Former Australian international Israel Folau, now 23, has left the AFL after 2 years struggling to perform at the sport. He is likely to join the NRL, where Parramatta is very keen to sign him. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 28myq.html Why have Super League clubs Leeds been so slow to react on this matter? Leeds wanted Keith Lulia from Bradford. But "Izzy" would be a much better investment. Ditto Wigan who have lost their quality centre George Carmont. "Izzy" is a classier performer than Georgie. Maybe he would be worth it for Hull, who have lost their chance to sign a top quality half when Scott Prince and Jacob Miller said "no." Izzy only wants $1 million a year. That is good value for a match winner. "Izzy" knows that it will be tough to find a spot in the Australian team with competition like Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Josh Morris and MIchael Jennings in the centre spots, and Brett Morris, Akuila Uate, Darius Boyd, and Jarryd Hayne on the wings. Better if he comes to England to cement a spot in the Exiles.

Former Australian international Israel Folau, now 23, has left the AFL after 2 years struggling to perform at the sport. He is likely to join the NRL, where Parramatta is very keen to sign him. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 28myq.html Why have Super League clubs Leeds been so slow to react on this matter? Leeds wanted Keith Lulia from Bradford. But "Izzy" would be a much better investment. Ditto Wigan who have lost their quality centre George Carmont. "Izzy" is a classier performer than Georgie. Maybe he would be worth it for Hull, who have lost their chance to sign a top quality half when Scott Prince and Jacob Miller said "no." Izzy only wants $1 million a year. That is good value for a match winner. "Izzy" knows that it will be tough to find a spot in the Australian team with competition like Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Josh Morris and MIchael Jennings in the centre spots, and Brett Morris, Akuila Uate, Darius Boyd, and Jarryd Hayne on the wings. Better if he comes to England to cement a spot in the Exiles.

Quote JEAN CAPDOUZE="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Former Australian international Israel Folau, now 23, has left the AFL after 2 years struggling to perform at the sport. He is likely to join the NRL, where Parramatta is very keen to sign him. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 28myq.html Why have Super League clubs Leeds been so slow to react on this matter? Leeds wanted Keith Lulia from Bradford. But "Izzy" would be a much better investment. Ditto Hull who have lost their chance to sign a top quality half when Scott Prince and Jacob Miller said "no." Izzy only wants $1 million a year. That is good value for a match winner. He knows that it will be tough to find a spot in the Australian team with competition like Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Josh Morris and MIchael Jennings in the centre spots, and Brett Morris, Akuila Uate, Darius Boyd, and Jarryd Hayne on the wings. Better if he comes to England to cement a spot in the Exiles.'" Seriously only $1million. So only 1/3rd of the entire club cap on one player, that leave £1million or for the other 24 players. . lol

Quote JEAN CAPDOUZE="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Former Australian international Israel Folau, now 23, has left the AFL after 2 years struggling to perform at the sport. He is likely to join the NRL, where Parramatta is very keen to sign him. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 28myq.html Why have Super League clubs Leeds been so slow to react on this matter? Leeds wanted Keith Lulia from Bradford. But "Izzy" would be a much better investment. Ditto Hull who have lost their chance to sign a top quality half when Scott Prince and Jacob Miller said "no." Izzy only wants $1 million a year. That is good value for a match winner. He knows that it will be tough to find a spot in the Australian team with competition like Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Josh Morris and MIchael Jennings in the centre spots, and Brett Morris, Akuila Uate, Darius Boyd, and Jarryd Hayne on the wings. Better if he comes to England to cement a spot in the Exiles.'" Seriously only $1million. So only 1/3rd of the entire club cap on one player, that leave £1million or for the other 24 players. . lol

You are demonstrating why the RFL needs to raise the salary cap. Otherwise the SL clubs will never be able to compete with the NRL for top class players.

And before someone writes that many clubs don't have the money to reach a higher salary cap, I say, let the number of clubs be reduced to those who can afford a higher salary cap.

Probably it would be the following ten: Wigan, Warrington, St Helens, Leeds, Hull FC, Huddersfield, Catalans, Toulouse, Bradford (perhaps) and London.

Hmmm why do you assume all those clubs can afford a higher salary cap? Especially Catalans, London & Toulouse?
I think all of those clubs made a loss last year except Leeds and Leeds have a new stand to fund.
The current SL cap would have to be doubled to reach the NRL cap. No club can afford that.
Given your earlier comment about why aren't Leeds spending $1m AUS on a player leads me to think you're either trolling or don't know what the hell you're on about.

it is quite sad that we can see players like SBW and Folau become available and SL clubs arent even worth mentioning.

Whilst the gap in wages has widened, the biggest difference is probably the exchange rate. It was only that which made it even worth thinking of moving to a SL club for a top star in the past.

The exchange rate will always fluctuate, its the salary cap which means Super League isnt even the 2nd choice for the worlds best Rugby League players at the moment.

Even if the SL cap were equal, there would still only be a handful of sides with a shot at Folau.

parra have "allegedly" spoken to him

What the discussion above shows is that Super League is just being priced out of the race for Australian talent. When you add in the fact that Parramatta are now seeking Gareth Hock -- to join the Burgess brothers and James Graham in the NRL -- it is becoming a crisis of talent flow towards one competition. It is only two years to go before the NRL player agents get their hands on Sam Tomkins' signature. The RFL needs to act before then. Reducing the number of SL clubs to 10 will greatly increase the amount of Sky money in the hands of each SL club, and thereby make it easier to raise the salary cap. A trimmer ten team SL with two French clubs (and five less M62 clubs) will also be a more attractive concept for marketing. Super League needs to recruit more sponsors.

Strange as it may seem, a successful Toulouse bid for Super League in 2015 could see it become one of the most wealthy clubs in Super League, because of its potential sponsors. But as much as I will be pleased with such a development, I also want the English clubs to be competitive with the NRL and that means not only more high quality local English talent coming through the ranks, but also a few (two or three) Australian or New Zealand stars on their roster. That will only happen if the salary cap is raised, so the likes of Israel Folau can be recruited in the future.

Super League clubs have failed to comment on the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Sandy as well, and that's equally as relevant.

These things go in cycles. At the moment, the Aussie dollar is strong and the NRL has just tied up a billion dollar TV rights deal. When Super League can do that and when the pound (and/or Euro) is strong, the clubs might be in the market for mega-bucks players.

Its not just about money. He will have the chance to play origin in the entering the prime years of his career.