philip jenningsThe working man's game
May 19th 2008 12:21
NRL Superstars Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Gasnier are unhappy about their pay packets. It was alleged in print media over the weekend that Williams expected an upgrade of his $400,000 a year contract when the Bulldogs lost Willie Mason, Brent Sherwin and Mark O’Meley. Gasnier is on a similar contract, however additional 3rd party deals that were to increase his earning capacity appear to not have come to fruition.
It is sad when success can lead us to lose touch with reality and what is going on in the world today. The average NRL fan that attends matches or subscribes to Foxtel does not earn anywhere near the money that the average Rugby League player earns today. Players such as Williams, Gasnier, Lockyer and Thurston can earn the money they earn because fans attend the games and buy flags and jerseys.
Ironically, the teams of the two players in question are struggling at the bottom of the ladder. The time spent working out how much they are not earning should be better spent trying to help their teams out of their current situation, so they can again enjoy success and bring more fans to the game.
No one can begrudge these amazing superstars for attempting to improve their situations. Rugby League players have a short life span in the game and most leave the game with no real skills and long term physical problems. However, these type of discussions should be saved for a football club office or boardroom and should not be played out in the media or speculated upon by greedy player managers trying to fill their back pockets.
For the bricky’s labourer who puts their body under similar physical strain each week day, has a family and ever increasing mortgage, it will be hard to comprehend why almost half a million dollars is not enough. It will also make any prospective fan think twice about taking their family to a NRL game this weekend.
It is sad when success can lead us to lose touch with reality and what is going on in the world today. The average NRL fan that attends matches or subscribes to Foxtel does not earn anywhere near the money that the average Rugby League player earns today. Players such as Williams, Gasnier, Lockyer and Thurston can earn the money they earn because fans attend the games and buy flags and jerseys.
Ironically, the teams of the two players in question are struggling at the bottom of the ladder. The time spent working out how much they are not earning should be better spent trying to help their teams out of their current situation, so they can again enjoy success and bring more fans to the game.
No one can begrudge these amazing superstars for attempting to improve their situations. Rugby League players have a short life span in the game and most leave the game with no real skills and long term physical problems. However, these type of discussions should be saved for a football club office or boardroom and should not be played out in the media or speculated upon by greedy player managers trying to fill their back pockets.
For the bricky’s labourer who puts their body under similar physical strain each week day, has a family and ever increasing mortgage, it will be hard to comprehend why almost half a million dollars is not enough. It will also make any prospective fan think twice about taking their family to a NRL game this weekend.
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