We signed two players and Rads came out of retirement (for free). We also didn't smash the salary cap. We only paid out up to the the salary cap.

To do that some players wages were deferred, which is a practice allowed in the NRL and it was only the RFL's reaction to the outcry from Cas and others that assumed we had spent more than the cap that got the RFL to decide it wasn't in the spirit of the cap IMO.

It was basically the same team plus two signings and Rads with his dodgy legs not a massive overhaul of the squad.

Dave

2 pivotal members of the squad were added, best kicker in the leage and the best prop in the world at the time.

We did smash the cap as we had players come in that we couldnt afford.

We off loaded players and deferred wages to other players that year. And we did not smash the cap at all we payed to the maximum with renegotiated wages. The RFL fined us and deducted us points because the said it was not in the spirit of the cap which was the biggest load of rubbish to come from the RFL for years. Others that year broke the cap by small amounts and got away with it.

The only thing we did wrong that year, IMO, was take too much of a gamble. Mo perhaps should have realised that the small-minded barstewards at the RFL would have come after us, especially when it had ensured our survival.

But 'breaking the spirit of the cap' - when payments made overseas, images rights, etc, wasn't!!! - absolutely farcical.

Just reading this article in the Sun and I noticed the only quote I've seen from Noble regarding the current rumours.

"What will be, will be," shrugged the former Great Britain chief yesterday.

Sounds to me as though he's been told he's going.

[urlhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby/2009/09/04/st-helens-star-sean-long-can-t-close-his-eye-after-jaw-operation-115875-21646580/[/url

I can't see him at Celtic, the lack of a squad or money to build one seems an odd challenge for him when the Hull job could be available soon.

The year Fielden & Dobson came in we did not break the salary cap.
The RFL confirmed that we didn't spend over the cap limit and didn't break the salary cap.
Wigan were deducted points for breaking "the spirit" of the salary cap.
Although of course there was no such phrase or sanction in SC rules.
As usual the RFL were making it up as they went along!
Pity they couldn't throw HullFC out of the Cup when they fielded an ineligible player, not once but twice.
The difference was the RFL were scared that if they did HullFC would have taken them to court as there was nothing in the rule books to say they should be thrown out. So the RFL bottled it!
We owe HullFC a debt of gratitude by showing the way to beat the RFL, threaten them with the law when they break their own rules.
Pity DW and Mo didn't threaten them with the courts.

If they did though, they would have ruled that the SC is illegal, which it is, and then RL would be in tatters, as like it or loathe it, without the SC, we would have clubs going out of business on a regular basis, as we simply do not earn enough revenue as a sport.

However that a argument for a different day.

Exactly. It would be ruled illegal, as will Chelseas signing ban in football.

They are both good for there respective sports though dont you think?

Im not a fan of the cap in its current form, however i do believe we need one as a sport, as if we hadnt and dave and mo had ploughed millions in to get the top players in, what would have happend if and when they walked away.

I realise its an immotive subject, but I think a SC is good for Rugby, just think it needs updating is all.

Said before it needs to be 2.5m a year or 50% of last years turn over if the club has not got a 5m turnover. This would also encourage clubs to market themselves better which of course would promote the game more. Thing is the RFL cannot see this same with the Championship it needs a 1.4m cap or 50% of turnover you would then get a better more marketable second tier comp that could have the TV rights sold to Eurosport or ESPN.