NRL: How to keep the Beast fed

Manu Vatuvei just wants to concentrate on playing. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The prospect of rugby star Quade Cooper earning more than $1 million next year if he signs with Parramatta may help the gold-plated incisors of Manu Vatuvei sparkle further when he smiles.

Such a deal indicates lucrative contracts are still available in the NRL, despite a season when clubs have been closely watching their finances in response to the Storm's disrespect for the salary cap.

Cooper's situation shows the Vatuvei camp that, by virtue of a third-party agreement, the way could be cleared for him to be a Warrior for life.

It also shows there is a need for partnership building by Warriors management to find such sponsorship arrangements - otherwise the winger could consider a Cooper-type deal elsewhere.

Vatuvei's case is strong. Heading into last night's match with Manly, the Warriors had won 12 games out of 21. When he has not been injured, Vatuvei has been involved in 11 of those wins from 15 matches.

Despite missing six games, Vatuvei's 17 tries is the third highest tally in the competition, proving he's a nightmare for any defender when the ball is in the air near the line or when he has it in hand.

Coach Ivan Cleary has indicated just how desperately he wants Vatuvei to stay if he continues in the coaching role beyond 2011.

"His impact has been enormous. It started with the intangible stuff this season - just having him there - but now he's fitter and has had more game time. His play is better, too. In a tough game, he can be the difference. Everybody feeds off that.

"The club is committed to signing him. He is extremely high on the priority list."

However, Cleary admits to being shocked by the Eels' deal for Cooper. He believes league is fighting back on the money front but remains unconvinced at the figure.

"They're obviously taking some steps to fight back but how realistic that is, I'm not sure. Certainly there's an avenue for those sort of numbers with the marquee player allowance, which I think is a positive move, but that sort of money seems unlikely given players such as Jarryd Hayne and Nathan Hindmarsh are at the Eels as well."

Vatuvei is signed through to the end of 2011 but his agent Peter Brown is in talks with Warriors management to keep him at the Auckland club, rather than crossing the Tasman or crossing into rugby union.

Vatuvei says: "It is something I will sort out after the season's finished. I don't want to go into games with that in my head. It's not urgent to me.

" I don't know why people are scared of me leaving because I'm here for now [until the end of 2011]. I leave all the big things for Peter [Brown]."

League's rules on third-party payments can be confusing, especially after the Melbourne Storm salary cap drama where players were suspected of having illegal payments from third parties.

However, there is no restriction on the amount a player can earn through such third-party agreements - if he is being paid without the need to employ club logos or names.

In other words, the third-party endorsement has to come completely from sources outside the club, its team and sponsors. Club sponsors can not enter into extra 'third-party' agreements with players.

Individual NRL players have registered valid third-party agreements totalling more than A$4 million in 2010, with each one needing to be registered and approved by the NRL.

It's like former New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming who advertises a brand of air conditioners and heat pumps.

To meet NRL regulations, Fleming would not do that as Stephen Fleming, cricketer, but as Stephen Fleming, well-known face around New Zealand. The distinction might seem slim - but it's legal.

If Vatuvei were to procure such a third-party deal - and glean a Cooper-type offer - it would need to be with an unrelated sponsor of the Warriors and the NRL.

Otherwise he would only be eligible for an extra A$100,000 on top of his contract when that marquee player clause comes into being next season.

Brown knows third-party deals can be difficult to negotiate but is keen to explore an opportunity for his client.

"It is all relative as to who the athlete is and what market he's got in any code," Brown said.

"I presume there are only so many third-party deals for rugby union players as well. There is still good money in league but whether there are $1m deals out there ... I don't know.

"The problem you've got is that, unless they're associated with league, there is nothing in it for them [the sponsor]. You'd have to have an athlete whose image is known to a local and international market to give a company the leverage to use him [without hooking it back to his rugby league persona]."

If Brown can convince the Warriors to agree to such a deal, then the Beast will be fed, content and able to digest the fruits of his labour for the rest of life.