https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... are_btn_tw

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... are_btn_tw

Dishonest maybe, but I don't see how they are corrupt?

There's a salary cap in place for all clubs, yet a select few players are getting payed on the side by the rfl because the teams they play for are at max cap and can't pay more for these players that they want to keep. All this under the nose of every other club who all have to abide to the cap and don't quite have as star studded team as Wigan/Wire. I'd say it stinks a bit and does border the line of corruption....

Definition of corruption is:

"having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain"

So you reckon they were being totally selfless in their dishonesty?

Seems odd that the RFL have been floating this idea for a little while as something they are thinking about, then it turns out they are already in place. That seems like poor communications causing unnecessary problems.

There is nothing wrong with Tomkins, et al having a central contract above their club contract, so a £25k contract to play for England entirely separate from their club contract. But the secrecy and mixed messages has led this to look like a subsidy for certain clubs.

Reports now showing this story might have been incorrect, RFL due to release a response.

Irish international Ben Currie seems an odd choice. The fact that two of the 3 players mentioned to be benefitting play for Warrington and one of those hasn't played for England points to corruption for me.

Given the huge sums they have At Bank in hand this is small potatoes for the RFL to hand out, they gained 2 players worth alone just from interest in their 2015 accounts despite giving the fat controller a near £50k a year pay increase (from £209k to £252k!!)

we've been given help to keep hold of Clark who was definitely DEFINITELY signing for Leeds, so we kept getting told last year. Homesickz unable to drive, all these things.

It's a done deal, hates it at Warrington.

Etc

If it's proven that the R.F.L. have been paying certain clubs without the knowledge of all S.L. clubs there should be hell to pay & heads should roll. Also (if true) the duplicity of certain clubs could cause a schism in the league, but for all we know, there maybe more recipients than we think?

Carter (Wakey) has said that he only found out about it two weeks ago.

Nigel Wood is on £200k. Surely that tells you all you need to know about the RFL.

Why not have an open policy on this.
Other sports. ie cricket and Union are happy for everyone to know about their central contracts.
Also, IF the clubs are getting extra towards their England players, surely, there shouldn't have been any problem in releasing these players for the recent training camp, which had to be scrapped.

Clearly, some things need to be kept "in house" but, this isn't one of them.

Yet again, the governing body look very amateurish and leave themselves wide open for criticism.

Finally, Tomkins didn't play for England last season, as he was injured ??

Not that it matters but I doubt the player on one of these contracts last year was Tomkins. He's already been to the NRL and flopped so I can't see anyone trying to tempt him back over.

Also, is an extra £25k really going to change someone's mind about leaving to join the NRL or RU? Figures like that are a pittance for clubs in Aus and the other code.

I still don't think the RFL are doing enough to encourage clubs to develop and keep home grown talent. Right now they have a slight dispensation on the cap but not enough imo. If you develop a player from a young age, all the way through your academy and into the first team squad, they should be off the cap completely.