Rupert Murdoch hasn't owned sky for god knows how long. Before the Comcast takeover news corporation owned 39% share of sky. The remaining 61% was owned by private investors.

Even before comcast bid to take over sky, Murdoch agreed to sell his 39% stake to Disney.

So who now owns Sky, Comcast or Disney?

Comcast now owns sky.

Why would the difference in salary cap have anything to do with it with the marque player rule? Unless you are suggesting he would not be a marque player?

The NRL is blessed with an abundance of talent throughout Aus, more extremely talented players than spaces in first team squads, players playing in the NSW cup would not struggle in SL, we have seen that from experience - If there was a chance a player like Widdop wants to come over, Moran would move heaven and earth to get it over here in terms of the money they would offer him and he has it to offer, are you seriously suggesting NRL clubs would beat him in a bidding war? It`s not really a money issue, they would not pay over the odds like a few SL clubs would for him and why would they when they can get someone of equal quality, or very near quality for a lot less money?

WIDDOP EARNS AU $550 k. Pa plus about AU $350 k endorsements etc.

That is close to £500k per year.

Do you think Moran would spend £500k on one player (even if only £150k is SC) and then have to pay other players enough to stay at Wire.

I don’t

As good as he is he is no Thurston Lockyer or Johns. He would not be enough to transform Wire or any other team without the need for extra players. Spending £500 would be a waste. Moran is not too daft to know that.

So out of interest what do you think Leeds are paying for Merrin? 750 K salary with multiple offers from the NRL and would rather not come over here according to Wayne Bennett... And FWIW yes I do think Moran would pay 500k for Widdop.

Agree with this. Is he REALLY worth a bidding war? Nah.

He was contracted to come to Warrington until a neck injury stopped him from playing, so I'm pretty confident Moran would be able to find the cash for Widdop.
On what facts do you base this argument on? John's was lined up, so what would be different here?
Seems to me you don't want Widdop to come to SL, and will find any spurious reason just to say "he isn't coming, and I told you so".

What year was that Johns was lined up and what was the difference in Salary Caps between NRL and SL?

I was gonna ask the same thing, I bet the disparity in wages back then was far different to now. From the difference in exchange rates, which won't it have been around the 3 dollars to £1 era? to the huge increases the NRL have got every new TV deal since those days, it must be night and day.

Personally, I think he could come back home if the deal is right and everything he says about wanting to finish his career playing in SL and being homesick and wanting to be closer to relatives etc is true. But I gotta admit a part of me does think that he'll end up staying there.

Salary cap makes no difference with the marquee rule. I've stated on another thread that there's no SoO or playiing for Australia to keep him NRL, as there would be with an Australian.
All the talk that there's no SL club with the cash for one player is just plain incorrect. As Shifty Cat has posted above he may well stay in Oz, but because he wants to, not because of money.

Leeds are not paying all his wages. He is being subbed by Penrith

You can’t be this daft surely.

You’re right and that was my point. If Widdop was all he’s cracked up to be then no SL club could win his signature. The idea he is coming to SL for ulturistic reasons is utterly ludicrous unless you’re eight years old.

So something don’t add up do it? He’s lost his selling power in the NRL for some reason - my guess is he’s now seen as past it.

You can’t be this daft surely.

You’re right and that was my point. If Widdop was all he’s cracked up to be then no SL club could win his signature. The idea he is coming to SL for ulturistic reasons is utterly ludicrous unless you’re eight years old.

So something don’t add up do it? He’s lost his selling power in the NRL for some reason - my guess is he’s now seen as past it.