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"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"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.

Quote ="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? '" they were'nt slow to react...infact by the time super league clubs went bed on wednesday night and woke up thursday morning everything had already happened......trust me i followed it live as it happened while listening to sydney radio station 2gb while at work GWS AFL club announced a press conference.. izzy announced his "shock retirement" immediately linked with parramatta... all that was by 2am to 4am our time.....i even thought,like you have....leeds are after a centre..... but theres nowt they could have done as it all broke while they where asleep lol

Quote ="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? '" they were'nt slow to react...infact by the time super league clubs went bed on wednesday night and woke up thursday morning everything had already happened......trust me i followed it live as it happened while listening to sydney radio station 2gb while at work GWS AFL club announced a press conference.. izzy announced his "shock retirement" immediately linked with parramatta... all that was by 2am to 4am our time.....i even thought,like you have....leeds are after a centre..... but theres nowt they could have done as it all broke while they where asleep lol

Super league has bigger problems than not been linked to Folau.

European RL hasn't had any of the best talent from the SH for a long time, I don't understand why anyone would think that now of all times (NRL getting much richer) would signal a change.

Agreed Bovrick.
Very few of the top Stars have played in Super League in their prime at their best.
You can count them on a couple of fingers.

Cap, exchange rate, closing of tax loopholes. SL can't compete for decent NRL players anymore.

Next years NRL salary cap will be 3.2million pounds

Who are we kidding? Really? Issy was earning AUS$1 million a year playing AFL and he was absolutely terrible at it. It was a ploy by the AFL to try and get more backsides on plastics. They were/are on a massive charm offensive at the moment with trying to get people interested. AFL has a few little problems going on at the moment and their boss is coming under a bit of scrutiny. They are playing a game at the Oval this weekend (i think) and that hasnt really caught any interest whatsoever.

SL clubs were never going to be in for Issy. Parramatta have been nudging him all along and offering him buckets and buckets of cash. Something that they might not really be able to afford. Origin will have been a big factor too. The NRL would have to implode for anyone like Folau to even consider Super League. I cant remember the last time a player of Folau's calibre was in Super League. Lyon maybe? But maybe he didnt even have the all round game that Issy has.

I just think its good to have players like him and (less so) SBW back in Rugby League.

It is not a problem with English or french players going to the NRL they can always be replaced by the next genaration while the International side benefits from a greater pool of players (every English/Frenchman in the NRL is one less place for an Aussie) & let Aussie TV pay our top players.
The only thing I agree with you is that we should have another french team in super league but not by throwing away any that are already there.
If France is so full of cash that they can pay above the current cap then form your own league & invite Leeds Hull & Wigan as well as the London clubs to join you. It is the same old drivel people who dont have the money telling others how to spend money they dont have. To Quote Mr Heatherington "to make a small fortune at rugby you start with a large one".

Perhaps, if this trend continues for a few years, it will be possible to build an England team composed largely of NRL players. This should mean that England are eventually able to compete with Australia (as NZ do), at least to the extent that we are capable of winning the odd one-off series. When this happens, it will be a shot in the arm to the game in the UK, raising its profile and levels of support, and thus turnover and income.

Perhaps things just have to get worse before they get better. But we need to make sure UK talent leaving SL is going to the NRL and not Union.

I think not being able to afford these players COULD be a great thong for British RL, if and its quite a big if, the money is spent on home grown talent rather than below average NRL players who get signed just because the have a high rising terminal in their accent.

A fellow beliver? Let the Aussies pay the big money we get well prepared English players, English lads get a chance to earn good money, they free up more places in super league clubs, they stay in the game & we have fewer places for Aussies in the NRL. Its win win win.

Who replaces the best british players who are now moving to Australia? And how do the young British players improve playing in SL when the standard of SL drops because all the best players are playing in the NRL?

I can't see how the standard of super league will drop if teams start promoting more youth players and stop signing second, third rate aussies, Let players like Hock, , go to NRL it is only good for British game and he will come back a better player in 3 - 4 years time. And some more exciting youth players can come through to take their place.

Clubs and SL are poorer for the loss of our best players.
Saints haven't replaced James Graham with anyone remotely of similar quality.
He was the best prop in SL and has just been voted the best prop in the NRL.
There isn't a second rower in SL of Hock's quality, his size, pace and all round skill set is far better than any other.
We will have to get used to this I fear, this just maybe the begining!