I suppose that's true if you ignore:
a) the salary cap exemptions given to Wigan when the cap was introduced, and
b) the biggest cap breach penalty in SL history, and
c) the fact that Wigan have been quoted as one of the clubs that used the "tax breaks", in fact I think IL admitted as much IIRC (someone on here will recall).

Funny that Dave Whelan is reported to have refused to use such nefarious tax schemes (despite his large usage of other tax 'efficiency' schemes in his various companies), yet Wigan Athletic are one of the football clubs that are being investigated for just such use.

Amusing thread. Typical of the CC debate. Wigan fans raise genuine concerns about the threat to the game as a whole - which is consistent with the way that most Wigan fans have approached salary cap issues since the cap was first proposed, with many, myself included believing at the outset that it was worth trying for the good of RL even if likely not to be in Wigan's short term interest.

Saints fans then attempt to derail the debate and turn it into a discussion about Wigan, recycling many of the old, failed arguments, irrelevancies and urban myths.... the one argument they can't use of course is that Wigan fans wouldn't be opposing the CC if their team was on top. We are back on top and many of us are still against the CC, because we are RL fans first, not blinded by hatred/fear of another club or a parochial my-club-first mentality....

Someone should now lock this thread, because that sums it up perfectly.

The SC exemptions were only given to Wigan because they had to be.
Wigan had players under contract to a value far more than the SC. The SC limit was decided almost overnight. Wigan let the RFL know that if they (Wigan RL) cancelled the player's contracts those players most certainly would sue the club for breech of contract. Equally certain, I believe, the RFL were informed that should that happen Wigan would seek financial redress from the RFL.
As you know the RFL capitualted and Wigan were allowed dispensation.

"The most massive breech" Not sure which case this is. Wigan were deducted points for a massive breech and contested the decision. An independent panel was set up who's decision was that Wigan had not breeched the salary cap nor broken the salary cap rules but had contravened the spirit of the salary cap. They were therefore deducted league points although of course they had not breeched the cap nor broken the SC rules.

The various scams I mentioned were the use of image rights, benefit trusts etc and the then numerous other scams. The HMRC has now set limits on amounts allowed for image rights so all clubs can work on the same basis.

As long as the SC is in force there will be suspicion that winning clubs are breaking the cap when very likely they are not. This is not healthy for the game.
I really do think that after 10 years or so of this SC we do look for an alternative which will be transparent, easily understood and virtually cost free to administer. The Aussies appear ready to do it, so should we.

Try telling that to your players, some of whom epitomised playing the victim card during the GF and at other times during the season, particularly in the case of your ginger scouse Whinger. Secondly tell it to your fans who have been moaning about injuries, your coach and many of your players all season on PlasticScouse.com.

Incidentally the only thing I have against the salary cap is that no fulltime professional player should be expected to put their bodies on the line week in week out to entertain the fans whilst earning less than 25k a year in some cases due to a system which doesn't allow for young players coming through from the under 20's to cover for injuries to have their contracts renegotiated mid season due to the 'spirit of the cap'. Judging by your frequent visits to our forums I'd say the phrase 'all about Wigan' could quite easily be used to describe the reasons for your apparent obsession, bitterness and jealousy. I suggest you spent a bit less time on here and a little bit more time dealing with your issues whilst reflecting on another Grand Final loss.

Can't we get past this Saints/Wigan argument and see who the real enemy is.
We all have to stick together and fight for the good of the game.
I understand the rivalry between our two great clubs but we both have a common enemy(not Wire BTW) and fight for the kids in our game.
Surely we can all do this for the good of the game.

The 20/25 was abolished a few years back wasn't it?

Well yeah, but the RFL don't post on here, AFAIK...

English RL needs Sam Tomkins as he's the best player in the league. Shame he isn't more marketable.

Interesting view. Let's just ignore that he's one of the few British RL players to date - if not the only one - who's featured in a TV advertising campaign.

Clearly someone doesn't agree with you.

Which one?

The one run on Granada for the Wigan v Warrington match last July.

I think what he means is that he is not marketable on a national scale.

Of course he has featured in the clubs TV ad, but that is not the same as advertising products for Nike, Puma, Adidas, Gilette etc.

Thats not the lads fault obviously, more another symptom our sports lack of media coverage.

He is withouth a doubt the best young English player in the game at the momment and it is a shame that your average man on the street will never know who he is because of the sport he plays.

In that respect, I can't think of too many British RL players who've been marketable.

Personally, I thought the OP was having a snide dig at Sam, but if I'm wrong I apologise to him and take the point.