Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2023 1:32 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

It isn't possible to have those 3 as marquee.

It is according to the below press release on marquee players.

The current two marquee player limit will increase to three, as long as at least one of the players is federation trained.

Non-federation trained marquee players will remain at £150,000, but federation-trained players will count as £100,000 and club-trained as £50,000.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2023 3:32 pm  

I see Owen Farrell has just announced he will not be available for selection for the Six Nations in 2024 as he wants to take a break from International rugby to protect his and his family's mental wellbeing. It says he will continue to play for Saracens but might this be paving the way for a change of scene?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2023 5:52 pm  

I think people get way to fixated on the marquee tag, having 3 players designated as marquee and then someone wanting a pay rise to then become a top 3 earner or having a bigger dispensation doesn’t mean the person he is replacing as a marquee player has to leave or one of the others do.. It could just potentially mean your squad is a little top heavy and squad depth could suffer but you could in theory have 4 players on 400k a year each and only 550k count towards the cap.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2023 6:09 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

I think people get way to fixated on the marquee tag, having 3 players designated as marquee and then someone wanting a pay rise to then become a top 3 earner or having a bigger dispensation doesn’t mean the person he is replacing as a marquee player has to leave or one of the others do.. It could just potentially mean your squad is a little top heavy and squad depth could suffer but you could in theory have 4 players on 400k a year each and only 550k count towards the cap.

Yes, but given the increasing disparity in cap between NRL and SL (now around £4.8 million to £2.1 million with various exemptions) it becomes trickier. It probably is possible to accommodate one other player at a 'marquee level' salary without them occupying a marquee spot.

I wonder how open players are with each other about what they are earning - might be the best policy to keep it under wraps but word will no doubt spread. Always wondered about the potential for big disparities in salary within a squad to cause friction but I guess that happens in all sports.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:02 am  

MadDogg wrote:

Yes, but given the increasing disparity in cap between NRL and SL (now around £4.8 million to £2.1 million with various exemptions) it becomes trickier. It probably is possible to accommodate one other player at a 'marquee level' salary without them occupying a marquee spot.

I wonder how open players are with each other about what they are earning - might be the best policy to keep it under wraps but word will no doubt spread. Always wondered about the potential for big disparities in salary within a squad to cause friction but I guess that happens in all sports.

Yeah, that’s true but we have increased the number of marquee spots which counteracts that, pushing the cap up to say £2.5/3m dependant on how much the marquee players earn. Im just saying if Smith wants £3/400k a year it doesn’t mean we have to get rid of French or Field to pay him that.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:15 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

I think people get way to fixated on the marquee tag, having 3 players designated as marquee and then someone wanting a pay rise to then become a top 3 earner or having a bigger dispensation doesn’t mean the person he is replacing as a marquee player has to leave or one of the others do.. It could just potentially mean your squad is a little top heavy and squad depth could suffer but you could in theory have 4 players on 400k a year each and only 550k count towards the cap.

thats where the club accountants earn their money

if we use Smith, Thompson, French and Field for illustrative purposes and they are all on £400k salary

How we then use the marquee slots could save us £100k on the cap £800k v £700k, so whilst as fans we shouldnt worry about who is named marquee, the club do need to right on top of this to ensure we are utilising the benefit fully

In true RFL fashion though the number of each type of marquee isnt clear, other than they state at least 1 must be Federation trained i.e. you cant have 3 overseas non fed trained marquee. However, it doesnt say you cant have 3 club trained (that i can see), so (purely for illustration) if our top earners were Farrell, Smith and Smithies (prior to him leaving) and all 3 were on £300k, could we have benefitted from only paying £150k on the cap, instead of £900k

[Wigan6/Leeds1 Andy]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:26 am  

Dai Jones wrote:

I see Owen Farrell has just announced he will not be available for selection for the Six Nations in 2024 as he wants to take a break from International rugby to protect his and his family's mental wellbeing. It says he will continue to play for Saracens but might this be paving the way for a change of scene?

1. Farrell announcing he's withdrawing from international RU
2. Squad numbers still not announced for some reason even though new shirts are now on sale
3. Mike Danson takes over ownership of the club tomorrow
4.............

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:29 am  

To me it feels like Farrell announcing that makes any rumoured move more unlikely. Why announce a break from internationals if you’re leaving the sport anyway?! An announcement on an exit would just put paid to any more internationals.

On the other hand, If it were to happen, I could see him playing out the club Union season and then coming here mid summer but I can’t see it.

[Wigan6/Leeds1 Andy]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 30, 2023 12:44 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

To me it feels like Farrell announcing that makes any rumoured move more unlikely. Why announce a break from internationals if you’re leaving the sport anyway?! An announcement on an exit would just put paid to any more internationals.

On the other hand, If it were to happen, I could see him playing out the club Union season and then coming here mid summer but I can’t see it.

I can't see it happening and have never believed the rumours re Owen Farrell, but sometimes it's nice to put 2 + 2 together and come up with 999,999,999.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 30, 2023 1:29 pm  

Wigan6/Leeds1 Andy wrote:

I can't see it happening and have never believed the rumours re Owen Farrell, but sometimes it's nice to put 2 + 2 together and come up with 999,999,999.

It’s ticking the off season over at least. It feels to me like there has probably been talks but he’s decided to stay in Union.