Do you think this will help Salford or just make the bigger clubs more difficult to beat?

It will help us and will give the Doc a shot in the arm. (if he was getting disenchanted with life at the reds)

We are in a privileged position in the fact we can take advantage of this, Unlike yesteryear when we would be looking through the window watching the bigger boys playing with a new toy.

I would like to know just who qualifies as a marquee player ? I can't think of anybody playing in this country who would, except maybe Sam Tomkins.

The Marquee player will obviously be the player who is earning the most money at that particular club.

Thinking about it, how does the home grown work (if indeed that's still in existence?) I seem to remember if a home grown player has a certain amounts of England/GB caps then they get a certain amount of their wages off the cap. For example, Wigan could have Sam Tomkins exempt due to the home grown rule, Sean O'Loughlin would also have some kind of exemption and then on top of that they would have their marquee player.

Or am I getting this totally wrong?

Kevin Locke ?

There are exemptions like that. This is why Catalans are generally allowed to spend more than any other club, should they wish.

However, it was reported last week that the marquee player may work like this

I imagine the likes of Sutcliffe at Leeds, who may get £250k+ thrown at him from Union or down under in the next year or two. This is what made me think why Hetherington got onboard with the idea.

Yes. It's not just about bringing great players in. It is also about keeping the best players from going to the NRL or, even worse, to that other game.

Anyone could. You could make Ryan Bailey your marquee player and pay him £1m per season if you chose to. There are no criteria on how it's used.

On your Tomkins point, I'd have Hardaker and Ratchford at his level now.

From what I've been told at least 1 (more likely to be 2) of our current "star" players will be playing in the NRL next season. One of them he have ample back up for, the other we certainly don't!!! I'm not naming names but I think most of you will be able to work out who I'm talking about.

I heard the same rumour last week but wasn't it quashed in yesterday's MEN article?

Didn't see the article mate... I'll have a look now...

I don't understand some salford fans I really don't!! I don't know if it's the lack of none of them play the sport an just shout from a stand or that they don't see that the team we have now well the majority of them are garbage I feel for the poor doc an I hope he goes out an buys a star player we don't need a full back we need the centre an forwards for next year!! I say we buy a star second row/loose an then the squad an a few more key signings will be fine

Good news as far as Salford is concerned, as long as they can make room for £175k off the current cap – substance for the Locke out rumours, perhaps?

However, I not sure this is going to do much to halt the so-called talent drain. What are we talking? Six marquee players max? And one of those we already know about. This is marquee lite, and benefits the richer clubs a lot more.