Now before i start off yes i'm a Wigan fan and no it's not about Sam going to Aus i'm quite happy he's going over to test himself against the best in the world and imo he's one of them

The state of the game over here is in a mess lets face it the big wigs at the rfl are sat on their backsides coming up with stupid and none workable ides they are creating more of a problem

The game on Thursday was the final straw for me a play off quater final and you get a scoreline like that is beyond a joke i really felt for the hull fc fans they get behind their team in good numbers but then having to go over to hudd and watch that is unacceptable for me they should give the fans who went a full refund.

Now lets look at who has won silverware over the last few seasons Wigan,Leeds and Wire and what is it about these teams well they all have good English lads Wigan and Leeds brought most through academy Wire brought a few through but have bought in as well does that not tell other teams a few things?

Well no it doesn't cause they don't see the bigger picture it's about the long run not buying aussie players who just want a pay packet and a holiday Saints are a good example this season started off gash then they get hit with injuries send the young lads in who give a **** and their season turns round it's not a coincidence they care they have been watching their team from being a young lad and give 100% week in week out, Salford have chucked money at old players who are past it cause the Dr thinks he's going bring silverware next season they will be lucky to make the play offs next season it doesn't work.

Now it's come to aussie clubs chucking money at our good young lads and we can't compete cause our game is not developing why don't clubs not just say right lets have a season or 2 bringing young lads through and work on their youth? Results will not be pretty but it will pay off in the long run these lads care they will give 100% week in week out

On a final note we can't even get a sponsor for the world cup says it all really, i know this post is a bit all over the show but just wanted to get a few points across

All we have to do is keep the cap as low as possible until Wakefield and Cas 'catch up' and then we'll have a world-class competition. A flawless argument I'm sure you'll agree. Like, why build a big airport until every town has at least a little one?

Seriously, there's a proper solution to the dual problems of not retaining stars nor bringing through enough talent ( and by the way, the two problems are related - because as long as RL is seen as a second-rate sport in terms of earning *potential*, you don't get a big enough talent pool to start with)

The solution is to have either a) no cap, b) a very big one, or c) one linked to income (which can include investment income) alongside - and this is the important bit - incredibly tight squad limits. So instead of say the 20/20 rule ( only 20 players on more than 20 grand ), you have something like a 10/50 rule ( 10 players only on more than 50 grand - but you can pay those 10 whatever you can afford ).

It lets the clubs with money *use it* to bring top names to the UK, and put bums on seats, and sponsors on shirts .... *but* .... prevents any club stuffing the bench and reserves with the best players (who ought to be playing elsewhere), and offers rewards for clubs with less money that take the strategy of focusing on youth to ensure they have the best extended squad outside the 10.

Before any of that, we need to clear out the clowns at the RFL, and the big clubs need to get together and demand a structural change that stops little clubs determining the future of the sport. You're little for a reason. You don't know how to succeed. That's why you should be grateful to go along with whatever the big clubs come up with, rather than sticking your oar in.

The fault lies solely at Hull FC players door. Hull's previous two games against Hudds had them losing by a margin of 14 points and 6 points. Totally feasible then that if Hull had shown up they could have beaten Hudds.



It's also about having money and generating revenue. Historically clubs have been spending their money on short termism. The licence system was suppose to encourage clubs to build strong foundations. Since licencing has come in Saints and Salford have built new grounds, which will generate revenue for decades to come, without having to compromise to landlords/other tenants. Warrington have managed to become so successful as they had the money to buy great players of other teams - something helped by increasing their income generation through their own stadium



Salford have had to sell off all their good players to stay alive last season. They are now in a period of rebuilding, and to do that you need a mix of experience and youth. Salford seem to be getting this right, and to say some of them are past it is just looking at their age, not their ability.



We can't compete because we are not the Nr.1 or 2 sport in the UK and haven't signed a $1bn tv contract. Who's fault is that? The RFL can only do so much, like stage a World Cup, and hope the fans get behind it - this is the only way the game will grow in the UK. I assume you are going to a few games for the world cup and doing your bit?



We have lots of sponsors for the World Cup. If you are talking about a title sponsor, we should go for the same ones as the RUWC, Football WC or Olympics - remind who the title sponsors of those were?

They have.

What about encouraging clubs to use the youth something along the lines of you will get x amount of ££ if you play x amount of players who have come through your youth system?

Another one is your cap will be upped if x amount of your squad has come through your youth system but again that benefits the big clubs

The op is more full of holes than Swiss cheese!

