Playing numbers are up. Isn't that growth?

The financial mismanagement of the game in the UK is appalling. You're right that zero growth has been accepted as the norm. It's worse than zero growth though, because inflation erodes the SC over 10 years very significantly in real terms.

No one wants to address this issue though. I await the usual abuse from W/L Andy for daring to mention this...

It is, and the fact that the amateur game is doing well shows what a great sport RL is and how badly the professional game is being run.

my thoughts exactly.

One of the main issues is that there is no international governing body, e.g fifa
(please correct me if im wrong)
I think there is an international federation but they do not have any say in the way the games a governed. This means that the rugby league over here and in Australia could be going in two completely different directions. with neither one willing to look at the other and accept best practice.

Not sure how in demand Puletua was back in Aus, but, the new cap over there hasnt taken him back to the NRL, having just signed a new deal at saints

It only comes in to effect in 2013

Don't ask Deano G, only a month ago he didn't realise rugby league clubs generally lose money year on year.

Don't disagree with you, there probably aren't many clubs that could at the moment. The problem is though that we've had about a decade at the current level and if we genuinely can't raise it then that shows that clubs are actually going backwards - wages inflation will have knocked at least 20-25% off the value of the cap since it was brought in. There needs to be some plan as to how we can reverse this trend or else we need to accept that sooner or later the game will be semi-pro.

What's weird is that crowds have gone up at the majority of clubs and yet most clubs appear to still be losing money/barely breaking even, despite the cap reducing in real terms. I suspect some of the modern stadia have proved more expensive than people hoped (and I don't think Wigan have a great deal re the DW) but it is a pretty daming indictment of RL's financial management.

When did I say that? Or are you a mind reader?

I recall last time these pathetic allegations were made because you didn't want to answer the point about inflation eroding the cap.

Why dont you think we have a great deal at the DW?

Since using players to advertise or brand them on products counts towards the salary cap. I reckon a good way to increase income would be for brands to pay the clubs in general and then its up to them how to use their players in adertising, e.g billboards or on products. Especially for the international game because is it only our sport that international players get next to nothing extra.

The initial principle of the cap around spending a % of turnover was the best way for me, as it rewards ambition.

There's already some leeway in the NRL for sponsorship as well and it is something that needs to be looked at.

Even if I'm being generous our TV deals are worth about £20m a year. The new NRL deal will be worth £132m a year. We have to accept there's no way we can compete with that kind of financial power, but at the same time hopefully the top clubs will now have the impetus to force through some changes.

Our league will be confirmed a second rate then, with our best players likely offered better deals in the NRL, journeymen will still come over from Australia, but the days of attracting the NRL stars are now over. How anyone can consider this good news for SL is beyond me, but as said above theres no way we can compete with the NRL, so we better get used to it.

Cant go to the fans forum tonight but this would be a good topic to ask IL, and the implications he think it will have on WRLFC