Club legend and Panthers board member Greg Alexander has questioned how the NRL will practically police a proposed new ban on anti-tampering. It was revealed this week that the NRL is keen to crack down on the public courting of under-contract players from figures at rival clubs.
Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould was accused of publicly courting Lachie Galvin in the media before he switched from the Wests Tigers to Canterbury, while former Manly CEO Tony Mestrov stated earlier this year he’d love to get Payne Haas from the Broncos to the Sea Eagles. Players can only speak to rival clubs as of November 1 the year before their final contracted season.
Greg Alexander (L) is a Panthers board member and made public comment about Blaize Talagi (R) last year. Image: Getty
Gould and Mestrov’s comments were both made while Galvin and Haas were under contract and not allowed to negotiate with rivals. The NRL’s proposed crackdown would see clubs hit with salary cap sanctions if they’re found to have publicly courted players when they’re not allowed.
It’s led to speculation that leading figures like Gould, Alexander, Braith Anasta, Matty Johns, Gorden Tallis and Darren Lockyer will have to watch what they say. Alexander is on the Panthers board, and holds media roles with Fox Sports and SEN radio.
Johns and Tallis recently became part-owners of the Gold Coast Titans, while Lockyer is a Broncos executive. All hold roles in the media that require them to discuss players.
Matty Johns and Phil Gould will be affected by the new NRL rule. Image: Getty
Greg Alexander questions how new NRL rule will work
Speaking out on Thursday, Alexander used the example of Penrith’s pursuit of Blaize Talagi last year to question how the new NRL rules will actually work. “I want to know specifically what would get someone into trouble,” Brandy said. “I was watching Blaize Talagi playing for Parramatta last year and thinking ‘wow he’s good. I like him’.
“I remember speaking to Trent Barrett about him last year when he was interim Eels coach, asking what his best position is and things like that. Was I angling (to get him to Penrith)? I want to know exactly what Gus (Gould) said about Galvin that was wrong.
“In my situation if I’m asked a question about Penrith, usually I won’t share my information. Sometimes it can be tricky and you have to think about what you can say.”
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On Wednesday, fellow SEN commentators Andrew Voss and Matt Russell slammed the move as an “overreaction”. Russell asked: “What if Alexander said that ‘there’s a good footballer in David (Fifita) and I think the best thing for him is to get out of the Gold Coast’. Does that breach laws? It’s a legitimate media comment (and) this could lead to a slippery slope.”
Voss said: “It’d have to be a breach. The perception from the NRL of Gus (Gould) in the media was that he was inducing (Galvin) to come over to Canterbury. Does anyone not separate his roles with the media and with Canterbury?
“Braith Anasta would potentially cross the line more than Gus would with his role as NRL 360 host and a player agent. Alexander is on the board and is deputy chair of Penrith. Can I not ask a question to him about a player who could be off contract?”
Alexander did make public comment last week about Fifita before his move to South Sydney was confirmed. And earlier this week he questioned why the Dolphins have signed English half George Williams after some underwhelming displays in the Ashes against Australia.