Butcher
I agree with pretty much everything you've said except the last paragraph.
Maybe we need to do both.
Eamonn's viewpoint is well argued but what the game overall needs is 'box office' appeal and with the greatest will in the world the home grown stars won't bring in the publicity/sponsors/punters that a David Watkins or current Union star would.
My point is highlighted that ,as well as Locke played on Saturday ,the headlines and coverage were disproportionate to the effect he had on the game. I'm not for a minute denigrating his performance but the headlines were tied in to who he was and where he came from. He had a great game but so did a few unsung teammates.
There has to be a place for a marquee signing and,because of the high cost involved,it's best dealt with outside the cap

Like Butcher says above it's OK for McManus not to want change, the sun has shone on him and Saints for many decades with numerous trips to Wembley and the Grand Final. Top quality young players are falling over themselves to sign for them and they have a production line of youngsters waiting in the wings.

McManus isn't stupid and knows that an owner of a club willing to throw mega bucks at a club is a real threat that could impact on their future success.

As I said yesterday the underlying reason for a no vote is based purely on self interests and nothing else.

Funnily, our success in recent years can be described as minimal at best. If young players are signing for us, I'd suggest it's because we offer more kids more opportunities to make it than most others, by investing much of our money into youth (and infrastructure), as opposed signings that potentially would of led to more success.

But of course we can argue all day: does success breed good youth teams or do good youth teams breed success? McManus (and myself) believe the latter before the former - hence the top ratings for Saints academy...

Blimey you want to try following Salford our last major trophy was in 1976. Personally I'd respect McManus more if he said he voted no because it could affect St Helens future success rather than dress it up in another disguise.

I don't understand why a Sneyd Whisperer like you - a man with a direct line into the player's mind - needs to ask such a question, but I'd guess it's because he thought his chances of getting a regular start at Salford next season were limited and he'd be better off elsewhere. He asked for a transfer and Marwan, being the baby eating ogre he is, granted him one.

I thought marwan was ignoring the cap anyway?

You should change your name

Yes,change it to Rolf.

Just a small point, Kallum Watkins lived in Altrincham, and played for Latchford Albion in Warrington.
He was able to sign for Latchford as he didn't live in an area classed as Salford's catchment.

He started playing rugby for Langworthy at under 8 level (or under 12), and later joined Salford as an academy player. Then he got picked up by Leeds.

Kallum played his junior rugby in the same team as Jack Spencer for folly lane, his brother Kash who is now at Swinton was also at Folly. Kallum got moved to Latchford at u16's then got signed by Leeds. He was a ball boy along with Kash at Salford.

Why?

But you could also say that a yes vote was also based on self interest as well.
Remember the the whole idea of the salary cap was to make super league a competition that in theory could be won by any of the teams in it. Apart from the bottom team it has been very equal this year in that from teams 1 to 13 all have on their day been capable of beating any body. If we leave it as it is it will be even better next year with 12 fairly even teams, Bringing in marquee players will destroy what has taken years to evolve as will using devious ways to get round the salary cap. I would be much more likely to travel over to watch Cas away knowing they had an even chance of winning than i would to see an over paid marquee player in a team who had been assembled with scant regard for the cap. I would hope most genuine rugby league fans would wish for the same. As Stevo said on backchat tonight you would have 6 super teams playing each other and the rest would disappear. Seriously is that what you want.