In the English Premier League, the January transfer window is met with excitement, anticipation and, sometimes, with trepidation about players moving between clubs.
Sometimes the players seek the move, other times they are traded. Either way, letting go of where you came from is something you just have to do. We are seeing similar dealing in Australia with players moving between franchises, not mid-season, but in preparation for the year to come. Brumbies breakaway Michael Hooper, who has been playing the house down this season, has announced he will be turning out for the Waratahs next season. Last season, Ben Mowen moved the other way, a decision that has so far proved correct. Perhaps the need to move is more out of necessity. By necessity, I mean your franchise hasn't come to play ball at renegotiation time or doesn't see you in the plans for the future. Sometimes it's the player's choice, to move on for career development. For whatever reason, player movement will always happen and is a stressful time but we have to live with these different scenarios.
I remember Mat Rogers walking into the Waratahs' change room after one game when he was contemplating the move to rugby. The mood from a small section of the room dampened slightly as these were the players that would be potentially giving up their jumper. As it turned out, that was me. Timing is everything. So I am asking the question about the player's mindset for those who have signed mid-season. Is the game becoming just a job or is there real passion in turning out for your state?
There have been a number of players who have been one-club men across the board, and with that comes a great deal of respect from their peers. Others have had to make transitions in their careers for different reasons.
Perhaps there needs to be a window of opportunity where player managers can go to the market and shop their players around. I would find the process of negotiating a contract mid-season a little distracting. In the process of playing well, the offers should flow in, while a poor on-field showing diminishes your stocks. It is cutthroat, and a player needs to get the best deal possible. Perhaps the scenario should be to open the transfer window at the end of the season when players go back to club or country. You already know the value of the player from viewing a full season of Super Rugby. I say this in refection of James O'Connor's drawn-out process of negotiation last year. This highlighted the need to have some kind of procedures in place that will give the franchise certainty as to when this process should occur. No doubt the deliberation had an effect on the Force and the way they performed last year. The great cliche of "we not me" was not observed in this instance.
Let's go a little deeper and play a game of hypothetical. Your current team is outside the top six and the team you are playing for next season has a shot at securing a home semi. By the way, you have just signed a three-year deal. The events of the game end up with you having a kick to win and knock your new team to fifth on the ladder and lose all the trimmings that go with hosting a semi-final. Do you a) convert the goal; b) get a cramp on the way into kick and shank it; or c) hand the kick over to the second stringer.
I know the answer is b) get a cramp on … I mean a) convert the goal, but upon conversion, would there be any resentment as you take up your new post the following year? A quiet snipe by the CEO perhaps about budgets for example. Is the game of rugby fast becoming a job nowadays, satisfying sponsors and jumping through hoops or is there still some kind of loyalty when you turn out for your team? I couldn't have seen myself wearing a Reds or Brumbies shirt against the Waratahs. Some might say perhaps I should have.
It seems now that players have to do the best for themselves, and I don't begrudge them that. Today's players have a short lifespan in the game, and if it's about making money, they have to sell themselves to the highest bidder.
Playing devil's advocate, do you take the cash or be a part of a team that will dominate the game and have the success in the form of trophies? The modern player has to ask this when it comes time to put pen to paper. I wonder if Messrs Beale and O'Connor are questioning their move to the Rebels about now?