Do you think that either player is better than what we have ?
It's a tough business, really tough, especially on younger players but, IF they are good enough, they will find another club and maybe, they will prove Trinity wrong.
Bottom line is that we cant keep hold of every player but, good luck to both of them in whatever comes next.

Bloody hell we can’t keep our best winger no not Tom !!

Carter has never come across as the type of person to shaft anyone. We're only getting one side of the story, think I'll wait for the club's version of events before being critical.

The thing that stops them finding another club is the protections given to the parent club to ensure they are rewarded for the time taken in training etc. This can equate to several thousand pounds (consider it a transfer fee). The downside is that for us to basically stop them we have to pay them their contracts until they reach a certain age (even if out of contract).
We could I suppose waive the transfer fee thereby making them free agents to sign elsewhere and frees us having to continue to pay them.

It's an unusual situation, I would have thought that a deal may be struck with another club (IF they are wanted elsewhere!) that may be good all round.

We can’t keep our best young wingers no not Tom Murphy

Says who?

Whose Tom Murphy?

They forced themselves out?

So they must accept contract terms they feel aren’t suitable or leave the game?

These rules are there to stop clubs nicking the players that other clubs have developed for sod-all.

Without this rule we would keep having our best prospects pinched.

I am guessing Wakefield can't (or don't want to), match the money they may have been offered elsewhere, but the buying clubs don't want to pay a fee either.

Wakefield have offered the players improved deals - if they hadn't, the players could walk away for free.

Wakefield aren't the baddies here. They are protecting their investment.

Maybe certain agents need a reality check?

Then there should be a suitable minimum contract amount set by the RFL which must be offered or the compensation clause can’t be activated.

These lads have also sacrificed a lot and in many cases they forego chances at apprenticeships etc. which would pay far more than Academy or Reserve wages in order to pursue development in the game.

A Christmas play….


Player 1…’my deals up and I want this much $$$’
Agent… ‘leave it with me…I’ve got an interested club who want to pay this much $$$$ so my player must be worth this much to you Trinity $$$’
Trinity… ‘your player is worth this much to us $$ at this stage of his development’
Agent to interested club… ‘your bid is best so you can have him for $$$$ but you need to pay Trinity compensation’
Interested club… ‘a transfer fee? I thought he was a free agent!’
Agent… ‘under RL rules they are due a fee’
Interested club… ‘how much??’
Agent… ‘$$$$$$$$’
Interested club to RFL… ‘really… how much??’
RFL… ‘rules say $$$$$$$$, it protects d the club who develop the talent from asset stripping’
Interested club… ‘no we can’t afford that!’
Agent … ‘what’s the skinny?… ‘
Interested club… ‘we’re out!’
Player … ‘who am I playing for … I still want $$$’
Agent… ‘sorry mate! No-one!!!’

And a happy Christmas was had by all!

The market decides the worth, or it should at least. In this unusual case though that’s not being allowed to happen. You can dress it up, over as many paragraphs as you like but it boils down to the simple truth. Wakefield can offer them whatever they want & they either sign or leave professional RL for a while.
It’s really easy to paint the agent as the bad guy in any situation in professional sport, but there’s only one reason they exist; because clubs have & would continue to completely shaft the player as/when it suits them. Ask yourself why this doesn’t happen every year at every club if it’s as simple as the mean old agent trying to wring a penny for himself. I completely understand why you back the club at every turn. Personally I tend to back the worker rather than the company; not saying I’m right; it’s just how I’m built.

I agree with Avenger; that a minimum contract for SL level is needed urgently if we want the game to grow. The game will continue to wither if we don’t give as many lads as possible a real chance of making it.

The grape vine of Lewis is ( not from me ) I have heard that money is the issue & that he knows in one more year he is a free agent ? More money can be gained else where with his ability & growing reputation ?
As for me, I hope not !

There is.

If a new club signs one of them and the two clubs can't agree, there is an RFL mechanism for arbitrating the deal.

Wakey know what the investment in those players is worth and other clubs' may not want to pay the compensation due for it.