Quote: Dave K. "Again I disagree, the return is really good if you get it right, no coincidence the most successful teams have strong academies.'"
It’s not exactly a coincidence, but it is also not the major causative effect. Wigan and Saints make a big deal about it because it makes them feel better about the success that they buy. See also ‘culture’. Fans of other clubs like it because it gives them hope, however misplaced.
Quote: Dave K. " Definitely don't have to be rich, we certainly haven't been and have invested and finally seeing the benefits. '"
I’m struggling to respond to that, I’ll admit.
Quote: Dave K. " But yes, also think clubs should be doing for the greater good of the game and these new quota rules won't help the game at all.'"
Planning on that basis won’t work though, no matter how well-intentioned. And that’s a real shame for young players more than anybody else. Individual clubs have to understand and pursue their own self interest. They sink if they don’t. That means recognising the areas where they should compete and those where they should act collectively and perhaps not have direct control. However, the interests of the SL clubs are far from perfectly aligned and the current system does benefit some of the richest and most powerful, even if it is to the detriment of the sport overall. That’s not the fault of those wealthier clubs and they do put up with the salary cap, in fairness. It just reflects that SL has a mix of clubs of quite different sizes and available resource.