation they feel has come from Southport’s alleged big-money offers to players.

One coach told The Bulletin some players were asking for up to double their match payments from the previous season, with clubs entering big-money bidding wars to poach and retain players in an effort to keep pace with rivals.

“This will be our most expensive year (ever),” the coach said.

“This season is a 17-round comp, four rounds longer (than last season) and the money is much bigger than it was.

“Most players don’t play for wins, they play for games. It’ll break the bank this year, but every club has to plan to win every game.

“How sustainable this will be, f--- knows.”

Sustainability is the buzz word on many coaches’ lips, questioning when the tipping point will come where clubs simply cannot afford to pay inflated match payments.

“There are clubs that have money and leagues clubs and financial backers who have a lot more money to throw around than the smaller clubs,” another coach said. “It’s hard to keep your players when there’s some phenomenal figures floating around.

“Obviously the (player) points system is designed to stop clubs pillaging other clubs – it makes you look outside the comp to bring in talent which isn’t a bad thing – (but) I don’t know if the points system is working, (or) if a salary cap or whatever would work either.”

But Ormeau Shearers coach Stuart Wilkins suggested those critical of Southport would do the exact same if given the opportunity.

“I can’t be critical of Southport spending a fortune because they’ve got it. If I had access to that kind of money I’d be spending it as well,” he said. “You put this question to every coach: if you had that money, would you spend it?

“Burleigh doesn’t have to spend because they have exclusive access to the Titans and Queensland Cup.

“There’s an imbalance and it comes in different forms: pathways and money.

“Is it fair? Probably not. But if you ask any coach if they had 300 grand to spend on players, I think they would.

“There’s players out there expecting to be paid big money. Is it sustainable? I don’t know.”