Can see where this comment is aimed from. The 'million pound' game, that million pound will have to be spent by the club on salary in the main for the next season...if they dont they simply wont compete. Its not like football where the parachute payment, attendances and revenue far outweigh the cost of running the club (in most cases).

Rugby has very tight budgets, this million pound would help position a team but for all intents and purposes they will come back into the middle 8s and run the risk altogether and have to go back part time etc. Really has the chance of ruining teams more than anything.

Leigh's attendances if they fail to get promoted will take a hit.

Is there an issue some teams who wouldn't meet franchise rules could be promoted? i.e. Sheffield and Halifax? personally no issue with either club, does it remove the protection that system gave those clubs.

I think things look more fluid than ever before. Kelly, Sandow, Campese, Chisholm all contracted half backs who got released from the NRL. Lunt, Puletua, Sio, Tupou moved mid-season. If you suddenly drop on 800k with cap space to boot there's also a significant upside in the fact that few clubs either here or in Oz have that kind of leeway should someone become available.

problem is that whilst if promoted we'd have extra money to recruit we wouldn't have quota spots available for overseas signings, unless players already contracted for next year agree to early releases which would probably mean paying them off eating into the available funds.

Nobody is saying odd releases or occasional availability never happen though. Just that you're either left the dregs, or need to strike lucky. You're essentially relying on "should someone become available". You've missed all the regular buses, and no doubt something will come along, but it's unlikely to be the one you wanted to catch.

Commonly called The Sieka Syndrome

Our home game against Halifax has been moved to Saturday 26th September, 3pm kick off, and will be on Sky.