Another tv deal (champions league) has been done this week with no increase in revenue. its not looking good for a increase in tv rights.

The picture isn't entirely gloomy. You won't hear people that say everything's fine admit there are problems, let alone talk about the biggest issue which is the continuing story of financial underperformance and at times outright bankruptcy of SL clubs, but clearly there are some things that are better in RL now and I'm happy to talk about them. Stadia are much better on the whole, which is at least partly the reason for better attendances at some clubs and Catalans is a hugely significant development for the game.

In terms of the challenges facing professional RL they are however very real and shouldn't be ignored. Here are a few (in no particular order):

1. Low media profile of RL

2. Low media profile of RL players

3. Financial instability/insolvency of RL clubs

4. Poor financial performance and business planning by RL clubs

5. Falling real term wages for RL players

6. Poor international competition.

7. Losing players to other sports (or simply losing them from RL or them not being interested in the first place) because of 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Let's just take point 5 above. At the moment the SC is £1.6m for the first team squad of 25 players with a further £50k for players outside the top 25.

We have our friend from Warrington to thank for clarifying that the cap was reduced to £1.8m (with a dispensation for Wigan for 12 months of up to £2.3m because of existing contracts) with effect from the 2002 season, previously it was I believe a purely turnover based soft cap, but await further clarification from our friend from Warrington if I'm wrong on that

.

Since 2002 therefore the cap has actually reduced in absolute terms by £150k and in real terms has reduced even more than that.

We are told that the salary cap is all that the clubs can safely afford (if this is not true the cap is likely to void as a restraint of trade, so let's assume it is).

That means that the ability of RL clubs to pay player wages has decreased in real terms by over 30% in the last decade.

That literally can't go on. If we really can't raise the cap then the full time professional game has no long term future. It's just basic maths. For some reason none of the SC apologists want to address this.

They probably CBA discussing it with those who refer to them as "apologists" and the like, coupled with nonsense about "communist caps" and how its purpose is to drag Wigan down to everyone else's level (despite Wigan having made losses at the current cap level).

There is a simple truth that cannot be avoided - clubs lose money at the current cap level. Whilst EVERYONE would love RL to have more cash, it doesn't and won't until the international scene is sorted out.

But then the international game is treated with such alarming apathy, it's as if RL fans don't want the game to progress anyway. Those who scream the loudest about wanting the cap to be raised are probably the same people who won't travel 10 miles to watch England play.

If this is true I don't understand why SKY don't show a live Super League match on Friday Night, Saturday Night & Sunday Night every week?

So what you're saying is nothing can be done, so let's drift towards a semi-pro future?

At the end of the day, it's all about money, whether it's because a player has gone to union for a wage hike or because clubs can't afford to keep their stars because they've no youth system or they've paid a bunch of Aussie mercenaries. Then there's the salary cap and all its implications. The RFL fails miserably to market the game so there's little income from big-name sponsors which doesn't help.

I say good luck to Graham. He wants to try his hand at the strongest rugby comp in the world, in either code). Going to the NRL is usually nothing to do with money it's to do with players wanting a change of scene and to try and make it over there. Once you've won the Super League and Challenge Cup, what else is there to do? Our youngsters want to go over there and prove something. Let's face it, the Aussies don't want any or our older players do they? And, we've all seen the improvements in the likes of Ellis and Burgess and how it's helped Morley stay on the top of his game. If only some of our backs would go over there we might actually get somewhere on the international scene, because the coaching at a large number of clubs in SL is just not good enough.

Of course i don't want a drain of all our talent over there but as long as there's a balance kept then i don't really mind. It's up to the super league admin, clubs, players and supporters to all chip in and get us back up competing with Aus and NZ.

That's some pretty bizarre paragraphing but if it makes you feel better, you go for it pal.

Swap Farrell and Morley and that would be right. That was a very good International side in 2004 shame the Aussies where better!

So what are you saying then?

So we come back to the coaching question. I bet if you put Maguire/Brown in charge of that England team or the current one for that matter we'd have a great chance (with a fully fit squad to pick from). If we manage to give the Aussies a game with Stevie Mac in charge I'll go to Twickenham and watch a union game for the full 80 mins!!!

Brian Noble was the best English coach around at the time (2004) and I think we got to the Tri-Nations Final that year and got blown off the park by Australia in the first half. I really dont think any Australian coach could do much more than what Noble did that year with the possible exception of Wayne Bennett. I am sure that was the Final where Paul Sculthorpe played with 40 mins with a back spasm injury.

Steve McNamara should never ever have been anywhere near the England Head Coaching Role. Like you say I believe Michael Maguire, Nathan Brown, Daniel Anderson or numerous other coaches Down Under would have been a far better chioce than McNamara who has achieved nothing in his coaching career apart from dismantling the Bradford Bulls from a play-off side to a mediocre team. And why on earth does the position have to be Full Time???? If your good enough for the job and have the right credentials it shouldnt matter wheather its part time or full time.