https://www.totalrl.com/controversial-c ... es-to-one/ Quote LAST week the Super League clubs discussed a paper put forward by the RFL that proposed various changes to the salary cap for 2025. It was based on changes proposed by a small sub-group of club representatives including Kris Radlinski of Wigan, Paul Lakin of Hull KR and Karl Fitzpatrick of Warrington. Amazingly, the proposed changes would have piled further expenditure onto clubs and it seems that the other clubs hadn’t been consulted about what was being proposed. The result was that eleven voted against the proposal with only Wigan casting their vote in support. It was a slap in the face for the RFL and, having obtained a copy of the RFL’s document, I read it with some astonishment. It’s yet another illustration that the administration of our sport is running aground. Someone has to do something about it. And here is the paper that caused so much consternation. Of course it will not now be implemented. “Salary Cap changes – 2025. Following consultation with Clubs, as part of the Salary Cap Working Group during 2024, we are pleased to confirm the below changes have now been approved by the RFL’s Executive Board. The changes will be reflected in more detail in the new RFL Operational Rules and Salary Cap Regulations for 2025. Unless otherwise stated below, these changes will come into force from December 1st, 2024. For the avoidance of doubt, the changes to the Club Trained Allowance will be included in the Clubs’ final allowances for the 2025 season. They will be circulated to all Clubs who are competing in the Super League in 2025 on Wednesday October 23rd. 1. Finite Cap to remain at £2.1m for 2025 and 2026. 2. An increase in deemed values for cars, flights and accommodation as set out below (and subject to grandfather rights – so only being enforced on players signed after 1 January 2025) – Car – Increase from £4,000 per Salary Cap Year to £4,500 – Flights – Increase from £2,000 per adult flight to £2,500 – Accommodation – Increase from £6,000 per Salary Cap Year to £8,000 3. An injury dispensation for players who are injured for more than six games and the injury is caused by foul play that is charged by the Match Review Panel. In such circumstances the player comes off the relevant Clubs Cap for the length of the injury. The player would return to Cap the week he is named in a 21-man squad after the injury. This is a dispensation that would see injured players out for more than 20% of a season and is one suggested on the grounds of welfare. Whilst there is a possibility of a Club trying to game this allowance, the chance of this is limited as the player would be deemed of a value to the team before the injury and so a club would want the player to play as soon as possible to ensure winning matches. 4. A new allowance to be created to encourage clubs to release players for England (and in the case of French clubs, France) that would provide an allowance to increase Salary Cap for the club by £10k per player who is named in the 18-man team for an International Match. This dispensation will be implemented in the following season. This allowance should be capped at four players (£40k). 5. An increase in the Club Trained Allowance for Clubs to increase their club Cap by a maximum of £150,000 up from £100,000. This will be determined by Clubs being given an allowance of £7,500 for any Club Trained player in Super League who has played 10 first grade games and £2,500 for a player who has played at least 10 games for any Championship Club in the relevant season. This will be capped at a maximum of 20 players across both competitions. 6. An increase in the wage limit for Players eligible to play in under-23 level competitions (Previously U21) to not count toward a Club’s Salary Cap to £35k per annum from £30k. In addition, to allow clubs to sign a maximum of two players over that age on £35K or less and not count on Cap. From current data, it is clear that there are relatively few players on £35k or less in Super League squads. However, this will allow us to start. 7. An increase in what Clubs can pay to players from prize money without it counting on the Cap. Clubs can pay up to an amount equivalent to what will be 150% of the monies allocated as prize money from RL Commercial. 8. Allowing clubs to pay bonuses to players for Young Player of the Year, inclusion in the Dream Team and for these payments not to count on Cap.” The last allowance appears to have no limit and it gives a ridiculous amount of power to the people who select the Young Player of the Year and the Dream Team.'"

