League: Transfers getting out of control - McFadden

Sam Tomkins will take some playmaking pressure off Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend. Photo / Brett Phibbs

In wake of Manly dramas Warriors coach would support a window system for NRL

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden would support a transfer window system within the NRL, saying that the current recruitment situation is getting out of control.

His comments come in the wake of the ongoing saga at Manly, where it is uncertain if Daly Cherry-Evans will see out the current season at Brookvale while Kieran Foran's future has dominated the off season headlines.

Cherry-Evans has signed with the Titans and there is some speculation that the Queensland halfback may relocate to the Gold Coast before the end of the current season, and Foran has apparently penned a deal with the Eels.

The saga at the Sea Eagles has continued a pattern in recent years of players signing for rival clubs with months, or even years, left on their current deals.

Unlike some other sporting competitions, the NRL lacks strict rules around recruitment and player movement between clubs, creating an environment that is far from ideal.

"I think a [transfer window] would be a pretty wise option," said McFadden. "At the moment you have to play the rules that are put in front of you and if you want to recruit you have to recruit a long way ahead. It would be better for the fans and better for the game."

The NRL has considered introducing a transfer window in the past, with one proposal for a two-week period after round six when business could be done while another plan was for a post-Origin period. But the current system essentially allows players to negotiate with rival clubs at any time while under contract.

"It is, potentially" said McFadden, when asked if things were drifting out of control. "You have to look so far ahead and it is a distraction - not so much for the players - they are pretty resilient to all that kind of stuff, but more for the fans. It would be nice if we could have a little more control over these things."

It has affected the Warriors in the past, notably with James Maloney. The five eighth signed a deal to move to the Roosters in November 2011, when he still had a year on his contract. He played out the 2012 season but his output was markedly lower than in previous seasons.

Meanwhile, the Auckland club are confident they can get their season back on track in Canberra on Sunday, despite a dreadful record in the Australian capital (only one victory there since 2002). There was a noticeable edge to yesterday's training, with a particular focus on defensive resilience. Tui Lolohea and Jonathan Wright worked hard on their new right edge combination and Sam Tomkins was prominent throughout in his return to action.

"We weren't far away on Saturday," said Tomkins. "We know what we need to do to get a result and believe we can."

Tomkins is crucial. He'll take some playmaking pressure off Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend and will be on hand to support any breaks. Lolohea also adds an exciting attacking edge to the backline, though his defensive prowess will be tested by the Raider's edge runners.

"He'll be fine," said McFadden. "He's played five eighth in lower grades before and gets a lot more traffic at him there so he'll be fine. We want to get Tui closer to the action and his hands on the ball."