rlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7932382.stmrl


Thoughts?

I can see the sense in it; it’s hardly worth a player coming over here to earn a few dollars for a year or two then returns home. It isn't exactly fair on the Super league's young talent and the competition as a whole, no wonder it's devalued compared to the NRL if players just come over for a rich holiday stay.

the other side of the coin is that its the experienced players like johns, menzies, alfie etc who british kids can learn most off

i know a couple of my mates were in academy at time of johns' stint and it certainly excited them

A very good point, it terms of guidance and experience they can pass on a healthy amount of knowledge on to number of the younger players in the squad. Which can only make them better players...

It's a bit similar to a player leaving Super League at the peak of his career to take Rugby Union's dollars - then when he's past it returning to Super League to bump up his pension

Itll never happen.

1. Big names despite age put bums on seats.

2. A little thing called 'ageism' will be thrown into the mix.

Two words:

Employment
Law

Crackpot idea. The RFL have already implemented a set of rules which aims to have the no. of overseas players restricted to 5 by 2011 in a such a way as to not fall foul of Employment Law. Also, they will need to have a at least 8 players brought through their own Academy.

So, by then, clubs will realise they need to be careful who they use those 5 spots on. If a player can make a positive contribution to his club and the competition as a whole, I don't care how old he is. Plenty of 30 plusses currently in SL doing a decent job.

We need more of the likes of King, Monaghan and Sullivan who come over here in their prime and less of the likes of Hicks, Nat Wood and Langer who come over here to top up their pensions.

Or joey johns.

I had a thought on this business re the import quota. Hows about each time a club signs an overseas player, their salary cap is reduced by whatever, sign another and its reduced further etc. This would encourage clubs only to sign the best, or none at all, and therefore bring on our youngsters instead of losing them to wherever they go.

THE HOOF

Not bad. 6/10. Certainly going in the right direction after a period of poor form.

I'm sure he means well by it, but it's a silly idea. Gidley is 31 going on 32? One of the best centres in Super league and who ever plays with him will have learnt alot. Might not like it but some of these 'ageing aussies topping up their pension' do help the game in this country. Some don't however.

hicks wood and langer have done more in one game for us than king and monaghan have done all last season

?

Don't forget it took rauhihi two and a half seasons to have a decent game.