Overseas Quota

[Dan]

Have Superleague changed the quota back to 5?

Warrington have signed 4 Aussie/Kiwis, Hull 4, Hull KR 5.

What happened to giving more British youngsters a chance?

Clubs can't even get relegated now with the franchise, thought developing youngsters was one of the main points?

[vikinggriff]

the quota has changed, not sure on exact numbers, but it now says you have to have X amount of english players in the squad rather than you can only have 3 aussie players

[King Viking]

The quota is 10 for this season, but it includes all non-EU nationals, rather than just Aussies.

As far as I'm aware, it's going down to 8 and then 6 in subsequent years.

[Dan]

Seems like this rule has just allowed clubs to sign more Aussies on short term deals.

[King Viking]

Tbh the presence of King, Monaghan, Newton, Webster, Galea, Fitzhenry etc can only be good for SL.

Much better than Wozniak, Moule etc

[johnf]

Tbh the presence of King, Monaghan, Newton, Webster, Galea, Fitzhenry etc can only be good for SL.

Much better than Wozniak, Moule etc

The future of the game and Sky's immediate concern in getting people to watch Sky are not the same thing though - it's an old argument but it is, imho, none the less true that given the limited number of professionals in the sport the massive influx of foreign players will not only prevent the current generation from achieving their potential but will probably deter youngsters from trying to succeed in the game. 

[wildej]

It certainly will not do any good for the UK teams still left in the World Cup.   Even the England team will struggle to find 20 quality players to fill all the positions required.   Clubs should be limited to 2 non UK players, 1 forward and 1 back, irrespective of where their parents came from.   Let us get back to having  strong teams full of UK players.   I know we have always had overseas players but we did and can still breed our own quality players if they are given the chance.   Maybe without the fear of relegation the SL clubs will start to bring through their youngsters and dispense with the expensive overseas players.

[vikinggriff]

It certainly will not do any good for the UK teams still left in the World Cup.   Even the England team will struggle to find 20 quality players to fill all the positions required.   Clubs should be limited to 2 non UK players, 1 forward and 1 back, irrespective of where their parents came from.   Let us get back to having  strong teams full of UK players.   I know we have always had overseas players but we did and can still breed our own quality players if they are given the chance.   Maybe without the fear of relegation the SL clubs will start to bring through their youngsters and dispense with the expensive overseas players.

but thats the main trouble, the overseas players are better value for money, if you take an aussie and an english player of the same ability and they both sign for a club at the same time for the same contract length, after taking account of the exchange rates, offshore trust fund tax loop holes etc, then you can pay the aussie less gross pay but they in effect have the same net pay at the end of the contract. thats a major incentive to keep the non british players coming over.

[wildej]

but thats the main trouble, the overseas players are better value for money, if you take an aussie and an english player of the same ability and they both sign for a club at the same time for the same contract length, after taking account of the exchange rates, offshore trust fund tax loop holes etc, then you can pay the aussie less gross pay but they in effect have the same net pay at the end of the contract. thats a major incentive to keep the non british players coming over.

I thought that the RLF had BANNED the use of offshore payments a couple of years ago.

[Dan]

I think you will find most of the time the Aussies are on better contracts, its the ability to sign a ready made experienced player from the NRL rather than throwing in an un-tested yet promising player from the under 21's.

[steve1066]

..........And even when clubs do sign an Aussie misfit they feel compelled to play him because he'll be on a top notch contract and the fact he's flown in from thousands of miles away they won't want him warming some seat up in the stands even if it does mean a better young English player not getting his fair chance.

PS if SL clubs can get 5 overseas players then so should NL clubs

[Steve Fox]

..........And even when clubs do sign an Aussie misfit they feel compelled to play him because he'll be on a top notch contract and the fact he's flown in from thousands of miles away they won't want him warming some seat up in the stands even if it does mean a better young English player not getting his fair chance.

PS if SL clubs can get 5 overseas players then so should NL clubs

Agreed.

When it comes to the Challenge Cup NL1 clubs are already at a huge disadvantage because of budgets and Salary Cap - having 5-1 overseas players just gives the top flight clubs even more of an assurance that they'll get through.

If Widnes don't get a franchise (sorry, licence) I think we should say "galaxy you" to the RFL and run the club as if it were a SL organisation next year, with same overseas quota as them and a Salary Cap more in line with them (though obviously we're not going to spend ?1.8m). That way we will have a decent pop at the Challenge Cup, which will be the only competitive thing we have to play in during 2009.

[steve1066]

Agreed.

When it comes to the Challenge Cup NL1 clubs are already at a huge disadvantage because of budgets and Salary Cap - having 5-1 overseas players just gives the top flight clubs even more of an assurance that they'll get through.

If Widnes don't get a franchise (sorry, licence) I think we should say "galaxy you" to the RFL and run the club as if it were a SL organisation next year, with same overseas quota as them and a Salary Cap more in line with them (though obviously we're not going to spend ?1.8m). That way we will have a decent pop at the Challenge Cup, which will be the only competitive thing we have to play in during 2009.

Totally agree.  If  a  NL club  was  fined  for  breaking  th  overseas  quota  or  overspent  all  they would need to do is employ a half decent lawyer and they would win hands down. Everyone should be treated fairly. If not its Discrimination. I can't wait for a club to take the RFL to court on these counts. If SL clubs can spend a ?1m then so can everyone else.

[Sandgroper]

Whoever wins the franchsie bid the NL and below should set up their own cup comp .  There are enough big spenders now to get it together, and virtually ignore the SL Challenge Cup whic is truly set up just to give them another comp. to win.  The RFL's half-cocked suggestion of a French/English side show is just a sop to provide what?  More publicity for SL!

I wrote to the RL Express recently , a bit tongue in cheek, about them moving the centre of gravity of 'our' game southwards. The chances of Celtic Crusaders are already being trumpeted, along with Toulose, even another London team is not out of the question.

Just imagine Wasps setting up a SL team, with Shaun Edwards in charge, to make better use of their stadium - couldn't fail'!!! But it will all be at the expense of clubs like ours.

So IMO we, the also-rans, will have a choice sit around for three years while the new clubs get their act together ready for the next franchsie bid or re-organise the non-SL game into a real competition which RL supporters will want to watch.

Some may say that this will admit defeat - well we are defeated.  The RFL/SL are no longer interseted in those outside.  They have accomplished what they set out to do at the start of SL and thinned out the clubs with the SL clubs on top running the show.

Martyn Sadler may well be right in that the franchsie bids, whatever the criteria, will be effectively decided by which ones will benefit SKY in dish sales and/or RFL's influence with the BBC. 

Whatever - they will never compete with the vested interests of RU in a month of Sundays.

[King Viking]

Where are all the teams outside SL gonna get the money from to form a breakaway league?