NRL News Report
Cap Continues to Squeeze Out Stars
The NRL salary cap continues to force our best players out of the game before their time. We have seen in the past 5 years an ever growing list of big name NRL stars pack their bags and accept contracts in the UK Super League competition or rival codes.
While the introduction of the salary cap has seen many improvements in the game, it has given us the most even competition ever - with any team able to win on their day. It has also helped clubs more effectively manage their finances, having a ceiling stops clubs from overspending and getting themselves into trouble.
The biggest downside is the restriction it places on our top ranked NRL stars. Players such as Andrew Johns, Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall are under constant threat from entities outside the NRL world.
NRL clubs face the virtually impossible task of competitors such as the Australian Rugby Union, International Rugby Union and of course the UK Super League. The limitation of the salary cap even played a part in Bulldogs star Willie Mason investigating the NFL tournament in the United States. While Willie wanted to test himself and his love of the US game, he also mentioned the fact that earning potential would be 3 to 4 times higher for middle ranked NFL players.
The NRL has really felt the negatives of the salary cap in recent years, with most players choosing to leave for the UK Super League Competition. While in the past it was older, past their best players choosing to see their days out in the old dar - now it's younger guys who are mostly in their prime.
As NRLnews.com takes a look at the current Super League comp in the UK - the following players are regular starters: Trent Barrett, Lesley Vainikolo, Brad Drew, David Solomona, Phil Bailey, Glenn Morrison, Jason Cayless, John Skandalis, Willie Talau and Richard Swain.
Nearly all NRL clubs would welcome these quality players into their starting line ups. The migration of such a large volume of NRL players to the UK has seen the Super League tournament rival the NRL in terms of quality. While many commentators will insist the NRL competition is tougher and of a higher skill level - we at NRLnews.com believe this is no the case anymore.
If we take the World Club Championship results of the past decade, the UK Super League teams have a winning ratio of over 75%. Sure, they receive an advantage in location and scheduling - but if the NRL sides are supposedly more superior surely the hurdles would only even the contest out.
The UK Super League has also received several experienced Australian coaches in the past few years, which has seen NRL trends and tactics injected into the Super League games.
When we examine the salary cap, the benefits do outweight the disadvantages. In the case of the NRL losing so many players, whether it be to the UK Super League or to Rugby Union - why can't the NRL relax rules relating to sponsor payments to players? This may allow the clubs with better back office staff and negotiators to gain an advantage - but why should the best be penalised?
So while overall the salary cap has been a welcomed addition to the game, the advent of communism to all areas of NRL infrastructure is simply rewarding mediocracy and is seeing the stars walk away.
