Finfin
The comments you make could also apply to football

I'm not talking about him being in charge at club level though. Just think he'd be actively doing his very best to help clubs stop talent leaving for RU if he was in charge. Lewis and Butterball are probably to busy back slapping and fiddling their expense accounts at the minute rather than trying to help Wigan keep Joel.

Im not buying into the salary cap has ruined rugby 100% but i think it should of been regulated better. Expanding the cap is not the answer when all clubs are spending so much of their existing cap on overseas signings. Super League is flooded with Aussies and Kiwis, IMO when you go to watch a game there is no reason for there to be more than 8 overseas players on the pitch, 4 from each side. The % of the cap that would free up would be frightening especially at a club like Wigan. Carmont Richards Finch Tommy Lima Hoffman and Amos Roberts this year must of taken not far from 40% of our cap space up if not more. The money is there to give these english lads a better wage from a younger age. Lets look what we can do closer to home before we jump on the its ALL the RFLs fault.

good post.

dont see many players leaving football because they can get more money in some other sport.

As others have said, I wouldn't blame him for going for the money and the fame, had he not stated his intention to keep playing for Wigan and not go to union. To come out with that b******s and then leave after signing a long term deal definitely tarnishes my opinion of him. Of course he isn't the first and he won't be the last to do the same. Surely now Sam will follow him, I can see this becoming the norm once a few more young players go; start your career off in league where a team pays thousands towards your development, then get noticed by a union club who'll throw money at your league club to buy you, knowing full well that the league club can't utilise that money because of the salary cap. A transfer fee is of little use if you can't pay a player appropriate wages. We are at a stage where we COULD see our best English players playing a different sport, how ridiculous is that? Something needs to change, clubs need to be rewarded for bringing through young players, if you want less overseas players then make it easier for clubs to keep young English players.

That doesn't make any sense. If we had UK players in place of the overseas players you mention Joel would probably be on the exact same contract he is on now.

The £1.6m part of the salary cap gets divided by 25 players and can't be spread any further than those 25 so it doesn't really make any odds where they come from.

It is certainly true though that the money isn't there to make it a simple matter that raising the cap would solve everything though some sort of central fund for England players ought to he affordable.

Where the RFL is at fault is it's neglect of the International game in favour of projects like Millenium Magic. In the 80's and early 90's before SL the International game would get £65K on at Wembley and pack out grounds like Elland Road. Tours by the Aussies were big events and the club games against the touring sides got huge crowds and were epic games. All this has gone and the buck stops at the top.

In Rugby League, the tail constantly wags the dog.
As long as it doesn't affect the likes of Castleford & Wakefield (they will never lose their homegrown 'star players' to other sports and will carry on signing the dregs of Wigan's/Saints Academy) then why should things change?

God there's never a dull moment being a Wigan fan. There's always something bubbling under the surface, and it's usually impending doom.

You honestly think that oen of the countries brighest stars would leave because his little brother got booed? Give over, at least he will be allowed to dive on people when they are lay on the floor.

what is the RU salary cap these days?