I think I was attempting to give him the benefit of any doubt but you are quite possibly right. I do think however, that the decision to get Tim Sheens on board was a master stroke.

They were unlucky against us and they performed well against Saints and Warrington so something seems to be working well. The very fact that Sheens agreed to go to Salford suggests that your point about not touching them with a 'barge pole' may be overstating things.

I think we all saw 'car crash' when they signed Chase and Hock. Tim Smith and Kevin Locke didn't work out either, despite obvious talent. They did manage to get Michael Dobson though who I rate highly and his partnership with Lui seems to be one of the better in Super League.

I'm old enough to remember fondly the days of Dai Watkins, Keith Fielding et al and I sincerely hope Salford don't implode.

There was a car crash with those two, as well.

Docked 6 points.

rlhttps://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_21728-salford-docked-six-points-for-cap-breach.htmlrl

All a plan to get the Whinos into top 8

Truth in jest?

It's not done their chances any harm.

It's not but they need a serious turnaround in form to capitalise on it.

No one can seriously believe this is for their benefit though, can they?

No.

At one time I used to wonder how it was that Leeds managed to hang onto players like Watkins, Hall and Hardaker given the big money the Aussies were flashing around without being in breach of the cap themselves. But now, having seen how those three perform without Sinfield and Peacock to hold their collective hand, I can understand it - most likely the Aussies never offered them a dime.

I don't like points deductions. It penalises the wrong people - the fans and the current players. It ruins the competition. Salford are guaranteed to be in the bottom 4 now. They might as well concentrate on the cup and wait for the middle 8s.

I hope the RFL are going to be consistent on this matter. Will Leigh, whose Chairman has openly said he will break the cap, be open to the same scrutiny. I suspect not, because Leigh are the RFLs best chance of making the middle 8s work as intended. The Championship is very competitive this year and a points deduction could see them out of the top 4.

Had some fun with their fans on twitter last night. They dont seem to really care much the same as we didnt when we got done. However, as pathetic as it may have been, Wigan did what they did to survive, Salford got bugger all out of their cheating

The politics of envy. We are the most cash strapped sport there is and we penalise a club owner willing to put his money into it.

It does seem odd that the RFL actively courted Koucash, who knew nothing about RL before he took over at Salford. They persuaded him to invest heavily in a club that would have gone into administration. I'm not sure what Koucash has gained here by breaking the cap. They were in the bottom 4 last year anyway. This year they seem to have fewer 'stars' but seem well coached and more competitive.

It might have been better for all concerned if the RFL had just looked the other way.

It would serve the RFL right if Koucash walked away, kept his millions to himself and just concentrated on horse racing. I feel that he is an easy target (that's down to himself partly of course with his ridiculous twitter account) and he and Salford would be better served by keeping his mouth firmly shut.

They can't bring themselves to look the other way. The levelling down of our sport must be pursued at all costs until we have 2 divisions, all at Leigh's level.

It's difficult to see past this ultimately, even if it will be the indirect outcome rather than the intended one.

The truth is that - even though he's a bit of a windbag - we need - people like Koucash, money men who are looking to have fun in the sport. And yet he's surely likely to leave us soon.

It's certainly an odd one, the salary cap. It hasn't prevented clubs going under and has failed to prevent the same leading clubs dominating the game. At the same time, it has contributed to the loss of star players to Australia and RU. And yet the RFL are so dedicated to it that they stick with it through thick and thin - and when did we ever know the RFL be so keen on any big change they made that it lasted more than a few years?

It is because certain club directors ???? will not let the salary cap increase and let the sports do its job.