rubber duckie..... Not entirely correct about the NRL but I get what you're trying to say. This is the structure of their league games
Each team plays each other throughout the season, playing 9 teams twice and the remaining 6 teams just once.
As someone else said comparing Super League to NRL is complete waste of time. In fact comparing Rugby league in the 2 counties is pointless as totally different structures

No it's certainly not working........ It has dragged the quality at the top closer to the bottom rather than the other way around.

I've mentioned this every time in a salary cap post 1.6m from 1996 following inflation is 3.3m today.so we've lost over 1.5m of quality from every team in the league that's huge literally a whole other squad ! I don't think many people comprehend what damage the cap not following inflation has had. That's approx 5.5m ausd so comparative to what they are able to spend a lot closer.

We have a backwards logic that we cannot increase the cap because some clubs may not be able to spent to the cap that is just such a stupid logic and holds us back as a sport.

The cap needs to be a target for clubs to aspire to reach and put in work for too long that have had an easy life with sky basically paying the wages so I do think a lot of clubs have just become lazy in respect to increasing revenue by drawing in new fans rather than squeezing more from the existing ones.

The cap hinders serious investors into the sport, why would I invest in super League over football? Ryan Reynolds has invested in Wrexham he is significantly richer than Simon Moran and his money almost certainly could buy a title in rugby league which is what I want as an investor either financial returns or success preferably both. But he cannot do that in super League can he ?

RR : hey I've just bought Castleford tigers....I want to get them winning the grand final...

Advisor: ok that's great, what do you want me to do ?

RR Well look into rugby find out who are the best clubs why they are the best clubs and where we can get the best players from

Advisor hey Ryan, ok so it looks quite easy, as the players don't really get paid a lot of money compared to footballers, basically there 3 clubs in the league st Helens Wigan and Leeds there used to be another but that's another story they win the league every year and the other cup is mainly them with a few other teams winning it. It looks like they produce the best players and keep those with the other players going to the other clubs or down a league and because they are the only clubs to have won the league most of the best players go to them because they would be most likely to win it Also there is a league in Australia that takes a lot of the best players too as it's seen as the better league to be in.

RR ok this sounds like it will be easy I want to go and get the best players from both leagues in my team, go and see how much money it will cost and I'll write the cheque


Advisor: ahhh no Ryan you cannot do that you are only allowed to spend 2m on players wages a season.

RR what !!! That explains why only a few clubs are winning the league ok as an other plan find me a buyer for the club.

I agree with the view the salary cap as it is now detrimental to the game. However, looking on the bright side for the RFL, the Disciplinary has done an excellent job for them in making it a more balanced league. They've also raised quite a bit of money on the side. Funny what was a 2 match ban for a high tackle a while ago does not even get a mention in the minutes this week.

It's interesting to compare that of Rugby Union, currently £5m, which didn't work out too well for three of their clubs.

Was it the 5m figure or the club spending it and not being able to afford it ? I don't follow it but just because the cap is X amount does not mean you have to spend it.

Were coming of the back of two very impressive and successful world cups with an increase in attendances at most games, good weather and an international test series to look forward to. For us to improve the game and remain competitive given the emergence of tonga Samoa PNG. Part of that has to be to allow clubs to spend money not 5m but all that's happening now is average players are just able to command a higher wage. A 20k a season player in 96 is now getting 40k in 2023 because it's the equivalent to 20k back in 96. But the cap has not gone up anywhere near enough to adjust for this. Rugby league was never a very highly paid sport in comparison to football but unless your s marquee player or one of the top earners they players have never been paid so little in comparison to when the cap was introduced.

Taken from

2. To prevent Clubs trading beyond their means and/or entering into damaging and unsustainable financial arrangements;
Gateshead/Hull FC fiasco, Bradford Bulls

3. To protect the welfare and interests of all Players.
Home grown half decent players earning more than before for sure


I would argue that it has completely failed on point 1 and partially succeeded on 2.