Loyalty in our game.

Half way through the first year of my 3 year contract at Manly I was offered a car. The value of it though, was nowhere near the amount of my third party agreement. Had I have agreed to it, then I would’ve sacrificed more than a few dollars that I was entitled to. I wasn’t going to settle for anything less so I declined the offer. It was much cheaper for me to get a car through finance or buying a second hand car outrightly.

Weeks following my decision to say no, I was hit by the most surprising news ever.

One morning during a gym session I had players coming up to me asking why I made the decision to move up north. I had no idea what they were talking about and was so confused about the ordeal. It wasn’t until when I read the daily telegraph I came to a shocking discovery that Bani was moving up north, after signing a deal with NQ Cowboys.

It absolutely baffled me to think that the media would write something like this in the papers, without discussing it with me first.

Who’s idea was this? Why hasn’t anyone spoken to me about it? I was left a stunned mullet and couldn’t figure out the reason behind it all. Why would Manly let me go and insisted on swapping me with another player from Cowboys? How can they just expect me to pack up and leave after I had just formed a good relationship with my girlfriend who, under difficult circumstances, could not relocate up north with me?

The gaffer pulled me into his office and apologised for how the news broke out like this in the media. He looked me straight in the eye and said, “we simply don’t have the need for you anymore.” I was told I didn’t have the versatility of being a first grade player even though I did all that I could and built myself up to be one. The club made their decision and were willing to let me go.

Yes I did have my low lights where I got trapped in the bright light and went out partying and enjoyed Manly’s night life. I did breach club’s protocol once by not turning up to training after a drunken night out in Kings Cross. But every player goes through that. We make bad decisions throughout our professional career and I just didn’t think this was the reason why. Offering me a three year contract and then telling me that I wasn’t versatile enough did not make sense at all.

The most heart breaking news came when I got told that if I decided to stay and declined the offer to move up north, I was basically going to play reserve grade for the remainder of the season or for the duration of my contract with the club.

After discussing it with my girlfriend and our families, getting advice from a few people who understood the business side of Rugby League, I decided it was best for my Rugby League career that I move up to Townsville to play with NQ Cowboys.

I did not realise at the time how much of an impact my decision was going to have on myself, my family, my friends and most importantly, the other players at the new club I was going to. It was a straight forward swap, I signed the contract and a week later I was heading up to Townsville. But my arrival meant that I had to push another player out of the way. I had (not by choice) caused a reshuffle in the back line where, a veteran or even an under 20’s player, would have to play in the lower grades just so Bani can play on the wing in the NRL squad.

I had no idea this was happening as my selfish thoughts were saying just train hard and earn your spot in the starting lineup. It wasn’t my fault that I had to push someone out of the way. The final decision rested on the coaching staff and if they thought I was capable of playing first grade then that was entirely up to them.

What would you do in these types of situations? Would you give up your spot because you feel sorry for the other guy? Or would you be quiet and go with the flow and let the other guy worry about his own problems?

It’s a tough choice, but as a player, you just keep quiet and do as you’re told otherwise saying something jeopardises your chances of playing first grade.

In recent weeks, we’ve had one particular player making headlines. Capturing the attention of every single person who associates with the game of Rugby League. He’s decision to remain a one club man for a value worth $10million dollars definitely had everyone talking. I’ve had people coming up to me saying what he did was an act of absolute treachery. Act of betrayal. A breach of trust.

Agreeing to join another club and then pulling out at the last minute to remain at his current club did not paint himself a good picture at all, especially when there was $10million dollars involved. Only a few have come out and congratulated him for what he has done.

In today’s game, we see players negotiate with clubs trying to get them the best deal possible. We see players doing mid season swaps because they simply aren’t happy with where they’re at. Or in my case, they’re just not versatile enough so the club let them go.

But for a player to give his word to join another club next season and then pulls out of the deal because his current club just offered him $10million dollars to stay, to the general public, that may seem like he is not a man of his word. It shows no such loyalty at all so he shouldn’t call himself a one club man because he’s only there for the money.

The media was up in arms about it. The public was furious about his decision making, even though what he did was completely legal according to the rules that are in placed by the NRL.

Yet no one takes into account that the ripple effect of this chaos will affect all players involved. Whether you’re a veteran or a rookie, your place in the team now becomes vulnerable. All because of a player’s decision and I’m afraid that is something we cannot avoid. It’s what the club wants. It happens all the time.

None of the club’s hierarchy would consider the poor under 20’s kid, who feels like he’s been left out because the club is focused on spending all that money on one person.

At the end of the day, players need to take care of themselves and this one in particular has a bright future ahead of him, now that he’ll be financially stabled.

Besides, what’s $10million dollars in NRL compared to what they get in NFL, AFL, NBA and Soccer? Peanuts…

After experiencing what Manly did to me and how I never made it any further than what I thought I would since joining Cowboys, I would simply say, to hell with that. Today’s game is no longer just playing with a leather ball on a patch of grass, today’s game is more political than ever before. It’s a business. If someone offered you $10million dollars to stay, you would stay.

I did not give myself a good chance to put up a decent fight and tell Manly I wanted to stay. They may have made me play reserve grade for the rest of the season but maybe I would’ve been a lot happier than what I was after relocating to Townsville.

Make the right decision based on your current circumstances. Don’t feel bad about what you’re doing because someone else will do exactly the same thing. It happened to me and it will happen to you. Don’t take things too personal because after all, it’s only business and that’s what the game is all about these days.

That is the unfortunate side of playing in the NRL. That is why I never made it as an established player, even though I really wanted to so bad.

There is no such thing as loyalty.

Best wishes,

Mick Bani.