of course it does, there are currently 15 'star' players at leeds (ignoring developed exemptions) 15 at saints, 13 at Wigan, 9 at bradford, 11 at Hull, 14 at wire, 12 at Hudds, thats 89 at just those 7 clubs,

thats a lovely bit of irrelevance.

That simply isnt the case.

Wow, there's quite a range of quality in that group as well. I take it you're going back a few years, throwing in players who had try outs in mid season international knockabouts and from when England was made up of those not good enough be considered for Great Britain? "Stars" indeed. This idea keeps getting worse.

Are you saying that with the points system Leeds would no longer be allowed to field 15 "star players"?

no, not at all, all players have either played a full test for one of the top nations, or represented one of the 2nd tier nations in a World cup

Leeds for instance consists of Webb(NZ), Senior (GB), Hall(GB), Smith(GB), Mcguire(GB), Burrow(GB), Diskin (GB), Sinfield (GB), Eastwood (NZ), Lauitiiti (NZ + Samoa), Buderus (Australia + New South Wales), Peacock (GB), Lueluai (Samoa) Bailey(GB), Jamie Jones Buchanon (GB)

Saints consists of
Wellens (GB), Pryce(GB), Eastmond (GB), Graham(GB), Gardner (GB), Soliola (NZ), Gidley (Australia + NSW) Meli (NZ) Fozzard (GB) Cunningham(GB), Puletua(NZ+Samoa) Wilkin (GB), Roby (GB), Fa'asavalu (GB), Flannery (Queensland)

Warrington consists of

Matt King (aus+NSW) Chris Bridge (GB), Briers (GB + Wales) Myler(GB), Morley(GB), Carvell (GB), Westwood (GB), Anderson (NZ), Anderson (NZ) Solomona (NZ+Samoa) Higham (GB) Clarke(GB), Atkins (GB)

Which of these players are you thinking are only counted because of a mid-season knockabout where the 1st choice didnt get picked?

well they get (and deserve) some exemption for developing their GB players. They would currently have a total of 104 points from a squad of 24, so they would need to drop 4 points and gain a player.

Considering any player the signed would be an minimum of 4 points, they would likely need to drop at the very least 1 of their 6 pointers, and that would be on the basis they also dropped a 4 pointer and promoted 3 youngsters (at 2 points)

I also said you were going back a few years, which you clearly have. When was the last time Briers played for GB? Solomona for New Zealand?

I also thought we were sticking to tier one internationals (Australia, New Zealand and GB -> England) after I pointed out the insanity of including Bob Beswick in your list of star players. You've either got a small group of genuine stars or a large group of massively varying quality, neither is good for your proposal.

I have to admit to being intrigued by your list of stars at Bradford, Hull and Huddersfield.

And?

btw, Briers was included in the British squad for the tri-nations 3 seasons ago, Solomona won the tri nations 4 seasons ago. We are hardly harking back the 50's here

the groups arent that large, and as you can see, there isnt a huge discrepancy in quality. But yes, like all systems ever possibly invented there will be players whose value under a system doesnt match their value to the team, which is why we have coaches and we allow them to build their teams. I would have no sympathy with a team who decided to waste 6 points on Bob Beswick, its not an issue with the system, its just poor recruitment, no club would be forced to sign him



Hudds,
Hodgeson (NSW) Hodgeson (GB) Lohlesi(NZ) Whaturia(NZ),Crabtree(GB), Gilmour(GB) Fa'alogo(NZ), Wild(GB) Faiumu(NZ), Drew(city)(i made an error here, i counted Aspinwall, who was included in the trinations but didnt play, Robinson who only played in a friendly)

Bradford
Reardon(GB),Kearney(county), Orford(City) Lynch(GB) Menzies (Aus + NSW), Langley(GB), Platt(ireland) Sykes(GB)Le'strange(France)

Hull,
Calderwood(GB), Briscoe(GB), Horne(GB), Yeaman(GB),Long(GB), Berrigan (aus +Queensland), O'Meley(aus+NSW), Fitzgibbon (aus+NSW), Lauaki(NZ+Samoa), Manu (tonga) Moa(tonga) Cusack (country)

God you're pushing some boat out there.
Kevin Penny's better than half of them

i wouldnt take Kevin Penny over any of them, who would you take him ahead of?

its good seeing the salary cap start to work in SL

the decline of leeds this year is a very pertinant example and a reflection of the competition developing

its good seeing new clubs at the top of the table

st helens / leeds GFs were getting really boring

So you're saying Leeds would be weaker under this system? That sort of contradicts your long held opinion on excellence doesn't it?

Player's ability changes over time. Just because a player played for GB in 2001 you are saying they are the same as a player who has been a regular international for years. Go back to any point in history simply increases the range of quality of players you have in your 'star' group.



You've opened it up to a huge number of players by including those who played for Wales and Ireland. Making it incredibly difficult for players who have represented these teams (who range in quality massively) to make it in SL.

There is a system that has been invented that closely matches a players value to a team to how much they count under the cap. It's called a salary cap. For instance Solomona will cost less to Warrington than he did to Bradford as a reflection of his loss of form since that tri nations victory.

At 21 years of age and looked way out of his depth for three years i'd still take him over D Hodgson, Gilmour, Wild (shot to pieces), Reardon, Platt, Sykes, Calderwood, Cusack and Lauaki all of which offer absolutely nothing as 'stars' in a team. He's bloody gash but at least K. Penny can do something special once in a while

They would need to lose some of the players they have brought in. I am more than happy for us to improve ourselves and the quality of our league through developing quality young players. It is the sustainable way