The money's there, all that's missing is the NRL's willingness

The idea was raised by Sydney player manager Steve Gillis last week, but has been bandied around by others in recent times.

Gillis told The Daily Advertiser he thinks the NRL should be encouraging players to return to their home towns in the country after they have finished playing at the top level.

Under the scheme, the NRL would top up the pay packet of the players to make their contracts with bush clubs more attractive.

Rather than stay in Sydney, or journey no further than Newcastle or Wollongong, the players might actually cross the Great Divide to link with clubs as a captain-coach.

Gillis quite rightly pointed out the NRL has truckloads of cash following its TV rights deal and could easily afford to give something back to the bush.

In theory, this seems sound and logical enough, but the reality is somewhat different.

Even allowing for the NRL taking a stake in the player’s payments – maybe $15,000 – any deal with a country club would largely be dependant on what it can bring to the table.

For starters, the club would need to match the figure, plus throw in bonuses based on success across the season, to bring it up to a bare minimum $30,000.

Just as importantly, however, the club would have to sweeten the offer with the guarantee of employment.

Without a secure job, no one in their right mind would move to a small regional town for the sake of $30,000.

Albury captain-coach Josh Cale says employment is the key issue in securing players or coaches.

Cale also reckons rugby league is “going backwards” in the bush because small centres, including his home town Narromine, are being priced out of the “market”.

The issue, according to Cale, is not the contract payments, but the lack of employment in so many rural areas.

Gone are the days when towns had an abundance of work – most are struggling to employ the local population without bringing in extras.

More often than not the pool of footy talent in regional towns is dwindling because the players are moving away to secure a job.

Sometimes they only head to a nearby larger centre, but often they pack their bags and leave the region, possibly for good.

The fact that NRL clubs plunder the bush for rising young stars is not helping the situation.

So many of the kids that go away, stay away – lost forever. 

It’s a vicious cycle.

Begrudging an 18-year-old his chance to chase his NRL dream is downright unfair, but addressing the side issues must also come into play.

Not every young player will make the grade – some do and we all celebrate with them.

For those 19 and 20 year olds who don’t, the NRL needs to be diligent about ensuring they are not allowed to fall through the gaps in the floor.

Not only are they lost to the bush, particularly their home towns, but to the sport.

Obviously the NRL is not in position to force players to return to the country or go anywhere else for that matter.

Still, there is a need for a welfare system that monitors players that are cut from NRL clubs are not just cast aside and forgotten.

This happens and the sport is so much poorer for it.

Pushing cash at aging players to keep them in the game is a strategic way of building the game in the bush.

Mentoring young players to ensure they do not become disillusioned with the sport is just as important.

The NRL has the money, but it also needs to have the desire to make things better.