I see wire have signed blake austin on a reported £300k+ a year. saints have barba as a marquee player, wigan have 2 in tomkins and williams, leeds are an undoubted financial powerhouse (although uncle gary seems more intent on spending on the stadium than players but I expect that to change) but can we compete?

The lack of our own stadium and the lack of ability for us to generate much non match day and match day income leaves us behind clubs like saints, leeds and wire financially so what do we do? If we're run as a club who need to break even at worst then how do we generate enough to compete for top players or do we just accept we can't? For me, I would love to see a real star of the game in the B&W but I don't want to see the club at risk so unless things change with ownership of the stadium or the club I can't see it happening

It helps that Warringtons owner is worth £155 million

I would say the likes of Sneyd (who we paid a big fee for), Kelly (who was free ), Connor and Taylor are top end Super League players.
Wire are not a huge club, but they have a rich owner who backs them with cash. Not been able to buy a title yet though.
Leeds are a powerhouse, mainly due to a golden generation who decided to stick together rather than earn more money elsewhere.
Ownership of your own stadium can generate money, but can also be a drain on resources.
I think Pearsons model is to have a club that finances itself. In order to do the that we have to continue to be successful, so it’s in Pearsons interest to keep investing in the playing side.

As I said before, it's a big risk for AP to pay a big salary for a marquee player when there's no guarantee of you getting that money back, look at what happened with Warrington in 2005, they paid Johns and absolute shed load of money - reportedly £40k PER GAME, and we destroyed them in the play-offs and they won sod all. Yeah they might have put a few thou on the gate but even gross that was nowhere covering his fee.

Would we have taken Pritchard having to pay his full salary, no chance. Even despite the doggies paying a massive chunk of it the club only just broke even for the 2016 season despite winning at Wembley (Radford's own words early 2017 when asked about finances in interview for HDM).

I don't know the full ins and out of the costs for the KCOM but whilst owning your own ground is great in theory there is no way we had any alternate but to do a ground share. There was protection in the terms for the club from what I remember but absolutely it restricts income streams greatly, what the difference in income could be when you take into account paying interest on a huge loan to build a stadium plus all the annual costs if all up to the club would be difficult to work out because we certainly wouldn't be in a ground anything like the KCOM if we had gone it alone. I have no idea if it was even feasible to redevelop the Boulevard which given the numbers that drive to home games would have been a non starter in that respect.

AP is a businessman, he bought the club (using his and others money) to make money so the financial decisions/risks he makes are not the same as the likes of Ken Davey who is a benefactor and is obviously prepared to lose a heck of a lot of money every year.

Maybe we need the Allams to buy Pearson out if we are to have the clout to get some big names

Austin is an awesome signing
He’s a match winner in SL that’s for sure

Knockers Bump wrote

Maybe we need the Allams to buy Pearson out if we are to have the clout to get some big names



I actually laughed at something you wrote. Can you imagine the result of this happening. There'd be rioting in the streets!!
(I know you were tongue in cheek by the way)

There is no guarantee that a marquee signing improves the side. Williams has been a shadow of what he was a couple of years ago since he has become Wigan's marquee signing (although that may be due to him not having a proper 7 next to him)

Tyrone Roberts marquee status has back-fired as he wants to go and they don't look title material this year.

It's a hard one to judge

Although I agree Pearson bought the club to make some money, i think this has changed now and he is a genuine fan.

I think if the right player became available he will put the money in.

One good thing from the Hudds game is that it looks like we are now looking to recruit a player or two.

I haven't listened to the Radio Humberside interview yet, but he did mention Josh Jones, hopefully we will sign him.

In an ideal world I release Talanoa and Paea and bring a a young winger and a top NRL prop.

Sounded like the Josh Jones one could be for next year. With Talanoa, Paea, Mini and Manu all off contract, I think we need to be looking at some NZ, South Sea Islanders to refresh the side, but I think Jones will be here in 2020

Leeds have signed Tuimoala Lolohea for 2019–21.



He's been pretty poor in the games I've seen him play - I suspect his wanting to go might have come of something of a relief to them, if those games reflect his overall form.

Well that will be a rollercoaster.

Do you mean 2019 and not 2020

Got to pick you up on a couple of things here. I'll use Leeds as an example.

The lack of our own Stadium - largely irrelevant to be honest. The maintenance cost / replacement cost alone make this more of a burden then a real asset.

Leeds Rhinos do not own Headingley and share it with the RU club. Its owned by YCCC.

Match day income usually correlated with bums on seats. Sadly, I am not sure what the missing FC fans want after 2 wembley wins, there are still around 2000 missing home fans from around 2010 / 2011 - when were were really poor and the recession had bitten hard.


Leeds have 4 large rooms which they use for corproate guests for meals / drinks pre & post game. Each of these room has approx 150-200 guests in. Work on the basis of £100 income per head (concervative est having seen personally how much some will then plough behind the bar / raffles / draws etc). There is an additional £60k per game.


Leeds also have a significant sponsor in the Leeds Building Society as well as a wealthy owner.


Given our merchanide sales are what they are, I am supprised you think we lack in non matchday income. So good are Hull at Generating sales of this nature, Leeds actually head hunter their commercial retain manager a few years ago (not sure if he is still there?)



Large profile sponsor, more corporate tables and more fans coming back throught the turnstyles.
Thats the answer.

I thought Caddick owned Leeds stadium, no way would YCCC be in a position to redevelop the rugby ground?

Caddick sold the cricket stadium to Yorkshire CCC in 2005.