In the Bulletin Arrow has said he would take a pay cut to move to Souths next year. Just shows how little he wants to stay here and will be glad to see the back of him
Titans star Jai Arrow will take a pay cut to join South Sydney for next season
Travis Meyn, Peter Badel, Exclusive, The Courier-Mail
March 31, 2020 3:04pm
Subscriber only
Gold Coast Titans star Jai Arrow is committed to honouring his move to South Sydney next year, even if it means accepting a cut to his $3.2 million deal.
The NRL has a raft of issues to overcome as it deals with the financially crippling coronavirus pandemic which has seen the 2020 season suspended indefinitely.
One of the major sticking points is the $10 million salary cap for 2021, which could be slashed by up to 40 per cent as part of a financial overhaul at league central.
While ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is hoping to avoid cutting the salary cap, clubs are bracing for a $2 million-$4 million reduction to help the game become sustainable.
In December last year, Arrow signed a four-year deal worth about $800,000-a-season to join the Rabbitohs from 2021.
But potential changes to the collective bargaining agreement and salary cap could thrust the validity of the deal into the spotlight.
Arrow, 24, was torn over the decision to leave his home town club, but said he would accept a pay cut to join Souths next year if the cap was slashed.
“If I have to take a pay cut next year because the salary cap goes down to keep the game alive then I’m more than happy to do that – that doesn’t worry me one bit,” Arrow told The Courier-Mail.
“I play the game because I love it. I’m very grateful I get paid to do what I love every day.
“There are people losing their jobs, lining up at Centrelink for hours. It’s hard to see. I’m lucky and grateful to still be getting paid, for the time being.
“I signed a contract a while ago and I’ve stuck with it. I’m happy to go.
“It’s a big move but I’m really looking forward to going down there, getting to know the boys and reuniting with Wayne (Bennett) and Jason Demetriou.
“I’ve first got to focus on getting back to playing this year for the Titans. If the season doesn’t go ahead I’ll be filthy with the way it finished (46-6 loss to Parramatta).
“I want to play again and do all I can to make that happen.”
If the NRL and Rugby League Players’ Association agree on a cut to the 2020-21 salary caps, the final two years of the current CBA, they would then need to decide how current contracts are handled.
A pro-rata system would see all contracts cut by the same percentage, but the issue of players looking to opt out of signed deals could arise.
Melbourne Storm pivot Cameron Munster said he is prepared to follow the lead of his Queensland Origin teammate Arrow and accept a reduced contract to save the NRL from going broke.
“If I had to renegotiate my contract to help the game I would do that,” Munster said.
“I love playing rugby league and we are already well paid when you compare our salaries to other people in Australia.
“I’ve seen people lose their jobs and struggle to put food on the table, so as NRL players we should be the last guys to whinge.
“I’m more than happy to take a pay cut if it means all the clubs can survive.”
V’landys is confident the RLPA will agree to the NRL’s 2020 funding package in the coming days.
The players will receive $24.6 million in total, with $19.2 million to be provided by the NRL and the remaining $5.4 million to be available through the RLPA’s injury-hardship fund.
Each player will receive their monthly wage for April and May, then get nothing for the final five months until October 31. That equates to a pay cut of 71 per cent from today, and 46 per cent across the 12-month financial year.
Arrow said the players had accepted cuts were inevitable.
“We’re not dumb – we all understand we’re going to have to take a pretty hard hit with pay cuts,” he said.
“If that’s what it takes to keep the game alive, then so be it.
“It obviously sucks but we’re not the only ones taking pay cuts. It’s everyone around the whole league and world.
“I don’t know exactly what we’ll have to take. We get two full pays then we’ll know more.
“As long as I can pay my bills and look after myself, then I’m happy.”
- - - Updated - - -
After our first two games I don't blame him.
Happy enough to take a pay cut
Not happy enough to stand by his mates and his home
Just accept it? Are you serious? So you'd be happy to continue getting flogged every week like we were our last game and our last however many years? And I want to make it very clear again that I don't blame Holbrook, I blame the players, who Brennan left us with, who, apart from a few of them, clearly are not playing for the club or its fans, but for themselves and their big fat pay-cheque. Nothing else.
Why do people get so upset when I say this? Those players are taking up a huge, huge chunk of our cap and things might have been different if Brennan hadn't gone and signed them for the money that he did.
You asked me, "Did you think we were going to make the finals or something?" Hell no. I expected maybe a little more effort under new coaching staff at least, but that last game, for the most part, didn't show that at all, and that's down to the current crop of players (minus a few who are trying) that we're stuck with for the next 2 or 3 years. It's just the reality of it and I'm sorry if this upsets people. Jeez.
Last edited by gotitans101_; 01-04-20 at 03:57 PM.
Do you think we don't know the things you're telling us? That we're just drifting around in La La Land waiting for you to beam yourself down from the heavens to pass on this sacred wisdom? Your constant negativity is exhausting. We get it. You don't need to harp on about it all the damn time (while conveniently ignoring the positive stuff like the speculation around Fifita).
Last edited by gotitans101_; 01-04-20 at 05:13 PM.
I just feel as though only a few people here understand my pov, you and Mexican Titan being two of those people. It is just so frustrating, year after year, to be told to stay positive and that things are going to change, when they never do. I just hope that after the next 1-2 years have been and gone, Holbrook and the rest of the coaching stuff are still here, because I rate them highly as coaches, and we'll finally have some $$ to throw at a few players who actually want to be here, and want to play for us as well as their pay cheque, and not solely for the latter.
Last edited by gotitans101_; 01-04-20 at 05:28 PM.
I'm all for giving Holbrook a chance as well but he needs to learn from what Brennan did and make the tough calls early. I don't think any coach in the NRL could turn the team that was chosen for the last two games into winners. Losing is a habit and a large chunck of our roster wouldn't make the top 17 in any of the other clubs.
As for Arrow who could blame him for leaving? He carried our team for the opening two games through shear determination. He'll come back to us one day as a better player and won't carry the baggage from all this constant rebuilding.
Also Bods I know that it is disappointing that he is leaving but we have no one to blame for it but ourselves. Way back in round 2 or 3 last year when we played cronulla he ran for nearly 300m in a losing team and showed us exactly what we needed in a leader and captain. When James fell injured a few weeks later we then decided to give the captaincy to .... Roberts. The most over rated player in the whole comp. If we had looked long term then and gave it to Arrow he never would have left (IMO of course).
Last edited by NZFan; 01-04-20 at 07:44 PM.