Hugh McGahan: Axing experienced stars a cost-cutting measure

Call me cynical but we are once again debating the annual issue of experienced players leaving the Warriors. It seems the club has a desire to release them.

I say desire because it never seems that the players want to leave, it's always a matter of the club not wanting to keep them. Why?

Clinton Toopi wanted to stay and, from all reports, so does Brent Webb. Awen Guttenbeil at this stage does not know if he wants to stay or go and the administration appear to have the same thought process. Remember that Richard Villasanti was released a few weeks ago to join the Cronulla Sharks. Last season, we again saw experience leave in Iafeta Palea'aesina, Henry Fa'afili, Francis Meli, Monty Betham, Jerry Seuseu and, of course, Stacey Jones.

We now have very few players to match this experience across the park. Youth and enthusiasm are great qualities in a player but there is no substitute for experience.

Experience also costs money. The Webb situation is one where it is obvious the club does not want him next year. If they did, they would already have had him signed and sealed. Irrespective of him wanting a large sum by the nature of his initial demands, the club does not know if he is expensive if they do not counter it in return.

To say that it cannot afford him or his demands will blow the salary cap is a convenient way to say, well, we did our best and we'll be disappointed to see him leave.

If the Warriors do not want Webb because it wants to save money, then they should just say so.

I do not know what the budgeted crowd figures were at the start of the season but I am sure it would not have been 8000 or thereabouts. That's where current crowd numbers are hovering.

This loss of income must be made up in another way and, unless there is a budgeted surplus, the club will be heading towards a deficit again.

I'm sorry - but it is looking like the club has been told to save as much money as it can because they are bleeding.

Given that there is an approximate extra $600,000 under the new salary cap for 2007, why would the club so seemingly be set on saving money?

There is either a projected reduction in income for 2007 or the instruction is to cut costs and save money. The easiest place to do that is players' salaries, as the club is borderline with operational staff.

So who gave the instruction to save? Is Ivan Cleary happy with this? Is there real faith that the current stock of Bartercard Cup players will meet requirements?

So many questions and I am not too sure if there are many answers. I feel sorry for the administration.

It seems there is a definite agenda surfacing as more time passes and less money is spent in areas where it is obviously needed.

But, if so, the Warriors should just come out, tell us all and not play games.