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“I hate the system”: Why Rogers is pushing for NRL to scrap current free agency model
Dominic Criniti • November 11th, 2024 10:27 pm
*SEN*’s Mat Rogers has urged the NRL to consider changing its current free agency model, citing frustrations with players signing for new clubs 12 months in advance.
Calls for an updated free agency model have begun to ramp up in recent years with fans and pundits alike continuing to express their disappointment with the unique system.
In place of the current system, *SEN’s* Scott Sattler suggested the idea of a free agency draft where the team with the worst regular season record would get first pickings at the best available players.
Although the idea seems unlikely to get over the line, Rogers was in favour of the idea and stated his frustration with how the current model is unfair to fans.
“I love the fact that we’re talking about it, we need something like it,” Rogers said on *SEN 1170 Sportsday*.
“I hate the system at the moment I really do, the fact that someone can sign (for another club) then have to play for another year with that team, it just throws conjecture up in the air.
“If a player doesn’t want to stay at your club or they want to test the open market, would you be ok with them going into a draft?
“Your team might be 15th pick and you might be able to get them back, but reality is once that November 1 deadline comes they’re gone if they haven’t signed prior, I honestly don’t mind.”
On the topic of drafts, many have floated the idea of a junior draft similar to that of the major American sports and the AFL, but Rogers has his doubts on how effective it would be in the NRL.
“A junior draft is hard because it would stop the investment of junior talent for clubs,” Rogers added.
“But at the same time, they obviously want to win a comp and they're trying to develop juniors to win a comp but when you’re a team like Penrith and you’re getting pillaged by other clubs of your talent, they aren’t seeing any benefit from it.”
Calls for an updated free agency model have begun to ramp up in recent years with fans and pundits alike continuing to express their disappointment with the unique system.
In place of the current system, *SEN’s* Scott Sattler suggested the idea of a free agency draft where the team with the worst regular season record would get first pickings at the best available players.
Although the idea seems unlikely to get over the line, Rogers was in favour of the idea and stated his frustration with how the current model is unfair to fans.
“I love the fact that we’re talking about it, we need something like it,” Rogers said on *SEN 1170 Sportsday*.
“I hate the system at the moment I really do, the fact that someone can sign (for another club) then have to play for another year with that team, it just throws conjecture up in the air.
“If a player doesn’t want to stay at your club or they want to test the open market, would you be ok with them going into a draft?
“Your team might be 15th pick and you might be able to get them back, but reality is once that November 1 deadline comes they’re gone if they haven’t signed prior, I honestly don’t mind.”
On the topic of drafts, many have floated the idea of a junior draft similar to that of the major American sports and the AFL, but Rogers has his doubts on how effective it would be in the NRL.
“A junior draft is hard because it would stop the investment of junior talent for clubs,” Rogers added.
“But at the same time, they obviously want to win a comp and they're trying to develop juniors to win a comp but when you’re a team like Penrith and you’re getting pillaged by other clubs of your talent, they aren’t seeing any benefit from it.”
