I was told that they have a 'club' credit card which shopping, bills etc get paid through, so the monies they receive via a salary is theirs to do with whatever they want

But that is how it has been for many years. And like I say it isn't just about how much you pay players, obviously top players will want the best wages but say Wigan offered 180k a year for a top scrum half then Rovers offered 200k but that player also wanted to win the league, cup and GF, he's more likely to sign for Wigan purely for that reason and not just monetary gain.

This is why top clubs stay top clubs, this is why top clubs produce most of the best youngsters because their youngsters get to learn off the best players in the first place. It is no coincidence that Wigan have a great youth production line when players have come through learning off the best since the early 90's. Likewise Jon Wilkin had raw ability when at HKR but his move to Saints where he was playing alongside the best players in the country allowed for him to become a stand out performer at the highest levels.

Lower clubs will always attract some top players but because they will demand more money to play for such a club that has no real hopes of winning anything, it means that club can't spread its money as far as the top clubs. Until that can be sorted in some way the league will always have the regular top 5 with an odd club breaking in every now and then. Let's remember HKR only got 4th because teams underestimated us, had they played to their ability against us we'd have been much lower IMO.

I don't think any club would risk doing this.

All it would take is one disgruntled player to leave a club and then tell the world how he was paid off the books through an offshore account and the RL would be all over it and the offending club would be in big big trouble.

we have also just signed trent waterhouse for next season.

add that one to your list please.

Higham and Solomona big earners? Nobody wanted to touch solo when we signed him, but now he's in a wire shirt he must be earning a fortune. Also, only half of briers' wages counts on the cap. And regarding hodgson, he was offered a bigger salary to stay at huddersfield but only a one year contract. We offered him less, but a two year deal which was what he wanted. I could also put up a list of big earners (even though they were average players) who have left the club in the last couple of years.

Please dont forget to add Jon Clarke to the list of big salaries

Before Cullen left Clarke signed a contract extension on a pretty decent salary ( allegedly )