If you are a young player who's skills allow you to play two different sports which sport do you choose.
1 The sport that allows you to make an adequate living but puts an artificial ceiling on your earnings.
2 The sport that gives you an higher standard of living and the opportunity to earn possibly 50% more than sport 1.
If you think 1 then you can expect to see even more players joing teams in group 1 and making a name for themselves then moving to group 2.

Also as a commercial sponsor do you look at a sport that can claim we have marquee players or do you say I like the other sport even though their profile won't reflect my investment.

m.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3849 McManus point of view

m.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3849 McManus point of view

And what a load of tripe it is! It isn't compulsory to spend "millions" (really that much?) on a player. Koucash wouldn't be going into debt if he did spend so why not let him? I think we all know the answer, don't we?

And how many overseas players does McManus have in the Saints team.
Three of the teams that vote FOR the marquee signings are the only ones to have won anything at first team or academy level for six years.

This.

This too.

Never mind the pseudo history lesson on the First World War. Wanting to create a new clause by which we can at least hang onto one top player is likened to an arms race that cost the lives of millions?

What kind of f***ing straw-grasping bullsh*t is that!

I disagree. I think he has a couple of very valid points. One of the worst things to happen to RL recently imo is the loss of the U21's. I would rather the money that would be used for a 'marquee' player be spent on producing future talent and giving a route into the first team from U19's rather than lining the pockets of the odd player.

And when we get a great talent we can sell them for a profit to NRL or RU. How are we going to keep players like Sam Tomkins if we can not compete with NRL or Union on wages.

That response from McManus reminds me of the business man who drives a Rolls Royce holidays in the Caribbean and bleats that he can't afford to pay the minimum wage to his employees.

That's why he has the Roller and holidays in the Caribbean.

If this marquee player ever gets through expect him to back investing in Wigan R.L.

His argument was garbage. Koucash's plan if I understand it correctly would allow, say, the Bulls to sell their golden ticket to, say, Koucash for £200k. Bradford gain an unexpected £200k to prop themselves up and Koucash can bring 2 big names into the game. Where exactly is the downside?

Currently: Salford spend to cap, Bradford can't compete with rest of league.

Golden ticket 1: Salford spend to cap, also have 2 star players, Bradford have 200k, still can't compete.

Golden ticket 2: Salford spend to cap, have 1 star player, Bradford don't sell golden ticket in fear of people pulling away, still can't compete.


So Bradford are still in the same boat being uncompetitive no matter what the scenario but they gain 200k and Salford put more on their gate numbers in the best case.