For years, the RFL has been obsessed with prudency. Some might say rightly so, as so many clubs have been to the brink of extinction. In my opinion, that scenario will continue until, at some point, one or more clubs may become extinct.

There have been two major lines of policy. The first has been to control the salary spending of the clubs, while the second has been the aim of increasing participation, the basis of the Sport England funding which was cut back two years ago because the targets had not been achieved.

The two things go hand in hand. I believe that increased participation results from competition at the highest level. As it stands, we can all have a good punt at the top six and the bottom six. That's because the outcomes of many matches are relatively predictable. Imagine if there were 14 (or 12)clubs where the outcome of their matches was not so predictable? Where almost every match in Super League was highly competitive and the winner not decided until late into the match?

Those matches would become very attractive. Not only to the diehard fans, but to many on the fringes. Attendances would boom and the urge to take some part in such a great sport would increase participation. Sport England's support would be assured, but more importantly, turnstile revenue would be assured, providing the funding for the necessary increases to the players funding.

To get there, we need to take bold steps to introduce more funding into the game at the outset, through release of the salary cap and the attraction of more businessmen like Marwan Koukash.

If we don't change, we will continue to limp along the bottom of the sporting pond. It will only be by accepting innovative suggestions that we will learn to swim.

Many years ago I regarded my first love, rugby league, as a professional sport run by amateurs, while rugby union was an amateur (?) sport run by professionals. The only thing that has changed in all that time is that Union players are now openly paid.

Quote: tank123 "This will eventually get through its all just a matter of getting rid of the dead wood. Wakey, London or the Bulls. St Helens must be in one bad financially way if they voted against. SL has been run by the poor clubs for too long. Time for the ones with ambition and backing to take it over.'" As long as this man is on the board at Saints we will have no trouble with money, trust me. www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-0 ... rader.html

Quote: tank123 "This will eventually get through its all just a matter of getting rid of the dead wood. Wakey, London or the Bulls. St Helens must be in one bad financially way if they voted against. SL has been run by the poor clubs for too long. Time for the ones with ambition and backing to take it over.'" As long as this man is on the board at Saints we will have no trouble with money, trust me. www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-0 ... rader.html

Would have thought Catalan would have voted in favour.

Would of thought London would of voted for it, They brought Gower and Sandlow in, they made a massive difference to them
If teams were to get a Marquee signing, big names/ stars, every clubs attendances would go up, so benefiting ALL the clubs, especially the clubs who cannot afford them

Was Craig Gower a marquee signing in the sense of the word though?
Would you be happy if Marwan spent a million quid on a player like that, a 30 something Journey man who was never close to troubling the best player in the world tag. He was most famous for his misdemeanors than his rugby skills.

its clubs signing this type of player for massive money that worries me over the marquee signing rule.

Blake Ferguson is trying to get a deal anywhere now after his indecent assault conviction. should we be targeting players like that as a marquee signing ... no we shouldnt.

Joel Monaghan came over here after his 'episode' and was paid accordingly, only his continued exemplary behaviour and outstanding play has ensured he is now a star of the game and one of our top earners.

To me a Marquee player is a Ben Barba now, a Billy Slater now a Jarryd Hayne now or a Greg Inglis now, not when they are well into their 30's. I just don't see us ever being able to tempt those players away from the NRL.

The NRL have a clear policy of over-turning the AFL as the number one code in Australia and they are doing it on the back of increased TV revenues. we are way behind soccer cricket and union but above Darts we don't stand a chance.

We should concentrate on getting Marquee people to run the game first, and that is not Brian Barwick and certainly not Nigel wood.

I would have thought a Warrington fan would be more than positive about this exemption, particularly after witnessing first hand the Andrew Johns effect had on their club and town. If I remember rightly, didnt they sell out his first game in a Warrington shirt? If they exemption was available, could Simon Moran have afforded to sign Johns for 12/24 months? Of course he could.

I find the whole arguement of Super League clubs failing to attract NRL superstars such as Billy Slater and Cameron Smith as complete rubbish. If the exemption rule is passed and not one player comes over after 5 years, then you can use such an argument but until then you cant say.

I wouldn't class Craig Gower as a marquee signing. The solution, then, is to define what a 'marquee signing' is. You could stipulate that to qualify as one, the player has to have played at least one full international in the past 12 months, for example, or you could be required to demonstrate that the loss of that player to Australia or to union would have a detrimental effect on the sport in the UK.

The reason why Castleford Tigers voted against it rlHERErl

I appreciate the transparency of any club communicating to rugby league supporters.

Well done Cas !

i was not inferring clubs should or would bring in veterans. My intention, was to point out, the difference to clubs of the pluses to team playing performance and increased attendances both home and away. Although in Londons case I don't think it made much difference

rlSuper League club reject Salford owner Marwan Koukash's proposalrl



the surprise is Widnes voting in favour. not surprised with the 3rd world east pennines teams with Leeds the exception.

Widnes have stated they wouldn't look to sign a marquee player for this year, but can see the benefits it would bring the game and competition as a whole. Shame common sense seems to only exist in Lancashire.

I think Furguson might have been on the Docs radar, rightly or wrongly with his previous.

Would be a marquee signing in anyones books if he hadn't got the dubious history he has, the fact that he has converted to Islam I'm sure would have endeared him to the Doc.

That's an interesting train of thought.

Quote: Jibmeister "That's an interesting train of thought.'" In what way? I meant in all seriousness. Didn't the Doc either take or offer to take SBW to his local Mosque when he was courting him during the world cup? I'd imagine that the Doc might work on the angle of continuing to aide his moral and spiritual rehabilitation. Mods forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=565368

Quote: Jibmeister "That's an interesting train of thought.'" In what way? I meant in all seriousness. Didn't the Doc either take or offer to take SBW to his local Mosque when he was courting him during the world cup? I'd imagine that the Doc might work on the angle of continuing to aide his moral and spiritual rehabilitation. Mods forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=565368