Any idea how many players completed the poll?

Around half the players polled replied, I've seen it said.

Who wouldn't want to work for considerably more money and in a country with a better environment?
Having followed this as most of us here have, it seems to have started with Dean Bell's visit over here some months ago. If he suggested to Sam what he could earn with NZW without having made an official offer and Sam's head was turned then there's not too much IL could do about it. Either go along with it and get the maximum compensation (transfer fee) he could or, tell Sam he was going nowhere and have his most highly paid player a disgruntled player on his hands for the next three years.
I do think option 1 is the only one, which leaves us where we are now.
We all know what should be done with marquee player allowance but that had been firmly knocked on the head.
This leaves us wondering who will go next and what to do about it.

Are people surprised that players would want to move to Australia or something? I'm surprised it's not more like 90% + of players asked

Absolutely.

But by the same token IL should have kept his gob shut when signing Sam instead of parading him around like it was the most astute business deal in the world.

He took the glory for the signing, now he must take the flak.

Personally he should have received neither imo.

Why wouldn't they ? All three are the best players in superleague in there current positions, add Steve ward to that list as future England captain.

Just seen it on Oz website Zerotackle Sam has signed for NZ Warriors $750,000 a season good luck to him

This poll wasn't just a simple matter of "would you like to earn more money" and it wasn't just aimed at those players who might actually interest NRL clubs but al of them few of whom actually have a chance of interesting NRl clubs. To me that means the results are more disturbing. Here are some quotes and a linkhttps://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/336690/New-poll-reveals-crisis-in-the-Super-Leaguerl

To me that reads worse than just high profile and the leagues better players thinking about a move to Oz but a lot of far more average players who would not get a game out there simply thinking of quitting the game.

Reading some of the posts on this board won't help lift anybodies spirits....

Depression is something that has to be dealt with throughout society - 34% doesn't surprise me as I'd say around 1/3 staff I've dealt with as a departmental manager in engineering over the past 2 decades have definite signs of depression - and having been made redundant myself 4 times in the last 4 years due to contracts being cancelled early by bean counters at utility co's/councils, it's amazingly easy for anyone to drop into a downward spiral when bills keep coming in.

As for the marketing - I know of one owner who bemoaned in public the fact that he (and others he talked to) could bring in a decent (£3m-£5m) sponsor tomorrow, but if he brings them to his club, he's not allowed to spend the money on players/salaries, and if he hands that sponsor to the RFL, they'll only waste the money propping up clubs that basically find it easier to cry poverty than put their own house in order ........

Non of what you say, on both issues, comes as any surprise.....

Not being funny but there were those of us who could see this happening a mile off.

DeanoG and I posted years ago that the effect of the CC (effectively a year on year pay CUT) coupled with the richer pickings offered elsewhere (contrary to the delusions of RL chairman, the sport does not exist in a bubble) would mean at the very least a "player drain". I remember the posts "Don't worry there will be someone else on the production line", "Don't be daft, not all people are driven by money", "it's only because Wigan are not winning anything" etc etc

I only wish I could feel smug about it.


Now those same people (presumably now accepting they were wrong but obviously not admiting it) lash out at other sports like little children who have been proven wrong. "RU wants to kill the game" LOL

Why on earth would RU want to kill off it's feeder sport? Do you really think it sees RL as a threat thesedays? Rather than kill the chicken, it would much rather keep it alive and eat the best eggs every now and again.

I don't pretend to know all the answers, but I do know one thing. Wigan RL have a fantastic brand, an amazing history and a very loyal and widespread fan base. However, we do not have a god-given right to be at the top of the sport. I remember when years of under investment and average signings led to the fan base drifting away and the club being relegated.

What turned this around? The "gang of 4" and their ambitious plans to sign marquee players, to attract the crowds and put Wigan back on top, i.e. the exact opposite of what seems to be happening at the moment.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Brett, if you look back you will find that i agreed with many of your posts when you were getting criticism with regard to your statements about the CC from others. Not all, but many.

Doesn't look as if anyone has posted this but apologies if so.

From Twitter yesterday@RugbyLeagueNews