David, the results are not the issue as far as I am concerned, I don't how you read that from my post. What is an issue is performance, and inparticular the performances of some of the players.

My question was, with such a game coming up and with the prize money on offer (as heard today), I would have expected the players to have been busting a gut to get to play in that game, considering IMO the squad strength available. What we have seen is completely the oppossite and I therefore raised the question that players appear to be guaranteed spots regardless of their form.

You like previous posters have basically confirmed that question that players are guaranteed their position. Personally I don't like that, and am a strong believer that players should earn their spot, which in several cases I don't think they are doing this season yet.

The rest of your post I entirely dissagree with and therefore won't bother arguing about it.

Which players have not been 'busting a gut' or in my terms of reference, not giving 100%?

There has been an issue of timing, form and performance but I didn't realise it was down to a lack of effort from the players on the pitch.

Amen, brother.

None of the players have been "busting a gut" although JJB comes pretty close.

However, accepted I used a wrong choice of words. By "busting a gut" I meant on top of their game, which is what you alluded to in your second sentence.

Forgetting all about the WCC, and assuming we had another normal game this weekend, do you believe that all the players who played last week (whom were the same that played the week before) would be deserving of their spot this week? If anybody does, then I can not accept that you believe we have a strong squad.

The bonus does NOT count on the cap. Operational Rules part 5 Section E1 See Section 5C 5.7.1 It's a very good reference document. www.therfl.co.uk/about/page.php?id=161&areaid=44

The bonus does NOT count on the cap. Operational Rules part 5 Section E1 See Section 5C 5.7.1 It's a very good reference document. www.therfl.co.uk/about/page.php?id=161&areaid=44

Its an interesting exception that, doesn't really sit with the idea that the salary cap is used to level out the competition.

A £100k contract at Leeds or St Helens over the last 6 years must have been worth significantly more than a £100k contract at castleford or even Wigan

IIRC though, don't bonuses paid for being selected for the GB squad count in the cap? This is what Bradford and Wigan claimed pushed them over the cap limit a couple of season back I think.

Don't know about them but it was the excuse given by St Helens one year for a minor breach after Ade Gardner somehow managed to get himself a mid season International cap.



If winning trophies is a method of getting round the cap I wonder why everyone doesn't do it.

Those players you alluded to have been busting a gut every time they walk on to a rugby pitch, is it the lack of effort or form you are upset about because every players seem to give 100% effort to me. And if its form that is a factor that players have limited control over and have to continually work on, Are you at the "top of your game" every time you go to work?

But surely this particular game would be exceptional to the salary cap.

Only one team can appear in it. Therefore it would be unfair to penalise that team that appears in it by including any payments in the cap. That would immediately put that team at a disadvantage to the other sides, as the other sides are not taking part.

The cap for leveling out the competition is exactly that, for the Super League competition. The WCC is outside the super league competition.

Very astute Gotcha.

I, for one, would prefer if this were kept inside the dressing room, at least until after the event.

Yet you were fairly critical of him last year for not spending up to the cap and not strengthening the 3rd consecutive title winning squad to your satisfaction.

I've never heard of the reigning SL Champions being given a different salary cap allowance to the rest of the comp in recognition of this extra fixture.

The Leeds players are contracted from November to October. That they will have to take part in this extra fixture (over and above their SL duties) by comparison with the rest of the SL teams is the price they pay for being successful the previous year.

The only payment I've seen as been outside the salary cap calculation is the payment of any bonus received as a share of the prize money paid out by the RFL.