I am not sure its about franchising, but certainly there needs to be an incentive. My slightly controversial view - and this applies across the leagues - is that home produced Academy players in the 1st team squad are not counted on the salary cap and a weighty transfer fee applies if another club come for a a clubs current or ex Academy player.

Take Broncos for example Wigan signed Kai Pearce Paul on the back of his Academy Origin performance for Lancs, and I bet he went for a song. Butler to you guys similar.

Cheers for that, and I'd agree with you that if you find them, then there should be some advantages, or incentive to keep talent at each club. I'm not sure that franchising does help that much, as the standard of SL player has continued to fall in the last 20 years, with and without it.

[iI am not sure its about franchising, but certainly there needs to be an incentive. My slightly controversial view - and this applies across the leagues - is that home produced Academy players in the 1st team squad are not counted on the salary cap and a weighty transfer fee applies if another club come for a a clubs current or ex Academy player.

Take Broncos for example Wigan signed Kai Pearce Paul on the back of his Academy Origin performance for Lancs, and I bet he went for a song. Butler to you guys similar.'"

Has the standard of player fallen, the standard of coaching, or just the way the game has developed in recent years?

Let's face it, the game has become a regimented one in recent times - Individuality is knocked out of young players at the first opportunity. Coaches all play the same, safety first game, all like to spout off about how proud they are when they nil an opponent. Its a results first, entertainment second sport now, as we see by the regular debates on here about how boring we are to watch at times.

So maybe, rather than the players being the problem, we should look at what the sport has become and whether it's actually become too professional for its own good?

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eague-spot

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eague-spot

Yes to those three, but the [iability[/i with ball in hand has dropped the most.

Giving the French a local derby in Toulouse may be a more reasonable way of expanding the game than daft miles across the Atlantic.

Agree, my vote would go to Toulouse

I think Wigan will set it up for Leigh to get in.

But Warrington are another team near Widnes, Leigh, Wigan St. Helens, Salford etc. Do you not like local (ish) derbies ?

I would be happy with Toulouse or Leigh, both have recruited well for next year.