Quote: Cruncher "We just need to change this pernicious culture that says players will only prove themselves if they 'do it in the NRL'.
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Staying in SL is no bad option.'"
I agree and I also don't think even with big money on offer every talented players only ambition is to earn big bucks in the NRL. Some will be quite happy to have an SL career but there comes a point where even those that would like to will just have to leave if we are so far behind money wise or forever regret it.
And lets not forget there are some who just might fancy a different lifestyle. It's why Pat Richards came to us and no doubt why he went to Les Cats at the end of his career. Can't blame him for that or others who go for similar reasons regardless of who offers what cash.
That said I have always argued we don't necessarily need to [imatch[/i the cap levels of the NRL or RU to retain the [ibest[/i players. RU and the NRL only tend to come after the best and if we can offer the best big wages then they are going to have to break the bank to get them and upset their own wage structure. The marquee rules will help here.
As to the raise in the salary cap itself, it is a small step in the right direction. To put it in perspective it is what Wigan were paying when the flat rate cap came in years ago. We had contracts worth £2.1m when the £1.8m cap level (of the time) came in and has special dispensation for a season to carry on paying it as contracts were already agreed. It's better but not that brilliant.
As others have said we need more money in the game so wages can be higher. Raising the cap does disadvantage clubs without a rich benefactor if the there is no increase in central funding/TV sponsor money across the board. One possible solution to this is to remove the restrictions on what players can earn outside the sport in terms of sponsorship. Remember in the past we had Paul Sculthorpe as the face of Gillette but there is no incentive for players to do that now if paid. Anything they earn from a sponsorship deal counts on a clubs salary cap. It really is nuts. There is no point in a company asking an RL star to be the face of whatever. Their club can't agree to it. Not only do the players lose out but so does the sport on publicity. It really is the worst aspect of the salary cap rules.