Just been reading this and think that the NRL are being very proactive with developing their cap and systems. Would be great to see some of these implemented over here, although we seem to be lagging behind when it comes with the sport keeping up with reality.

[url=http://www.totalrl.com/nrl-announces-salary-cap-changes/Clicky[/url


Thoughts?

Scrap it all together along with the overseas quota and allow the sport to expand it's image and profile with external investment. What is the point of having a salary cap if it just restricts us to being the poor relation to other sports or competitions?

We did pretty well without since 1895 and the argument of it being to stop clubs going bust is totally flawed. The equality argument doesn't stand up either if it just restricts clubs like Salford (with a willing investor) spending extra money in the short-term to catch up the big boys who are miles out in front.

I look back to the early 1980's after the game was in rapid decline throughout the 1970's and recollect both Wigan and Hull shareholders investing heavily, and firmly putting British RL back on the sporting map. This obviously wouldn't be possible today with the salary cap and the game would probably be totally dead now if this hadn't happened.

Superleague is like a low budget movie that will never attract the best stars or audiences whilst this salary cap is in place.
Why does our sport need so many operational rules, frequent rule changes and a red tape voting system to aid individual club interests rather than the sport as a whole?

Yep, I can see why the NRL have it, as it works there, but it doesn't work here, as for one it is too small and secondly not everyone is spending to it. If 12 teams had a realistic chance of winning the GF then fine keep it. It should be raised, and as said possibly got rid of altogether.

we did pretty well because up until 1996 the game was by in large, part time and clubs were not having to spend what they do today on paying players a full time living. You mention Wigan and Hull of the 80's. What did full time do for them? in arguably two of the three biggest hotbeds for Rugby League in this country. It finally caught up with both clubs in the nineties because it just was not sustainable.

Rugby League just does not have the support like it does in Australia and the numbers which Union has behind it over here in the UK.

The biggest problem is that rugby league at the top level in this country is stagnant. You get far too many one sided results and it's been pretty much the same 4 or 5 teams at the top continually for twenty years. exception being Huddersfield the past couple of years and this season Cas and Widnes up there. In contrast, most of the games in the NRL are close affairs and you do see a different mix at the top on a regular basis.

It would be all well and good Marwan throwing millions upon millions at buying the very best from Oz but he wont be around forever and then what? Back to life as experienced the past 30 years under Wilky as the 'yoyo' men. The game needs to grow grass root up for us to have any chance of becoming a major sport in this country again. Not bringing in dozens of journeymen that, as a club we have had first hand experience of what value for money you get with these guys.

Dont get me wrong, i am not a fan of the cap and wasn't before Marwan arrived. It is not though the single reason the game is as it is over here. It does need changing and freshening up and perhaps some leniency adding to it so people like the Dr. will be attracted to get involved.

The NRL have their own money worries don't worry about that

[urlhttp://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/moneyball-how-is-your-club-placed-20130830-2swhv.html[/url

some eye watering debts considering some of the Turnovers generated. Newcastle are the Latest club in a mess with fans groups attempting to buy out the Billionaire owner for one dollar ( a buy back clause apparently)...!!

If we had clubs that survived on handouts from "Leagues clubs" and their profits from Gambling machines I'm sure we would ridicule that notion as crazy....

the main difference I suppose is the wealth of the respective governing bodies, that's the problem for us and the RFL