https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... -contracts

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... -contracts

I can't believe that Draper is comparing a high intensity, high impact sport like Rugby league to Cricket (where they stand around in a field or waft a lump of wood about and go in when it rains) and Darts where they throw a bit of metal at a board whilst holding a pint, fag, or both! And he is one of the pi!!ocks in charge of the game!

If the international game ever gets big enough to justify central contracts, then maybe... but it wont be in my lifetime, and im in my 20s...

Indeed.
It's probably a new way to give extra cash to the big boys.
Although, if we paid our National team centrally, there would be the opportunity to have full blown tours of Aus and NZ (assuming that they were willing to fit something into their fixture program).
At the moment, playing 4 internationals a year doesn't need central contracts.

We should select the players and if they arent released by their club, they should be banned from club fixtures for 2 weeks.

How do internal transfers work in a central system. Could a player for example use leverage from the RFL to help get a transfer to a better club by threatening to move to NRL/RU if they're not transferred to a title favourite?

Secondly, do many sports compensate clubs for the players' wages when they are away on international duty?

i.e. a player's away for a week, therefore he receives his international wage plus his club receives the equivalent of his weekly wage or a set amount regardless of the player's regular earnings

During World Cups soccer clubs are paid a flat, daily rate per player by Fifa.

Err that will be his quote about TV games on a Thursday night and the fact that thousands turn up for the mid week cricket games and RL fans appear not to. If only the TV appeal of full stands was present.

Central contracts are not the way forward. The salary cap needs to be increased, to stop more of the best players leaving super league.

Even England rugby union, who must play 3 or 4 times as many games as us, do not use central contracts. Central contracts would be ridiculous for 4/5 games a year.

Most Football Associations pay players something when a player plays. Won't be the equivalent of a weekly wage though. England for example paid players £1500 for a win, £1000 for a draw and £750 for a defeat in euro 2016

But it won't get big enough until we prioritise the international game and take power away from the clubs who will try and restrict the amount of time a player is away from them. Central contracts in some form will allow us to do that.

Football and rugby union don't have central contracts, but do have a thriving international set up with regular games.