Really bad news.
We had the chance in the early days of SL to reform the game's structures and grow its revenue base to help keep players like Joel in the game (or at least keep them for longer) but vested interests and anti-Wigan hysteria stopped that.
I think it's probably too late now to do anything to save RL as even a respectable minor sport in professional terms. Further marginalisation of our game seems inevitable as it declines to a semi-pro future (at best).
Good luck to Joel. I have no time for RU but at least he will be able to earn the kind of living that a talented athlete should be able to, in a sport which does not begrudge people doing well.