DeeGan
05-10-05, 01:18 PM
Tigers seeks to exploit cap loophole
By James Hooper
October 5, 2005
WESTS Tigers are planning to exploit a salary cap loophole to re-sign star halves Scott Prince and Benji Marshall.
The plan involves offering lucrative "sign-on" bonuses to the two hottest players in the game, to ensure they re-sign immediately.
In a calculated business ploy designed to entice the creative duo to stay at the club long-term, the Tigers will table extended deals with the sign-on bonus to come out of this season's salary cap.
The move is possible after Wests Tigers powered to premiership glory with a playing budget of only $2.8 million, leaving $500,000 left for 2005.
The Daily Telegraph understands the club will use the leftover funds by suggesting Clive Churchill medallist Prince and Kiwi Test star Marshall accept "sign-on" bonuses.
NRL officials confirmed such bonuses could be placed in this year's salary cap.
Wests Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce last night confirmed the club intended to meet Marshall's management next week.
"We just have to sit down with both guys and work out what suits both of them, and also what suits the club," Noyce said.
"We have still got some money under the salary cap so we can look at ways of making that work for us.
"At this stage we haven't spoken to Scott Prince's manager but we will be looking to in the near future."
Prince is expected to be in high demand after a man-of-the-match display in the grand final saw him catapulted into the Kangaroos touring squad.
Prince will join the squad on Sunday, but Marshall withdrew from the New Zealand Tri-Nations team yesterday, in order to have surgery on a shoulder injury.
Prince, named Dally M Captain of the Year last month, has already been linked with the NRL's newest team Gold Coast Titans for the 2007 season.
And his manager, Steve Robinson, has admitted Wests Tigers may struggle to maintain both star playmakers.
"The task of keeping both Scott and Benji appears to have gotten a whole lot harder now after the grand final," Robinson said.
"They're both young and they're both in sensational form, so it will be interesting to see what the Tigers can come up with.
"People might say under the circumstances why would you want to leave but it's not always as simple as that."
However, the Tigers remain confident of securing Prince and Marshall beyond 2006, and the club is keen to have the deals completed well before June 30 next year.
Four-time premiership-winning coach Tim Sheens, who has won four grand finals from five attempts in a career spanning 20 years, is the other key signing for Wests.
Sheens is off contract at the end of next season but Noyce is confident the pair can reach a new agreement.
"Tim and I will sit down in the near future and work through what our terms and goals are moving forward," Noyce said.
"He's a good guy to work with, Tim, and we'd like to think we've got a fairly healthy understanding with him."
The Daily Telegraph
The Tigers are running scared a little here and I do not blame them given I believe one of their star halves will move on.
IMO, Scott Prince is the most likely given he has a homesick partner wanting to head back to QLD. Money will more than likely talk in perhaps his last NRL contract, being the innaugral Gold Coast Titans captain must be of huge appeal to the Dally M Medal winner as well.
I know Michael Searle has not hidden his desire to perhaps speak to Scott Prince after the anti-tampering deadline in 2006, I think Prince will be interested in what we as a club have to say and I don't see him signing anywhere until mid 2006.
DeeGan
By James Hooper
October 5, 2005
WESTS Tigers are planning to exploit a salary cap loophole to re-sign star halves Scott Prince and Benji Marshall.
The plan involves offering lucrative "sign-on" bonuses to the two hottest players in the game, to ensure they re-sign immediately.
In a calculated business ploy designed to entice the creative duo to stay at the club long-term, the Tigers will table extended deals with the sign-on bonus to come out of this season's salary cap.
The move is possible after Wests Tigers powered to premiership glory with a playing budget of only $2.8 million, leaving $500,000 left for 2005.
The Daily Telegraph understands the club will use the leftover funds by suggesting Clive Churchill medallist Prince and Kiwi Test star Marshall accept "sign-on" bonuses.
NRL officials confirmed such bonuses could be placed in this year's salary cap.
Wests Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce last night confirmed the club intended to meet Marshall's management next week.
"We just have to sit down with both guys and work out what suits both of them, and also what suits the club," Noyce said.
"We have still got some money under the salary cap so we can look at ways of making that work for us.
"At this stage we haven't spoken to Scott Prince's manager but we will be looking to in the near future."
Prince is expected to be in high demand after a man-of-the-match display in the grand final saw him catapulted into the Kangaroos touring squad.
Prince will join the squad on Sunday, but Marshall withdrew from the New Zealand Tri-Nations team yesterday, in order to have surgery on a shoulder injury.
Prince, named Dally M Captain of the Year last month, has already been linked with the NRL's newest team Gold Coast Titans for the 2007 season.
And his manager, Steve Robinson, has admitted Wests Tigers may struggle to maintain both star playmakers.
"The task of keeping both Scott and Benji appears to have gotten a whole lot harder now after the grand final," Robinson said.
"They're both young and they're both in sensational form, so it will be interesting to see what the Tigers can come up with.
"People might say under the circumstances why would you want to leave but it's not always as simple as that."
However, the Tigers remain confident of securing Prince and Marshall beyond 2006, and the club is keen to have the deals completed well before June 30 next year.
Four-time premiership-winning coach Tim Sheens, who has won four grand finals from five attempts in a career spanning 20 years, is the other key signing for Wests.
Sheens is off contract at the end of next season but Noyce is confident the pair can reach a new agreement.
"Tim and I will sit down in the near future and work through what our terms and goals are moving forward," Noyce said.
"He's a good guy to work with, Tim, and we'd like to think we've got a fairly healthy understanding with him."
The Daily Telegraph
The Tigers are running scared a little here and I do not blame them given I believe one of their star halves will move on.
IMO, Scott Prince is the most likely given he has a homesick partner wanting to head back to QLD. Money will more than likely talk in perhaps his last NRL contract, being the innaugral Gold Coast Titans captain must be of huge appeal to the Dally M Medal winner as well.
I know Michael Searle has not hidden his desire to perhaps speak to Scott Prince after the anti-tampering deadline in 2006, I think Prince will be interested in what we as a club have to say and I don't see him signing anywhere until mid 2006.
DeeGan