There is a reason for that. They didn't manage the cap properly, and the reason was because they never embraced the concept and always wanted to loopholes to get rid of it.

That's why it was easire for union to raid them for specific individuals, as others in the side were paid way over the odds.

I agree. There should be a reward to clubs that produce and nurture young talent which should include an incentive to pay them more to stay at their clubs as they develop.

Granted, Robinson was a big loss but Tomkins, whilst still a loss, won't be missed anywhere near as much.
In Farrell's case, he more or less retired to Union which was no big deal to Wigan by then, he was pretty much worn-out.
Ashton was largely unproven (assuming the Ashton I'm vaguely remembering is the one you mean ) .
When you spread that over more than a decade, it's hardly the end of the world, so I'm fairly sanguine. (Not complacent, just sanguine).
I was initially aghast when Iestyn left Leeds but, in the end, it was a silver lining, we had to start being a team.
Plus it was a good laugh watching the unionistas trying to justify saying that he couldn't and would never hack it, despite him being repeatedly capped for Wales.

Anyway, I await more detail on how these exemptions from the salary cap will work, I want to hear that it's not just a knee-jerk and that there are clearly-defined rules around it all, rather than the sort of back-room deals we used to see with the man with the satchel.

Farrell was reaching the end of his league career its true, but he was still an international, as well as the heartbeat of Wigan (probably the only thing keeping them going at the time).
His leaving left a hole, the same as Harris leaving did to Leeds. I'm not saying all the players leaving for Union are stars, and will be missed massively (Chev Walker, Lee Smith etc), but they all were decent England quality players that the game will miss. Wigan will replace J.Tomkins well enough. But losing S.Tomkins is a lot harder. The RFL needs to address this in a logical and though out manner. Scrapping the SC is not the answer, or anything as knee jerking as that, but it must make some effort to keep home grown players in the game where possible and financially reasonable

I think that the RFL have made a massive rod for their own back with this seemingly kneejerk reaction to Joel Tomkins' defection.
If Hetherington was angry with the RFL about the events surrounding the Crusaders' demise he will (& should be apopleptic with rage) over these events.
I hope that he isn't the only one.

Does Olly Barkley still play? Dunno what's been posted on the 'net about him but he could show most of our boys a thing or two.

It is my understanding that talks have been going on with the RFL for quite some time so may not be a kneejerk.

According to Andy Wilson's blog on the Guardian website there have been no changes to the salary cap. He reckons those questioning it are small minded.

Despite the Telegraph reporting

Someone is lying somewhere. Potentially Wigan are being given dispensation to breach the cap in order to keep Tomkins in the sport and the small minded fans are being smokescreened?

What are we calling long serving? Marquee player? Could cover several players in some squads and will just defeat the purpose of cap?

According to Andy Wilson of the Guardian nothing has changed bar O'Loughlin being at Wigan for 10 years now (Which is the limit for the £50k allowance). So they get £50k of O'Loughlin's salary excluded, but this can only happen with one player. There are apparently no changes to the cap rules themselves at all.

So basically they have given Sam a new contract with 50k more per year (the 50k they now have exempt from O'loughlin's salary) and written in a 3 year "no discussion with anyone else" clause.

Smart business, but very fortunate timing...

That is Wilson's take on it. However Leneghan came out and said he was confident he could have offered him a better deal than any club in either code. Its's also widely reported that his new deal makes him the highest paid player in rugby league, so I doubt a £50k increase would provide that.

May be a coincidental combination of lucky timing re O'Loughlin, Joel's departing salary, poor journalism and Leneghan talking rubbish, but I don't think we'll ever find out. The RFL won't come out and explain what has happened and deny the Telegraph's reporting that there are new marquee player exemptions from the salary cap.

Even if the rules had changed, which isn't certain, Hetherington would only be apopleptic at his fellow SL chief execs as they decide the salary cap rules between them; so it is nothing as such to do with the RFL, but that doesn't fit the [iblame the RFL for everything[/i agenda of some people.

For me it's academic. Sam's first serious knee injury is coming, and when it arrives I fear you'll see a totally different player.

You been speaking to those rugby gods?