What they tune in to watch is a competitive game- regardless of which name is there. What we need are more teams able to be competitive. That won't happen whilst those already competitive have the ability to prevent others from competing with them- which is what Wigan did for years- and are now continuing to try and do. I'm alright Jack mentality. The poster above was spot on with their comment regarding youth. They already cherry pick the best players- this rule just gives them more ability to do it.
What we don't want is the SPL. Because that will lose revenue across the game.

Ten years ago, Wigan could have been relegated... Lets not dwell on the reasons for that being avoided, but they turned it around.... It seems that some clubs just want to make excuses for failure to compete, rather than sorting themselves out and being a success.

Lets have a race to the top, not a race to the bottom!

It seems to me that the divide between the top clubs and the bottom clubs has continued, despite the salary cap. Other than holding back the top clubs, it has done nothing to bring the bottom clubs up to the level of the top clubs, but has brought the top clubs down to the mediocre standard of rugby league we see most weeks.

Clubs are now competing to win Superleague instead of aiming to be the best rugby league club in the world. If the marquee player rule helps to improve the standard of rugby league in our competition then I'm all for it. Competitive games are great but not if the standard of rugby is poor.

Tough shiit. Widnes, Cas and Wakefield's backroom staff need to work harder on their commercials so that if/when they produce the next AF/KC, they have got the £ to keep him.

If another club didn't pick them off, Yawnion would. What's worse?

Simple capitalism yes.

I fail to see how this ruling brings up the standard of rugby league.



They turned it around because they had the history, staff and cash, to (cheat) to do so. If Wigan had been bottom half of the table for the previous 15 seasons and won nothing- do you think their ability to "turn it around" would be the same?
"Failure to compete" is an easy phrase to come up with when you've not had to fight to become competitive for years. How much easier is it for Wigan to secure sponsorship money, Wigan to secure players, wigan to secure the best coaching staff, wigan to secure the best marketing staff, Wigan to secure the best back room staff, Wigan to entice the best youngsters to their club and keep them than those you are accusing of "failing to compete" It's not a level playing field so it's not "failure to compete" it's failure to have the same benefits as others in order to compete!!!
If the RFL had gone ahead with their draft system it may have been different.

What draft system would that be?

Draft system? Are you joking?

That's just an easy option for those clubs that can't be bothered to do anything to just get another free ride.

I do find it amusing and slightly ironic that opposition fans litter this board with comments like 'arrogant' or say that we think we are entitled to success . Then at the same time you get posts like the above stating they should have the same off the field benefits as everyone else!!!! Well guess what you aren't entitled to them . We have invested money and effort to get them and in turn it's brought success.

Why should anyone just be given players or facilites? Why should any club have the right to complain that Wigan is pushing the envelope with top draw facilities for it's staff?

You are so wrong it's laughable. The top teams "preventing others from competing with them"

The crap clubs are preventing themselves. If Uncle Ken put his hand in his pocket and splashed out on Sam Burgess, would you be so sympathetic to the crappy West Yorkshire junk who voted against the Marquee rule? Would you F.

You're talking about losing revenue across the game. What revenue?

The thing is teams had an opportunity to develop under the franchise system and they squandered it!

Ask Catalan or Widnes if the franchise system was a failure. They developed strong sides via the execution of a long term plan.

Some clubs in SL can't even plan from week to week! Instead of looking at internal failures they turn into green eyed monsters who love to point the finger of blame at anyone apart from themselves.

If Widnes can come from the championship and over a short space of time firmly cement themselves in the league what does that say of those who have wasted 10 years in the top flight? If a side like Catalan can establish themselves when facing all the obstacles in the world what does that say about teams like Wakey?

The current system only serves to stop the big sides rightly pushing ahead. The only benefit it provides is to mask over the inadequacies of those running the sides who simply don't want to do anything. ATEOTD why would they? Everything is given to them on a plate.

Diddums.

Whilst you are espousing 'simple capitalism', you do realise that without checks and balances (like a salary cap) such a system leads to monopoly don't you? I say again-

Would you be happy playing a round robin against Saints and Leeds ad infinitum?

Even that bastion of traditional capitalism the Premier League tried to have a geographical ban on recruiting youngsters so that a club could only recruit within a 25 mile radius. Even they realised the inherent unfairness of allowance the Man Utds and Chelsea's to do as they please.

It may well lead to a monopoly where only a handful of clubs win the top prize. Oh, wait a minute..!

I haven't advocated removal of checks and balances such as the salary cap, so I'm not sure why you've directed that question at me. Your scenario of round robin games with only Saints and Leeds is pretty much irrelevant to the discussion of the marquee player rule.

Interesting to note that Nigel Wood was thrilled the rule got passed and the RFL have wanted it implemented for some time!

You're talking as if being a "big club" is a permanent thing. Little clubs can become big, and vice versa, given the right situation, it's by no means a closed shop - just look at league tables over, say, 10 year gaps, to see once small clubs like wire and hudds becoming big and once big clubs like Bradford collapsing.

I think that's a very good point. And little clubs can only become big clubs if they still exist. Therefore a case against the free market!!!