Let's dispell a myth - Wigan do no shout moan and scream for salary cap increases.

Our chairmen has consistently asked for 'cost of living '(@3%) rises to the cap since he took up his tenure, he is anti raising the cap (with a passion!) - and so am I, against the current income profile within the sport.

However, having said all of that the point of this debate is that the cap does need to increase, because if it doesnt the quality of our product will decrease (we will eventually become a part time sport) - we cannnot be led by the weakest in the comp, we need to raise the high jump bar not let the game decline.

So...we need to find a way to enable a rise in the cap and this can only be achieved on the back of significant increases in revenue - a key source of which is the TV deal.

Hence we need the RFL to get a substancial increase, if it doesn't the future of RL in this country will be put at serious risk.

I take Speccy's point re the BARB stats - and this will hamper the negotiations no doubt. However it is the RFL's job to come up with compelling reasons for an increase or look for innovative solutions (like splitting the coverage across multiple suppliers).

I think your looking at this the wrong way to be honest. From what it seems, ESPN and Sky have a very good relationship. ESPN are smart and not doing what Setanta did and that was instead of working with Sky Sports they tried to go against them. Nobody is gonna beat the biggest Sports Broadcaster in Europe!

It is more likely that ESPN and Sky would get a split deal working together. Now the clubs and RFL wouldnt want this as it will mean less money.



BBC has dropped Football League coverage for 2011/2012 season. They showd no interest in any kind of live or highlights package.

Dont think i disagree with you. In fact that was similar to the point I was making, just the opposite way round. No sponsor or advertiser is going to be swayed an even smaller percentage of the audience switching on because Wakefield are playing instead of Crusaders.

Crusaders are part of the expansion in to Wales, they are part of something much bigger than themselves and acting as the pinnacle of the welsh RL pyramid. Whilst in and of itself the 4/5k going in Wrexham is only a small part of what the RFL can take to the broadcasters, the much broader, wider and bigger growth of the game in Wales (and other areas) is an important aspect.

AG Barr(Irn Bru) -- not even third tier?
International brand,well established name,1000+ employees,turnover £200m+.

Thats nearly as funny as your BMW example.

Yes, compare AG Barr to McDonalds, Coca-cola, Barclays, Molson-Coors, Natwest, Diageo, Aviva, Nationwide, Vauxhall, Ford, RBS, total, DHL, UPS, Allianz, Carlsberg, Samsung who are all heavily involved in sport in this country and it looks kind to describe AG Barr as 3rd tier.

www.skysports.com/opinion/story/ ... 36,00.html

www.skysports.com/opinion/story/ ... 36,00.html