Veteran National Rugby League player agent Steve Gillis will approach the players union to air his concerns about the "unethical" practice of clubs "squeezing out contracted players due to salary cap problems of the clubs' making," according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Gillis, who has presided over the Player Agents Association during an involvement in rugby league that spans 35-years, believes protections "should be in place to ensure players aren't out of pocket if they are coerced into leaving their club while still under contract." There have been "countless cases where players -- for reasons ranging from a falling out with the coach to the amount of salary cap space they are taking up -- have been told it is in their best interests to look elsewhere." While marquee players "are likely to find a new club, fringe first graders are often those worst affected." Gillis said, "We've got to find a better way to do it; it's unethical to corner players and pressure them to leave. Something needs to be put in place to protect the players better. You can't have a contract one day and be tapped on the shoulder the next." Gillis previously raised his concerns with the Rugby League Players Association "and plans to do so again in the coming weeks." He said that the opportunity for out-of-favor players "was diminished when they were dropped to reserve grade" because they often do not play the requisite number of NRL games for an automatic Super League qualification. Gillis: "Your career is as good as done because no one will touch you if you've spent a year-and-a-half playing local league" (SMH, 10/24).
