This has been a problem for too long now though, especially when you hear JR saying we are at full cap then you look at other squads in SL and see the difference in the fact they have class in key areas and altogther more balanced teams. In fairness the club I seem to remember last season looked at addressing this even though we still ended up resigning Dowes & Radford.

Yep....Houghton was on peanuts last season, less than most labourers, his contract has improved but not great.

I think the issue is that we [ieventually[/i look after them, but we don't seem to really value "local" players coming through.

Performance related contracts, the way forward.

Heard this a week or two ago, apparently Fitz has been throwing his name about and trying to get a club for him.... I wouldn't be surprised by this and I think it would be a big loss as you can see his enthusiasm and love for the club the way he celebrates wins and takes the time to come right up to every section of the crowd and applaud the fans, that sort of pride and passion in the shirt is what's needed. The signing of heremaia seems to make more sense if this is true.

I agree...

Our h/backs are in the highest paid at the club yet I doubt we can count on two hands how many games they have played together in 2 seasons, and even when they do play they are average/good, but far from top earners...Yet we flog a hooker to death and pay him peanuts....

Totally agree with that.

Hmm, I thought if you got stretched off you could not play the next game?

You really cannot blame him for looking at other clubs. He always gives 100%, you only have to watch him when we get a penalty he is usually the first to pick up the ball looking for the quick tap and an easy 10/20 metres when the rest of the team are having a bit of a breather.
The sad thing is that our promising players need to be looking elsewhere to improve themselves and win honours.

What would he expect? A wage like Robys?

His worth is what clubs will pay, he agreed the deal.

In the age of salary caps decisions have to be made, they won't please everyone.

We cannot afford precautions like that (sarcasm mode on) the only other hooker we have is playing h/back role....

Mind you I remember only a few seasons ago we had more hookers than Porter Street

He is indeed worth what clubs will pay, and I have no doubts he will get a few lot better offers than FC are paying....We like to spend our money on people like Longy! who was a gamble, one which did not work,also why would we play a young talentedlocal hooker when we can import some-one like Berro who no way warranted his pay!

The last few years have proven we get it wrong.

The Long and Berrigan instances are in hindsite.

Houghton agreed a deal till the end of 2012 if he thought he was worth more he should have signed for a club who would have paid more.

I'm guessing the offers wouldn't have been substantially bigger as it was negotiated a year ago not last week.

I'd say that they use loyalty and reputation to keep wages down,

The fact that the wigans, wires, leeds and saints of the league do underpay youngsters means that they can pay for the best overseas players, surely,

but underpayment is all relative anyway...

The problem we have is we never learnt from hindsight...take Dykes outstanding player yet injury prone and we knew this before signing and we paid the price....
At what point are we going to start seriously investing in our youth, take Tompkins got a 5 yr deal and no doubt a good whack, and Shenton, I could go on...

Briscoe got a five year deal, Lyne and Jack Briscoe got 3 and 4 year deals.

O'meley was a injury risk, Fitzgibbon was a old player.

We've also invested in players like Nicklas, Green, Cunningham, Crooks all young, unproven players on two year deals.

The young players we've let go were deemed not good enough.