Question is though, what happens if Salford get a points deduction and didn't make it to 0 before super eights kick in? RFL need to think long and hard how to deal with this situation.

Not if the allegations about 2 contracts are true it's not.

If they're true it's a very big RL story.

They'd be bottom, as per us last year, and have ages to prepare for the middle 8's, which will send Leigh into meltdown. The whole of the Championship will be molten.

Agree.

I doubt the RFL have thought about how the new system would affect points deductions in general. If a club gets a points deduction but still makes the top 8 then it's ok, they still feel the effect of that punishment.



But if a club is unlikely to make the top 8, like Salford, Widnes or Wakefield, then a points deduction has very little effect on them.



Maybe there needs to be a process whereby part of any points deduction is only applied during the 8's. For instance with a 6 point deduction, 4 points could be applied prior to the 8's and 2 points deducted as soon as the 8's start. Or maybe only 1 point if 2 is deemed too harsh.

I'm not sure the waiting around for the middle 8's technique would really work if put into proper practise. Wakefield doesn't count in a way as they made a significant coaching improvement. Had Webster stayed I think they'd have gone down.



I reckon IF their was a points deduction that left Salford no chance of avoiding the Bottom 4 then it would drain the life out of the club and therefore the players and lots of heavy batterings most weeks in SL and I'm sure Koukash would be carrying on left, right and centre, perhaps even walking away from the sport......and I'd struggle to see them being able to then produce some performances when it mattered in the Middle 8's.

Any points deduction is pretty much a waste of time as, no matter what, Salford will be in the "qualification league" at the end of the season.

Even if they were to be relegated, they would still be in the same end of season league.



What are the rules for the alleged salary cap breaches ?



As others have said, most punishments become meaningless for clubs in their position.

The case in question was thrown out of court a while ago. Not sure another RFL investigation is going to find anything different than a law court.

It is perfectly possible for something to be both LEGAL in a court of law, and against the RFL Operational Rules.



No idea whether it is in this case or not, but just because a court has OK'd something, it doesn't mean there isn't a breach of some other rules.

Here we go again some read a couple of paragraphs in a trade paper and become judge,jury and executioner.

Wonder how many bother to follow the transcripts from the two day court hearing before jumping in.

The court hearing was not investigating possible Salary Cap breaches, and if the RFL did have a representative in court it would seem he would have heard enough to justify a SC investigation. The way this man does business is clearly 'unorthodox' otherwise there wouldn't be as many claims against him or the club. There are still at least 3 rumoured to be outstanding against him.

Name the three that are outstanding

The shocking part for me is comparing Salford to Melbourne.



If it turns out that Salford have manipulated the cap, what a futile deception & based on performance a waste of money.