Bennett 'embarrassed' by NRL contract fiascos

The Advertiser

a day ago

Wayne Bennett has again called for an NRL transfer window, claiming he has been "embarrassed" by the Daly Cherry-Evans, Dylan Brown and Lachlan Galvin sagas.
The Galvin contract fiasco finally reached a conclusion on Friday night, with Canterbury declaring his signature on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
The announcement came almost seven weeks after the teenager knocked back a Wests Tigers extension, despite being contracted there until the end of 2026.
In one last twist, the five-eighth was spotted training at Canterbury headquarters in Bulldogs gear before his release from the Tigers was announced.
Bennett has been a vocal critic of the NRL trade system in the past, claiming the game had hit the "self-destruct button" when Cherry-Evans announced he was leaving Manly in March.
Brown's future also dominated headlines in the lead up to the season, before he opted against taking up options to stay and Parramatta and instead signed the richest deal in history to join Newcastle from 2026.
"We have had three major players leave clubs so far and we are halfway through the year," Bennett said.
"Every one has been a headline and every one has stolen away from teams and the game itself.
"It's a controversy and one we don't need. It's one we have inflicted on ourselves."
The South Sydney coach has long been a proponent of the NRL inserting trade windows, with one the most popular push being for fixed times both in and out of season.
Any change to the system would need to be agreed upon by the NRL and Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA).
The NRL had flagged plans to change the transfer system during the last pay deal, namely by not allowing players to negotiate deals until after June 30 in the final year of their contract.
That was rejected by the RLPA, who also believe trade windows would not have solved the Galvin issue and believe media speculation would remain even with change.
The AFL recently knocked back introducing a mid-season trade period, but has windows for moves after each year's grand final.
European football leagues meanwhile implement mid-season windows which operate across multiple countries and competitions.
Regardless, Bennett believes change is imperative, hopeful it could come by as soon as next year.
"There are a lot of other games besides rugby league that are played and most seem to have their trade windows or trades under control," Bennett said.
"I don't see why we can't get ours.
"We do a great disservice to the fans. That's what hurts me most about it. They all buy their season tickets and love the game.
"If we are going to leave clubs then we should leave in a better way than we do. We should have a better system than we do.
"It's out of my hands but that is my feeling with it. It's not something I feel makes the game better. I get embarrassed by it to be honest."
Wayne Bennett has again called for an NRL transfer window, claiming he has been "embarrassed" by the Daly Cherry-Evans, Dylan Brown and Lachlan Galvin sagas.
The Galvin contract fiasco finally reached a conclusion on Friday night, with Canterbury declaring his signature on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
The announcement came almost seven weeks after the teenager knocked back a Wests Tigers extension, despite being contracted there until the end of 2026.
In one last twist, the five-eighth was spotted training at Canterbury headquarters in Bulldogs gear before his release from the Tigers was announced.
Bennett has been a vocal critic of the NRL trade system in the past, claiming the game had hit the "self-destruct button" when Cherry-Evans announced he was leaving Manly in March.
Brown's future also dominated headlines in the lead up to the season, before he opted against taking up options to stay and Parramatta and instead signed the richest deal in history to join Newcastle from 2026.
"We have had three major players leave clubs so far and we are halfway through the year," Bennett said.
"Every one has been a headline and every one has stolen away from teams and the game itself.
"It's a controversy and one we don't need. It's one we have inflicted on ourselves."
The South Sydney coach has long been a proponent of the NRL inserting trade windows, with one the most popular push being for fixed times both in and out of season.
Any change to the system would need to be agreed upon by the NRL and Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA).
The NRL had flagged plans to change the transfer system during the last pay deal, namely by not allowing players to negotiate deals until after June 30 in the final year of their contract.
That was rejected by the RLPA, who also believe trade windows would not have solved the Galvin issue and believe media speculation would remain even with change.
The AFL recently knocked back introducing a mid-season trade period, but has windows for moves after each year's grand final.
European football leagues meanwhile implement mid-season windows which operate across multiple countries and competitions.
Regardless, Bennett believes change is imperative, hopeful it could come by as soon as next year.
"There are a lot of other games besides rugby league that are played and most seem to have their trade windows or trades under control," Bennett said.
"I don't see why we can't get ours.
"We do a great disservice to the fans. That's what hurts me most about it. They all buy their season tickets and love the game.
"If we are going to leave clubs then we should leave in a better way than we do. We should have a better system than we do.
"It's out of my hands but that is my feeling with it. It's not something I feel makes the game better. I get embarrassed by it to be honest."
Wayne Bennett has again called for an NRL transfer window, claiming he has been "embarrassed" by the Daly Cherry-Evans, Dylan Brown and Lachlan Galvin sagas.
The Galvin contract fiasco finally reached a conclusion on Friday night, with Canterbury declaring his signature on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
The announcement came almost seven weeks after the teenager knocked back a Wests Tigers extension, despite being contracted there until the end of 2026.
In one last twist, the five-eighth was spotted training at Canterbury headquarters in Bulldogs gear before his release from the Tigers was announced.
Bennett has been a vocal critic of the NRL trade system in the past, claiming the game had hit the "self-destruct button" when Cherry-Evans announced he was leaving Manly in March.
Brown's future also dominated headlines in the lead up to the season, before he opted against taking up options to stay and Parramatta and instead signed the richest deal in history to join Newcastle from 2026.
"We have had three major players leave clubs so far and we are halfway through the year," Bennett said.
"Every one has been a headline and every one has stolen away from teams and the game itself.
"It's a controversy and one we don't need. It's one we have inflicted on ourselves."
The South Sydney coach has long been a proponent of the NRL inserting trade windows, with one the most popular push being for fixed times both in and out of season.
Any change to the system would need to be agreed upon by the NRL and Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA).
The NRL had flagged plans to change the transfer system during the last pay deal, namely by not allowing players to negotiate deals until after June 30 in the final year of their contract.
That was rejected by the RLPA, who also believe trade windows would not have solved the Galvin issue and believe media speculation would remain even with change.
The AFL recently knocked back introducing a mid-season trade period, but has windows for moves after each year's grand final.
European football leagues meanwhile implement mid-season windows which operate across multiple countries and competitions.
Regardless, Bennett believes change is imperative, hopeful it could come by as soon as next year.
"There are a lot of other games besides rugby league that are played and most seem to have their trade windows or trades under control," Bennett said.
"I don't see why we can't get ours.
"We do a great disservice to the fans. That's what hurts me most about it. They all buy their season tickets and love the game.
"If we are going to leave clubs then we should leave in a better way than we do. We should have a better system than we do.
"It's out of my hands but that is my feeling with it. It's not something I feel makes the game better. I get embarrassed by it to be honest."