Gulf below Super League increasing

The gulf between Super League and the rest could increase next season if plans to lower the Championship salary cap go ahead.
Some lower league clubs have complained that the cap is too high, with no fewer than four clubs entering administration in recent years. Doncaster are currently in administration for the second time in as many years, while Widnes, Rochdale and Swinton have also had financial problems in the past few years.
However, lowering the cap could have major re-percussions on those aiming for Super League 2012. The likes of Widnes and Halifax will see their playing budgets cut to a level which would see them need even more investment should they get the nod at the next round of licenses.
Thanks to the abolition of promotion/relegation, the gap is widening already, so to lower the salary cap is surely just another indication that the bottom two divisions are relatively unimportant. Surely the RFL should be looking to push the lower leagues and improve their standard, not lower it. The Rugby Football Union are making massive steps with their domestic game, and they are funding the development of their second tier in going full time.
Rumours suggest that the Championship 1 cap could be based on 40% of turnover, while the Championship salary cap may be reduced by up to 25%. While it may create a more level playing field (hang on, wasn't the stupid bonus points system supposed to do that too?), it will undoubtedly effect ambitious clubs such as Widnes, who are currently the only side outside of Super League fielding four teams (first team, reserves, under 18s, foundation academy).
What impact does it have on deals that are agreed for 2010? Widnes already have James Webster under contract, and you would think that he takes up a relatively large chunk of the salary cap. Widnes will have budgeted to use the current level, thought to be around £400,000, but if this goes down, they will have a lot less space to negotiate deals for existing or new players.
Yet again, it seems those outside of Super League are being left in the lurch.
Here's hoping that if one team does get the chance in 2012, they are given the time and support they need to get up to speed in the top flight. Otherwise, the lower leagues could be cut away from Super League forever - even more so than they are already.
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It was great to see Catalans play out their match against Warrington in front of 18,000 in Barcelona. It is a far more significant achievement than many have suggested. I've read officials and journalists saying isn't it great that SL games were played in Bridgend, London and Barcelona this weekend. Well, yes it was, but there was 3,015 at Celtic and 4,378 at Harlequins, hardly comparable to the Barcelona crowd. It appears those with an expansionist agenda are too ready to believe their own hype. Let's credit the significant achievements, i.e. Barcelona, but instead of pretending others are a success, let's try and give them more support in to making it.
Regarding Barcelona, wouldn't it be a great idea if a different team could play Catalans there next year. Imagine Saints or Wigan travelling to the Spanish city for a game in June next year. It could catch on you know. Just please don't suggest we move the Magic Weekend there.
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What a great game Halifax v Widnes was on Sunday. Highly entertaining, and a prime example as to why promotion/relegation should be reinstated. The game was worthy of a Grand Final. Ben Black will no doubt be having nightmares about the game for years to come after an incredible knock on with the line at his mercy and no opponents in sight. Paul Cullen though was smiling like a Cheshire cat at the end of the game, and he has done some job in turning round Widnes' season after months of turmoil at the club.
Comments
2 comments for Gulf below Super League increasing. Why not add your comment now?At least half of the clubs in Super League are skint and dependant on the Sky money, which should actually be distributed fairer and in such a way that Div 1 and 2 are closer to Super League rather than further away.
How we are supposed to develop a top international side when there is only one competitive league full of foreigners is beyond me. Almost every pre & post match interview in Super League is an Aussie, irrespective of the game being played is in Wales, France or England!
The Championship is currently the most entertaining and competitive league, Super League clubs are looking after themselves and the stupid points system for a license even goes as far to award clubs who dont own their own ground and are then kicked out when the football season starts! Championship Clubs in 'Council' grounds are finding it hard to afford and the clubs who own their own facilities are penalised.
Simply, its a joke, Lewis should go back to the LTA and perhaps the RFL should put a few knowledgable people in charge!
Where was Richard Lewis when the Aussies almost cancelled their 2001 tour? Almost broke after the 2000WC?....oh sorry I forgot, RL was quite capable of screwing things up well before him!
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Stats
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| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 6 Sat 13 Mar 17:30 | ||
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| Round: 6 Sat 13 Mar 18:30 | ||
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| Round: 6 Sun 14 Mar 14:00 | ||
28 - 24 |
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| New Craven Park Sun 7th March | ||
46 - 12 |
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| Halliwell Jones Stadium Sun 7th March | ||
0 - 52 |
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| Belle Vue Sat 6th March | ||
42 - 22 |
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| The KC Stadium Fri 5th March | ||
12 - 24 |
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| The Willows Fri 5th March | ||
62 - 4 |
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| Headingley Carnegie Fri 5th March | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wigan | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | Warrington | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Hull FC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | Huddersfield | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Leeds | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | St Helens | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 7 | Bradford | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Hull K R | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 9 | Wakefield | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 10 | Crusaders | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 11 | Castleford | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 12 | Catalans | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 13 | Harlequins | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 14 | Salford | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
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| Round: 2 Thu 11 Mar 19:30 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sat 13 Mar 18:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 3 Thu 18 Mar 19:30 | ||
20 - 20 |
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| LSV Thu 25th February | ||
32 - 26 |
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| The Shay Sun 28th February | ||
36 - 10 |
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| Chris Moyles Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
72 - 10 |
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| Stobart Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
26 - 22 |
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| Sun 28th February | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Widnes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Featherstone | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Halifax | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Toulouse | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Barrow | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Leigh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Dewsbury | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Sheffield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Whitehaven | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Batley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Keighley * | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -9 |
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| Round: 2 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 12 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 3 Sat 20 Mar 15:00 | ||
40 - 12 |
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| South Leeds Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
20 - 38 |
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| Sedgley Park Sun 28th February | ||
56 - 24 |
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| Spotland Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
36 - 8 |
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| Huntington Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
22 - 20 |
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| Sun 28th February | ||
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| Round: 4 Wed 10 Mar 18:00 | ||
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| Round: 4 Wed 10 Mar | ||
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| Round: 4 Wed 17 Mar 19:30 | ||
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| Round: 4 Sun 21 Mar | ||
34 - 12 |
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| Huntington Stadium Wed 10th March | ||
62 - 18 |
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| Craven Park Wed 10th March | ||
0 - 68 |
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| South Leeds Stadium Thu 4th March | ||
22 - 44 |
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| Tetley's Stadium Wed 3rd March | ||
56 - 10 |
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| Chris Moyles Stadium Tue 23rd February | ||
22 - 24 |
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| Boundary Park Mon 22nd February | ||
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| Round 1 Fri, 12 Mar 19:35 Suncorp Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Fri, 12 Mar 19:35 Parramatta Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 17:30 ANZ Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 19:30 CUA Stadium, Penrith | ||
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| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 19:30 Toyota Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Sun, 14 Mar 13:00 Skilled Park | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Wests | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Roosters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Rabbitohs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Storm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Sea Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Eels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Warriors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Titans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| Round 1 Mar 12 5:20pm Suncorp Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Mar 12 5:20pm Parramatta Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Mar 13 3:15pm ANZ Stadium | ||
vs |
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| Round 1 Mar 13 5:15pm CUA Stadium, Penrith | ||
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| Round 1 Mar 13 5:15pm Toyota Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Mar 14 10:45am Skilled Park | ||