It does all come down to the rfl at the end of the day take the 'magic' weekend there was talks of it going over to Ireland what is that all about?

We struggle to get crowds for it over here what will that achieve? Taking games abroad will do nothing for us

The rfl have chucked money after money at London and what has that achieved? Nothing is the answer because it's all football down there the Broncos are a laughing stock rugby is a northen sport lets face it i'd sooner have a team from Cumbria in than them they would get better crowds on

Yes i will be going to a few games

off a season ticket if you buy 1. When i read the statement from the chairmen i thought well fair enough but then i read that cheeky clause.

Whether you are advocate of licensing or not, one of the benefits of the system was creating a safety net from relegation that would stop the short term fixes of Australian imports and allow clubs to invest in talent development programmes with a long term view

Some teams (e.g Leeds and Wigan plus others) have invested in youth development and others less so. The original posters’ point that Warrington, Leeds and Wigan have brought players through their academy and realised success must surely vindicate the RFL policy here. They have been able to do this because of the system they operate in not in spite of it

There is no grounds for blaming the Hull FC play-off performance with the RFL or the play-off system itself. The blame for that performance lies firmly with the team and the coach (and as the coach is easier to replace than the entire team, it would seem the coach has taken the blame today)

You answered your own question. "TALKS" i.e. is it feasible. I applaud them for questioning it, then deciding not to press ahead. Would you rather they didn't explore other avenues and maintain the status quo, or would your rather they looked at different possibilities then eliminated the ones that weren't feasible. I know which one I would rather they do


Struggling to see what games where taken abroad.




How much - please can you provide links/a breakdown? Whenever I have looked at the RFL's financial accounts there doesn't seem to be much money flowing down to the Broncos

You're on a wind up aren't you

Pre-2010: Super League is crap - players aren't good enough to play in the NRL

2013 : Super League is crap - too many players are going to NRL.

WTF ????????????????????????????

I agree something needs to be done about the salary cap, even compared to 7 years ago its depreciated by 500,000 so it's no wonder teams are struggling with the cap.

I don't think it's so simple as simple raising it massively and or getting rid all together, I agree with the concept of a salary cap, but it needs to be competitive with other rugby areas (ru and Nrl) and I think this can be done in the medium to long term if there is a willing amount of people to invest.

The problem is in the current climate more and more teams are struggling financially (Bradford Wakefield London (perpetually) etc etc) so convincing people that clubs should be spending more is difficult. The last thing the sport needs is too many clubs over reaching and overspending (remember Wigan in the late 90s ... And not many teams have a Central Park to sell off to save them now)

There should be at least 10 teams running to the cap next year, which should be enough to be looking to raise it. I would reset the cap at the 1.8m but with an ongoing increase year on year with inflation, so the effective cap also remains. This should be manageable for all but the worst off clubs and should allow progress to be made (or at least cease decline). Then with the view to increase the cap on top of inflation by roughly 200,000 - 250,000 every 3 - 5 years with a review. Having it set out of up of set every x years gives clubs time to prepare their finances for the upcoming increase and makes it more transparent, rather than having to guess year on year are they gonna raise it? Drop it? Etc

I would also like a view to have a similar style marquee off cap player similar to the Aussies - Wigan got exemptions when tomkins resigned (not something I necessarily agreed with purely as it should of been for everyone or no one - just for Wigan made it frustrating) - but again there needs to be some sort of way to control and ensure its not endangering clubs - say an extra 50,000 per million in club revenue off the cap?

As for running the rfl it's a difficult one. The first thing that needs to be done is the rfl needs to take control of Barla - we are creating a lot of good youngsters at the moment but we are losing a whole host more because of fighting between the two governing bodies (at least in my experience).

Advertising isn't easy either, between other sports taking the majority of the tv money - and the view of rl as the "working mans" game (which limits the marketing potential) and there is no easy fix for this - working with the Aussies to help build the global rep of the sport I think will be key, so working with them might be the best way to go - a 6 team (top 3 from superleague and Nrl) world club challenge in Asia or America - it's a much more long term goal for raising profile but there aren't many options for competing with football in Britain at the moment.

Just my opinion

I fully agree in giving the young lads a go. The problem is when they do start to play well at smaller clubs, they catch the eyes of the big clubs, the agents are touting them all over the league with promises of streets paved with gold and the next thing you know they're gone. It all comes down to money, again, as always.

The game in the UK is stronger than it's ever been in its history. Our economy is a lot weaker than its been for a LONG time. Australia's economy is very strong.