.... and 2 overseas marquee players would cost £350k of the salary cap, or about 20% spent on just 2 players.

Would be 300k as anything over 150k doesn't count, but I get your point.

The only way I'd consider using a marquee player is to either sign a top halfback or replace Ellis.

.... £100k is the club trained limit, £175k for not club trained.

Edit

I'm getting confused now, the salary cap rules say £100K, but I always thought it was £150K for club trained.

And next years rule:

• Each Super League club would be entitled to dispensation for two Marquee Players whose Salary Cap value would be (but for the Regulation) £175k or more.

• The Regulation would distinguish between Marquee Players as follows: (i) Club Trained Marquee Players be deemed to have a Salary Cap Value of £75k; and (ii) all other Marquee Players be deemed to have a Salary Cap Value of £150k.



So Houghton would cost us £75k on the cap next year?

The salary cap element is one thing. Having the money to spend is another.

...I never looked at it that way, but it now makes sense, I didn't realise that £175K was the minimum a player could actually earn before being classed as a marquee, I thought it varied depending on being club trained etc.

Me too, pretty means we won't be using it.

My word, the RrFL just love impenetrably convoluted rules.

If I ever meet Blake Solly, I'm going to talk to him at great length and in painstaking detail about the synoptic problem. That'll show him... Either that or put in into paroxysms of pleasure.

Do any other sports have such complex rules as the salary cap and quota?

I honestly think our sport is a world leader in that department.

The cap must be the ultimate Swiss Army knife rule.

1. Maintain something resembling competitive balance
2. Protect clubs from themselves (i.e. overspending)
3. Not be a barrier to signing players from Union
4. Allow SL clubs to sign the the odd NRL star
5. Reward teams who develop and retain players who are almost, but not quite, good enough for a regular spot in the NRL. If that club is sufficiently well resourced

It sort of falls between stools and doesn't seem to go all that far to achieving any of these goals.

I wouldn't mind betting Williams is on a pretty penny now
Salary cap increased and within a week a new deal

22 year old on over 175k, playing for his home town club and playing in finals every year.

Not too bad is it.

Bet he's on way more than that. Would of had to or he'd have had offers galore paying the big bucks

Why not simplify the rules for the exactly the same effect.

1 Wigan pay whatever they like.
2 The rest can't but if Warrington or Leeds are creative then a blind eye will be turned.

There we are, job done.

I can understand the Warrington reference, but you couldn't be further from the truth with Leeds.