https://www.totalrl.com/controversial-c ... es-to-one/ Quote LAST week the Super League clubs discussed a paper put forward by the RFL that proposed various changes to the salary cap for 2025. It was based on changes proposed by a small sub-group of club representatives including Kris Radlinski of Wigan, Paul Lakin of Hull KR and Karl Fitzpatrick of Warrington. Amazingly, the proposed changes would have piled further expenditure onto clubs and it seems that the other clubs hadn’t been consulted about what was being proposed. The result was that eleven voted against the proposal with only Wigan casting their vote in support. It was a slap in the face for the RFL and, having obtained a copy of the RFL’s document, I read it with some astonishment. It’s yet another illustration that the administration of our sport is running aground. Someone has to do something about it. And here is the paper that caused so much consternation. Of course it will not now be implemented. “Salary Cap changes – 2025. Following consultation with Clubs, as part of the Salary Cap Working Group during 2024, we are pleased to confirm the below changes have now been approved by the RFL’s Executive Board. The changes will be reflected in more detail in the new RFL Operational Rules and Salary Cap Regulations for 2025. Unless otherwise stated below, these changes will come into force from December 1st, 2024. For the avoidance of doubt, the changes to the Club Trained Allowance will be included in the Clubs’ final allowances for the 2025 season. They will be circulated to all Clubs who are competing in the Super League in 2025 on Wednesday October 23rd. 1. Finite Cap to remain at £2.1m for 2025 and 2026. 2. An increase in deemed values for cars, flights and accommodation as set out below (and subject to grandfather rights – so only being enforced on players signed after 1 January 2025) – Car – Increase from £4,000 per Salary Cap Year to £4,500 – Flights – Increase from £2,000 per adult flight to £2,500 – Accommodation – Increase from £6,000 per Salary Cap Year to £8,000 3. An injury dispensation for players who are injured for more than six games and the injury is caused by foul play that is charged by the Match Review Panel. In such circumstances the player comes off the relevant Clubs Cap for the length of the injury. The player would return to Cap the week he is named in a 21-man squad after the injury. This is a dispensation that would see injured players out for more than 20% of a season and is one suggested on the grounds of welfare. Whilst there is a possibility of a Club trying to game this allowance, the chance of this is limited as the player would be deemed of a value to the team before the injury and so a club would want the player to play as soon as possible to ensure winning matches. 4. A new allowance to be created to encourage clubs to release players for England (and in the case of French clubs, France) that would provide an allowance to increase Salary Cap for the club by £10k per player who is named in the 18-man team for an International Match. This dispensation will be implemented in the following season. This allowance should be capped at four players (£40k). 5. An increase in the Club Trained Allowance for Clubs to increase their club Cap by a maximum of £150,000 up from £100,000. This will be determined by Clubs being given an allowance of £7,500 for any Club Trained player in Super League who has played 10 first grade games and £2,500 for a player who has played at least 10 games for any Championship Club in the relevant season. This will be capped at a maximum of 20 players across both competitions. 6. An increase in the wage limit for Players eligible to play in under-23 level competitions (Previously U21) to not count toward a Club’s Salary Cap to £35k per annum from £30k. In addition, to allow clubs to sign a maximum of two players over that age on £35K or less and not count on Cap. From current data, it is clear that there are relatively few players on £35k or less in Super League squads. However, this will allow us to start. 7. An increase in what Clubs can pay to players from prize money without it counting on the Cap. Clubs can pay up to an amount equivalent to what will be 150% of the monies allocated as prize money from RL Commercial. 8. Allowing clubs to pay bonuses to players for Young Player of the Year, inclusion in the Dream Team and for these payments not to count on Cap.” The last allowance appears to have no limit and it gives a ridiculous amount of power to the people who select the Young Player of the Year and the Dream Team.'"

Lots to pick out here for me, namely these changes were proposed by Rads, Paul Lakin (Hull KR) and Karl Fitzpatrick (Wire). Yet when it came to the vote 11 clubs rejected and only one proposed it...of course it's us.



WTF? Is this just me or does this article try to make Wigan look bad again. Obviously any mention of salary cap changes gets the anti Wigan salivating.



These changes followed on from RFL consultations with all clubs. But they then compile a report to pleased to confirm all changes only for clubs to vote against it.



