It is worth saying that although people think that the RFL love Wigan, when we got the points deduction, the RFL had to create a new offence, breaking the "Spirit of the cap".

I reckon it shows the RFL's lack of control in running this game of ours. They have a habit of letting things simmer and get worse before they actually do anything.
We have a so called "live salary cap" with regular audits was this properly applied during Barrows 2007 to 2009 season. Even Barrow Fans were questioning how they had such a formidable team under the expenditure controls.
Other examples are London Broncos, Crusaders, Franchise in Cas and Wak grounds.etc.
So who was the whistleblower in Barrows case was it an ex player, because I can't see the RFL letting the situation simmer for 4 seasons.

I think catic had a lot to say in the last few months although I don't know when the rfl investigation began.

Don't be daft. The RFL only investigated because the fans were speculating.
They're off to check out Warrington next. After all, they MUST be cheating the salary cap according to RL fans.

No it doesn't.

No animosity from me towards Wigan or Barrow, but I think it's a valid point above that there is supposed to be a 'live' salary cap yet these offences went undetected for so long - if the fans knew what was going on (ask yourself why Barrow fans were questioning their own ability to stay within the cap?) then why did it take such a period of time for the offences to be punished, particularly as Barrow won the league during the disputed time frame?

As for comparisons to Warrington, I think that's a completely different situation as they aren't paying players to a) drop down a league and b) potentially move to a different area of the country on a £300k salary cap.

Same applies to us Matt , a supposed ' live ' salary cap , and yet it took them 8 months to punish us , this was down purely to Catic's whistle blowing , I'm sure his former team mates will be happy with him , they will have the inland revenue chasing them , while he sits in Oz having still had his money

Is that situation not much different to SL clubs buying top NRL players though? It's also a smaller cap, and an even bigger move.

The cap being 'live' doesn't mean people can't cheat. Look at Melbourne. All it means is clubs can't accidentally go over by miscalculating the books. They actually have to physically cheat the books to avoid notice.

A smaller cap , but still full time , and yes a bigger geographical distance , but once again , still one FT job for another , however FT isn't doable on 300 K , so traveling 2/3 hours to training for part time pay isn't the norm , so when a club has half a team doing it , it's not surprising that fans question it

You will no doubt now try to find some other ambiguous scenario to back up your misguided opinion

They were cheating , we knew they were cheating , the RFL are not completely stupid , but without either physical evidence or a ' whistleblower ' it is very difficult , we agree , but that is their job to regulate these things

Catic in August www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/0 ... -comments/

Catic in August www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/0 ... -comments/

double post

It's not the norm, but it does happen, so it's not exactly a barometer for the RFL to come in and poke around. The RFL need to have trust on that the clubs are behaving honourably. Otherwise people will then complain (no doubt you at the forefront of whingers) that they are being over zealous and should be spending their time doing something else rather than chasing speculation on false pretences.


What would this misguided opinion be? That the RFL shouldn't investigate every fan-based rumour? They need a tip off to see how someone is cheating, not speculation. Not even the mighty NRL could stop Melbourne doing it over a four year period.

Just like the police, the RFL are powerless until they have evidence. But again in typical RL fans fashion, personal opinion has clouded a rational judgement and it is now the RFL's fault that Barrow cheated.

Because when dealing with something like this, and a club deliberately trying to circumvent the cap, it takes time to get the necessary evidence not only to show what you think they have done, but to prove it.

Imagine the outcry, and i expect it would be same minority of moaners who are always moaning, if the RFL 'jumped the gun' and judged and punished Barrow before they had dotted the i's and crossed the t's and Barrow appealed the decision and won on a technicality? It would be a national embarrassment.

So what's the point of harking of the benefits of a 'live' cap if it takes 4 years of offences before a club is made accountable?!

because there are benefits to the live cap, we dont need to hide them under a bushel. But there is not system, rule, or operating system which would stop a concerted and systematic attempt to circumvent the cap, except getting rid of it and looking to a more open and transparent talent spreading system which doesnt rely on financial circumstances which people understandably have a right to keep private.