NZR splashing cash to keep top-line commodity

Ben Smith
Ben Smith
COMMENT: The careers of Israel Dagg and Ben Smith have always been intertwined.

They made their debuts at Super rugby in the same match - against the Brumbies for the Highlanders at Carisbrook in 2009.

Dagg was in the No 15 jersey, Smith at No 14.

The two played every game for the Highlanders that year.

Dagg missed a game for the Highlanders the following year in Queenstown, letting Smith play his first game of many at fullback for the southern franchise.

A few months later, Dagg left to play for the evil empire up the road and Smith went to fullback for the Highlanders.

By 2013, Dagg and Smith had become part of a dangerous back three for the All Blacks. Dagg then got slightly injured in 2014 and Smith, who by now was a fixture in the black jersey, got his chance for the national side at the back.

He played a barnstormer at Forsyth Barr Stadium against England and Dagg could not get his jersey back.

Last year, Smith was ensconced at fullback so Dagg seized the chance and made the right wing his own. In effect, they had swapped from when they first started out together.

Now, within a week of each other, Smith and Dagg have signed deals with New Zealand Rugby.

To bag them both is a great success for NZR and shows the pockets are deep enough to keep players in this country.

And why not? NZR has been boosted by the alignment of the stars when it comes to inflow of cash.

Broadcasting is evolving every day and content - more importantly, sport content - is king. It has become a seller's market.

NZR has a top-line commodity - the best rugby players in the world.

Sky paid some big money to NZR to hang on to broadcasting rights and it is working its way through the system.

Also, you can sell product to any market anywhere these days. If you can watch professional kabaddi in New Zealand then you must be able to watch top-line rugby in most countries.

Broadcasters are wanting live product above anything. Rugby here can be shown live in breakfast time in big markets overseas.

Plus the once-in-every-12-years team - the British and Irish Lions - are about to arrive in these shores with all their big-spending supporters.

In the latest collective agreement with players, NZR raised by a third what it was going to pay to keep its top players.

It is now doing what it said it would - spending the cash to keep the players. Top players such as Dagg and Smith are getting contracts which could well reach seven figures.

This is also the day and age when key people are paid totally out of kilter from the average man on the street.

It is simple commerce, really. If a dairy farmer gets a funding boost, he makes sure his best cows stay on the farm.

Sure the odd cow - a Cruden or Faumuina - will escape from the top paddock but that is not always to do with money.

Lifestyle or a desire to get overseas can entice some players offshore.

But Smith and Dagg are not wandering yet. They are still the cream of the crop and for that we get to enjoy watching them and they get well compensated for their efforts.

So, in the end, everyone wins.

 

Add a Comment