After today's impressive performance, we have to build on the progress that has undoubtedly been made over the last few seasons in English RL. In particular, the outside backs are much improved.

Now, the worst thing that could happen after this Four Nations is Tomkins going to the 'dark side'. Likewise, perhaps Hall may attract some moreattention after his outstanding performance on the big stage. The big difference between us and them and the reason why a player would leave is money.

The salary cap has clear benefits for me and some clubs are only starting to spend it, increasing the cap isn't the answer (at the moment). What about allowing 3 players per club, for any player who is in either of the 2 training squads to be salary cap exempt. This may also allow the 'smaller' teams to have more England standard players as thus increasing the quality of the comp.

Thoughts?

We need better players playing the game as youngsters. We also need better coaching. Our goal line defense is appalling.

Will better players play knowing that England are a team capable of winning WC and playing in front of big crowds at Wembley. I agree about better coaching but there's no doubt some postives to take from today.

Dependant on the amount of cash the RFL have we could do with looking into what cricket do and paying the England squad an added amount of money on top of there club contract or something along them lines. Something needs to be done though.

Totally agree. The backline including Tomkins, Hall, Reed and Briscoe is exciting for the future and needs to be kept in the game.

You’ve got to remember that some of these players have come through a system that the RFL has put in place. The last thing we need to do is change the system when this system is on the verge of working.

No, rememeber we all have to wait for Wakefield to catch up so that we have a completely equal competition. It's taking too long, so lower the cap I say. In fact screw it, lets go 100% amateur. No pay for anyone, but a 60 foot statue of our Dear Leader Nigel Wood outside every ground, hammer and sickle in one huge fat hand, KFC bucket in the other.

We got beat by 16 points at the current salary levels.

If they players were paid more could they get within 12 or 10 points?

i am glad you like the joel picture i hope you go and follow him in union and forget about league.

salary cap shouldn't be scrapped but it certainly should be raised, why penalise clubs such as leeds, wigan, warrington, saints and hull who are more than capable of paying more towards the cap and keeping our better players than having clubs like wakefield and cas holding us back claiming its unfair!

I already follow union mate I have done since John Gallagher was the All Blacks fullback

Don't be so pessimistic, give the RFL another 80 years or so, and then Wakefield and Cas will 'catch up' and then we'll have such an equal competition that the crowds will flock back in their thousands. Just think of the sacrifice you're making today so that your great grandchildren can watch Wakefield rise again. Hail Nigel Wood, may his reign last a thousand years. ( p.s. can I have a job at the RFL please ? )

Thats right the RFL's bias towards Wakefield and Cas is what is ruining the game, look at Rangi Chase being given Man of Steel and Celtic being told to pull out so Wakefield kept their franchise. Clubs like Wigan just don't get considered by the powers that be in our game.

One of those teams will be able to pay more than all of the others (probably Wire) should we raise the cap as high as they can go? Why penalise clubs such as Warrington because all of the other clubs haven't got sugar daddies?

FWIW, Wakefield and Cas generally finish low in the league anyway however raising the Salary cap even higher would see even more blow out scores which no one wants to see.

For one thing, are we right to assume an increased salary cap will enable such players to stay in RL. Do we really know they're willing to spend much more.
For another, why are those top club still keeping older non-Brits at the expense of the players we're losing?
Thirdly, we need the lower end of SL to get their commercial act together and spend up to the cap.

Finally, I strongly believe that the cap makes a more even competition, and it's that competition is key to give us two things we need for the sport to grow:
Close and intense games from week to week.
An "any given Sunday" schedule that will ultimately increase attendances.

i think you have mis-read my post, its clubs like warrington and the ones i mentioned who are being held back due to the 'smaller' clubs, the cap would still have a limit even if it was raised by £300,000-£500,000

we need to be able to keep our star players, keeping at the current SC limit, the threat from union and nrl will hurt us more than clubs who will be able to spend more at the present time

Raise the salary cap? everyone really think British players would get paid more, I reckon it would be more money to overseas players!!

I think the Union Cap goes upto 4 million on players squads, so to keep more players i think a maximum salary cap of say £3 million?Yes we want it competitive and smaller clubs to grow, and if sky paid abit more to league clubs then 3 million would be more realistic.If you are no good at football then you can make a career in Rugby league.If could get more youngsters playing in schools and know can earn decent money, there will be more fulltime players to choose for the National team.In Australia they have 16 teams on fulltime decent wages and we have 14 and not all on great wages.

This is where you limit the number of imports, so only quality aussies play?If say a rule of 6 to 8 maximum in a squad of 25 then it be fine.

I agree with this.

I remember the days when Maurice Lindsay was claiming that the salary cap was meaning Wigan were having to lose talented young players (Briscoe, Aspinwall, Robinson etc) when Wigan had the money to spend big on Vaealiki, Seu Seu, Moran, Ainscough, O'Neill etc

lol I think you need a bit more than that

Although I always enjoy it when people say "the best athletes in this country go to football because they earn more"

Yes I am sure that the athleticism of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard reaches levels Morley, Peacock, Graham and Roby could never attain

Get rid of the bang average overseas players in the league and you can afford to keep your stars.

The most bizarre comment on RLFans, ever.

Why money talks and clubs like Leeds,Wigan and Hull could afford a higher salary cap.If could spend more then Ashton,Tomkins etc may not have gone to union.

I coach kids at U16s. I chose that age to coach because that's "decision time" both in terms of choosing which sport, and in terms of choosing sport vs (but should be and) real work vs being a waster. On no occasion, has the ultimate renumeration ever came up as a factor in the decision between RU, RL and soccer. Enjoyment of the sport and chance of success have always been the factors.