The cap does need to have all clubs capable of spending the money at the bottom, and at the top end dispensations for so called marquees clearly destroy the purpose of the cap.

Does the NRL simply run an even cap tightly police??

This thread is hilarious. People claiming it’s not fair that their club can’t spend the cap so the clubs that can should be penalised.

You can’t make it up. As I said, the haves are being penalised because of the have nots.

Just look at the sponsors on our game when Wigan were dominating compared to now. The biggest club in the country is sponsored by a shop for smack heads.

But sure, if it stops Wakefield and Salford going bust, it’s obviously working

That's the big difference. In the NRL you will see players one year playing for one of the top sides in the competition and a year later they are with a side who can't even make the play offs.

Super League has never really had a market where the top players are traded between all clubs.

You don't even see the top teams trade players. The best players tend to sign long term contracts at a club and then they either stay at one club for life or go to the NRL.

You even have players like Bateman and tomkins who went to the NRL and then when they return to SL they ended up back at the same club they left.

We're sponsored by a sports app???

what is hilarious your club never mind your user name, Saints have won for the last 3 years and are favorites for next season yet you still whinging for more spend



without the have not's you as you put it you would have a small league

I do agree that the cap should of been link to inflation though that would of made sense but then we have had the marque introduced and the union dispensation

Offiah is right, imo.

A quick google says the average wage in 2000 was around £18,500 p.a.
Average wage in 2021 is £38,000.

Salary cap should have at least, kept pace with this % rise.

As usual with all things RL, all though not exactly skint, the game is just about ekeing out a living and with a lack of innovative chairmen around, I can't see things improving any time soon.

What "innovation" are you looking for here?

Not to mention that Wigan and Widnes (where Offiah played) took the game and themselves to the brink, something certainly had to change.
However, to have a cap that wasn't increased, at least in line with inflation was crazy, absolutely mad.
Mind you, despite the size of the salary cap, how many clubs are spending the full cap and utilising both Marque spots, which would suggest that it's lack of cash and not the cap that is the problem.

St. Helens could spend the cap ten times over if they were allowed

The Marquee spots are the problem if the problem is the general competetitiveness of the league. Rich clubs can add top players on the basis of them supposedly attracting fans to watch these individuals, seen best when Wally Lewis came over albeit that was before the marquee system. We know results draw fans and crowds certainly go up and down with team performances over a period of time. Players themselves can choose to sign on with a winning club rather that sometimes get more cash from a losing club with ambition. Not so rich owners may not spend up to the cap.

Even beyond this straight "money" isn't the only problem for a competetive league, well paid scouts of top clubs will seek out the best young talent in other clubs areas to get them into their academies. So when Leeds were a top side they looked to Oldham and Salford and picked up two top youngsters who served them well for years.

If the Superleague craves a more "even league" then maybe the long debate over going down to 2x10 clubs was part of that. If the Superleague craves more money then maybe they calculated 2x10 would have provided that.

Well, good for them.
How many other clubs could match them, Warrington ?, there certainly aren't too many more.

The post by vastman explains what is going on here and it's all about the top 4/5 clubs protecting the monetary contribution that they receive from Sky, absolutely rock all to do with competitive leagues or increasing crowds etc.

I know that it's been covered many many times but, where will the game go after we reduce to 10 clubs ?
Will they drop to 8,7,6,5, just where is the limit.

The problem IS lack of cash within the game and going to a 10 club top flight (including 2 French clubs most certainly wont solve the problem, not a chance. Saints, Wire, Wigan and Leeds will still be demanding an ever larger slice of the TV cake to make up for the diminishing crowds.

The issues around repeat fixtures will become ever more prevalent and it wont be long before abandoning the Challenge cup is mooted.