Quote: Jukesays "Oh yeah
This hypothetical ones, that I said were hypothetical
Rather than the real ones which % wise pro-rataand factually are absolutely true
Your right, the gang of 4 would have, then had to sell all their assets to pay off huge debts and the tax man (whilst fighting off legal cases for fraud after trying to in effect blackmail the local newspaper! Ah the good old days!).
Or
Pay 90% of our cap to 25% of its players which then left us in the state we were in 2005/2006 etc (and to be honest it happened in 2000 through to 2004 as well we just got awaybwith it better)
Good old Maurice (and Dave, you know, a multi millionaore with far more money that Leneghan, which is what some want at Wigan now, that went well didn't it).'"
This might be the unpopular opinion, but there's option 3 - a chairman that's solely focused on what's best for Wigan RL. I do commend IL for his integrity, but it's not the route I'd take if I was a mega rich owner. That sounds harsh, but that's the truth. I'm a Wigan fan and I'd be spending my money for the good of Wigan 1st. If that clashed with what others want, so be it.
I'm going to use Saints as an example, as we're slightly rocky at the min. If I was the owner of Saints, I'd be peeved off that I've had to kinda dismantle a successful side. One that's been pulled together quite well (even tho it's a pain to say it). They chucked Coote a lifeline of sorts and he's been a great player and club man. They've now got Hull KR doing their normal vulture trick and pinching him. How is that fair? I'd happily break the cap to pay for him because, why should you have to break up something that's working well, or cripple yourself in other areas because you've recruited well?
Like any other walk of life, success brings pay rises - but in RL clubs aren't allowed to reward success fairly. Imagine being in a job where you're settled and successful. One day your boss comes to you and says how much they appreciate you and want you to stay, but the gov has said they aren't allowed to give you a pay increase, because it isn't fair on a competitor. You instead have to move to a less successful company, giving up the benefits that come with working for a bigger organisation and move away from an area you & your family are probably settled in too.
Another example would be KR's recent comments about our young lads being the cornerstone of our pack in years to come. I 100% agree with him & want to see that. That however, shouldn't mean we have to cripple ourselves by not being able to being in more experienced bodies to play alongside them. Why should we, in theory, have to let a Partington leave and go to Salford etc? Why can't we have a decent sized squad? One that's made up of good players and good potential? We could easily rotate the lads over the course of a season, but the cap doesn't let you so that.
If I have one fault with IL (he has many great points too btw), it's there's no appetite to be the best club in the world. He's happy to be part of the pack and part of a system that beings malaise to the whole sport.