HULL KR chief executive Paul Lakin believes that the tight salary cap in Super League is making the competition more competitive.
Having cast aside all and sundry in 2025, taking home the domestic treble and then adding the World Club Challenge to their trophy cabinet in 2026, