The NRL’s transfer policy that allows players to negotiate with rival clubs 12 months out from their contracts expiring has recently come under fire.
Since November 1 the league has seen a raft of stars commit to clubs they don’t currently play for from the start of 2023, including Brandon Smith, Reed Mahoney, Viliame Kikau and Isaiah Papali’i.
While many are hoping for increased restrictions on premature player movement, Wests Tigers Chairman Lee Hagipantelis supports the current ruling, believing any change would be unfeasible.
“There’s been a flurry of activity and almost hysteria concerning the commentary surrounding this at the moment,” Hagipantelis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“But it’s been no different for many years and what it provides it that a player is allowed one year out from the completion of their current contractual playing arrangement to secure their future.
“I think that’s perfectly understandable, when a player reaches 12 months left on their current contract, they’d be very concerned about their playing future and would look to secure it.
“I don’t think you could expect a player to complete his current contract on the 31st of October of a particular year and then go out to renegotiate or negotiate with another club a new contract, it would be unfeasible.
“I think the optics are a concern with players signing with other clubs 15 months out … the only viable solution may be a transfer window where you limit all of this to a two-week or four-week period.
“That would limit all of the contracts being executed to a short period of time and would stop players signing in the middle of the year or at other inconvenient times, which does cause a lot of this angst.”
Hagipantelis’ club has been on either end of the current rule, with the Tigers signing star forward Isaiah Papali’i from Parramatta from 2023 while losing Luciano Leilua to North Queensland at the same time.