We're also missing an marquee player or two who can put bums on seats. A Barrett, Robinson, Tomkins or anyone else who can lift the crowd. I'm more concerned with the level of mediocrity in SL in general. It's quite worrying when you consider what's going on in the NRL every weekend...

Having sad that, i'm not overly happy with the slow starts and discipline issues which seem to have crept into Wigan's play...

In that case it may be time for a plan B in marketing (even though Wigan do not seem to have one on the field),
They should work out what they think a season ticket should cost and then manipulate the charges as follows.
First two thirds of the season charge 30% less that the seasonal figure arrived at and for the last third of the season (when everyone says is the only time that matters) charge 30% over the average.
This post as been done with tongue firmly in cheek, the only problem is some fans may think it is the way forward.

Whilst I can understand what you are saying the problem is that those marquee players when they were here were taking up over 30% of the salary cap.

Sure, completely understand that, which is why IMO the salary cap has to go up (i'd give London an even higher cap) to make Super League more competitive. Otherwise, all our best talent will continue to leave...

It's the same argument that has gone round and round pretty much since the SL salary cap was introduced. The cap needs to go up to prevent the top stars from leaving to other codes/leagues that can afford to pay higher wages, but not enough (if any) SL teams could afford to pay those wages even if the cap allowed it, and some of the ones that probably could afford a higher cap have said they don't want it to increase anyway.

The SC hasn't really acheived one criteria it was supposed to by spreading the top talent throughout the division, many of the best players from the "lower" teams still end up moving to the "bigger" clubs. But until every club is able to comfortably spend the full SC each year, and still function as a business, is there any viable alternative?

The dilemma really is do we raise the cap to a level that only 3 or 4 teams would be able to afford, leading to a bigger gulf in standards between the top SL teams and the bottom ones, but by doing so allowing those 3 or 4 teams to be able to match offers coming in from Union or the NRL?

You cant favour any team with a higher cap, that would make a complete mockery of promotion and relegation.
But raise the cap all round, to something like infinity for those who can afford it

I'm sure London already have a higher cap related to the vastly higher cost of living down there.

I was just looking at Bowens stats from Friday. www.superleague.co.uk/report/9961 Top metre maker. Lockers and Pettybourne were good, Dudson dreadful. Back to Bowen he's already in the top 10 for tackle busts and clean breaks despite playing less games. Not bad for a crock with dodgy knees. www.superleague.co.uk/stats/player_stats

I was just looking at Bowens stats from Friday. www.superleague.co.uk/report/9961 Top metre maker. Lockers and Pettybourne were good, Dudson dreadful. Back to Bowen he's already in the top 10 for tackle busts and clean breaks despite playing less games. Not bad for a crock with dodgy knees. www.superleague.co.uk/stats/player_stats

How Dudson still gets a spot in the team is beyond me. He surely must have something incriminating on Wane.

Dudson has never kicked on from when we first signed him. He got himself fit so fair play to him but he's never used that as a positive. He doesn't run his weight, his defence is suspect and his discipline is poor. I've been waiting for him to have that moment where the penny drops like it did with somebody like Sam Moa at Hull but it doesn't look like happening.

It's a shame because physically he's got everything he needs.

That would be true if Wane was playing a computer game caled "SL Championship manager" or something where the only person he had to please was himself.

Meanwhile back in the real world sport is supposed to be about entertainment and the fans want entertaining.

The majority of fans don't sit there thinking yet another naff disjointed league performance doesn't matter.

If it[i really[/i doesn't matter the fans will simply stop going and eventually we really won't have a team worth watching.

I completely agree. Never mind 2010, we have gone from double winners to a rebuilding process in an off season. That is just poor. Fans can see this and are frustrated when it manifests itself by poor performances against the liles of London with not that many changes to the team.



Many predicted problems at Warrington as they hung onto players too long. Our problems are because we don't hold onto players long enough and/or manage the departure of key players well enough.