Who's running this sport at all.

the initial thoughts based on the article are 3 clubs propose changes, but then 2 of them vote against it??



it feels like yet another case of tail wagging the dog



i'll be honest looking at the points, i dont like them all, however, surely there must be some debate and opportunity to accept / reject or modify each individual element within a clubs board meeting. For example on point 3, is 6 weeks really going to make that much difference when it comes to the cap. Yes, if the player is out for a full season / rest of the season, then i can understand that, but 6 weeks seems too short and unlikely to have an material impact. Point 4 i would assume the clubs would want something from the RFL for releasing players, not the ability to increase their spend, so i can sort of understand a rejection on that one



so IMO there must be debate, and acceptance to move the cap forward, even if there is modification or rejection of individual points

The RFL drew this paper up after consultations with SL Clubs.

Then the clubs voted against it bar Wigan.

So what is the difference between what was discussed then drawn up in the proposals. Have the RFL overstepped themselves or have the clubs backed out after verbally agreeing with the proposals.

Small clubs voting to stay small

Wholly true Ted, BUT those consultations were (as usual) with ONLY SOME of the SL Clubs!!!!



The world should know if you also support those cheats Manchester Arabia.

More needs to be done to enable those who are willing and able to increase their financial contributions for the benefit of their clubs and players. If the rest want to stay small then so be it but we shouldn't close the door on ambition.



With that said if there hasn't been the requisite consultation period then we can't expect these changes to be accepted. And why should the clubs be proposing anything? If we had an effective governing body they should be driving the changes but as ever they make a mess of it.

i think most fans are in agreeance that the SC is not fit for purpose, but equally something like this doesnt help the game / look at all



if they had said, there has been a proposal for discussion, and it was being taken away, with the option that the points could be approved, rejected or amended, then it would have been better taken than, it looks like Wigan want to make changes, and no other clubs are interested, and thus rejected it

Clubs who fill their squads with other teams academy players were never going to vote for changes that lessen their chances of sitting back and letting other people do the work for them. I'm surprised at Warrington, Saints and Leeds not wanting voting these changes through but maybe they will revisit them and change their minds down the track. If you looked at Wigan currently as an owner/leader of one of those clubs and and thought that a) they're the best side already b) they have a great academy and c) they have the wealthiest owner in the sport, you can understand why they'd be a bit dubious at the minute.



A number of the other clubs would not and will never vote for change like this. They're the clubs that have ensured the whole sport has been run on the basis of 'leveling down' for the last two decades and we've got to be a point now where there is no money in the game and everyone wants to keep the costs down.

Just to prove your point.

Tomkins, Charnley, Gildart, Hanley, Davies, Williams, Mellor, Bullock, McIlorum, Partington, Hughes, McDonnell, Rushton



Plus the likes of Burgess, Bourouh, Russell, Halsall, Shorrocks etc



A full team playing in Superleague, plus Sutton and Nicholson playing in the NRL.



What are the rest doing?

Come on Brian you're better than that



Makinson, Swift,Thompson, Gaskell, Simm, Foster, Ashurst at Wakefield who has only just retired, others I've probably forgotten about, Dodd in the NRL

Not comparable though is it?

Not a million miles away and I've probably forgotten some.

That's an impressive list from Wigan and more than Saints but I'm just pointing out that Saints have a good Academy too and RG's post intimated that no one else gets near which I think is unfair.



Using a barometer of those Academy produced players playing for other SL clubs or in the NRL isn't 100% fair given the amount of players also playing first team for their own club.

I mentioned in my post that I was surprised Saints, Leeds and Wire didn't fancy these changes and that was on the basis that they do produce their own players (or in the case of Wire are starting to do so) and I'd have thought a better chance of keeping them would've been music to their ears.



I would say there is a pretty big difference in pure numbers between how many Wigan produced players are turning out in Superleague compared to any other club. I would guess Saints are the closest but it's both impressive and startling how many lads have come through at Wigan. The reliance on clubs like Wigan and Saints to produce players for the whole game is a sign of how little a number of other clubs have actually put back in over these last few decades.

Savelio, Ashworth, Nisbet and Richardson. Deon Cross was a Saints junior too.



Knew I would remember some more

The salary cap continues to be the worst thing to happen to RL in this country and it seems there is very little ambition in the game to address it.

Manchester Arabia? Which rugby club is that? Which of your worlds want to know anyway?