well they get (and deserve) some exemption for developing their GB players. They would currently have a total of 104 points from a squad of 24, so they would need to drop 4 points and gain a player.



Considering any player the signed would be an minimum of 4 points, they would likely need to drop at the very least 1 of their 6 pointers, and that would be on the basis they also dropped a 4 pointer and promoted 3 youngsters (at 2 points)

I also said you were going back a few years, which you clearly have. When was the last time Briers played for GB? Solomona for New Zealand?



I also thought we were sticking to tier one internationals (Australia, New Zealand and GB -> England) after I pointed out the insanity of including Bob Beswick in your list of star players. You've either got a small group of genuine stars or a large group of massively varying quality, neither is good for your proposal.



I have to admit to being intrigued by your list of stars at Bradford, Hull and Huddersfield.

And?



btw, Briers was included in the British squad for the tri-nations 3 seasons ago, Solomona won the tri nations 4 seasons ago. We are hardly harking back the 50's here



the groups arent that large, and as you can see, there isnt a huge discrepancy in quality. But yes, like all systems ever possibly invented there will be players whose value under a system doesnt match their value to the team, which is why we have coaches and we allow them to build their teams. I would have no sympathy with a team who decided to waste 6 points on Bob Beswick, its not an issue with the system, its just poor recruitment, no club would be forced to sign him







Hudds,

Hodgeson (NSW) Hodgeson (GB) Lohlesi(NZ) Whaturia(NZ),Crabtree(GB), Gilmour(GB) Fa'alogo(NZ), Wild(GB) Faiumu(NZ), Drew(city)(i made an error here, i counted Aspinwall, who was included in the trinations but didnt play, Robinson who only played in a friendly)



Bradford

Reardon(GB),Kearney(county), Orford(City) Lynch(GB) Menzies (Aus + NSW), Langley(GB), Platt(ireland) Sykes(GB)Le'strange(France)



Hull,

Calderwood(GB), Briscoe(GB), Horne(GB), Yeaman(GB),Long(GB), Berrigan (aus +Queensland), O'Meley(aus+NSW), Fitzgibbon (aus+NSW), Lauaki(NZ+Samoa), Manu (tonga) Moa(tonga) Cusack (country)

God you're pushing some boat out there.

Kevin Penny's better than half of them

i wouldnt take Kevin Penny over any of them, who would you take him ahead of?

its good seeing the salary cap start to work in SL



the decline of leeds this year is a very pertinant example and a reflection of the competition developing



its good seeing new clubs at the top of the table



st helens / leeds GFs were getting really boring

So you're saying Leeds would be weaker under this system? That sort of contradicts your long held opinion on excellence doesn't it?

Player's ability changes over time. Just because a player played for GB in 2001 you are saying they are the same as a player who has been a regular international for years. Go back to any point in history simply increases the range of quality of players you have in your 'star' group.







You've opened it up to a huge number of players by including those who played for Wales and Ireland. Making it incredibly difficult for players who have represented these teams (who range in quality massively) to make it in SL.



There is a system that has been invented that closely matches a players value to a team to how much they count under the cap. It's called a salary cap. For instance Solomona will cost less to Warrington than he did to Bradford as a reflection of his loss of form since that tri nations victory.

At 21 years of age and looked way out of his depth for three years i'd still take him over D Hodgson, Gilmour, Wild (shot to pieces), Reardon, Platt, Sykes, Calderwood, Cusack and Lauaki all of which offer absolutely nothing as 'stars' in a team. He's bloody gash but at least K. Penny can do something special once in a while

They would need to lose some of the players they have brought in. I am more than happy for us to improve ourselves and the quality of our league through developing quality young players. It is the sustainable way

No im not, im saying that it would be up to a coach to build the best squad they could under these considerations.





the number isnt that big. You are massively over-estimating it again.



If a player isnt good enough to get a spot, they arent good enough to get a spot.



No it doesnt. If this were the case we could simply pay players centrally and share them between clubs, but as we know there are many many variables which go into which team and for how much a player decides to play.



Ellis for instance choosing to play for leeds for less than he was offered at Wakefield. Hardly sharing the talent. In fact in this instance the SC only entrenched the positions

I disagree, i would take all those players over Penny.



And that is where the quality of coach comes in. If he thinks he can get better value from Penny he is free to pick him up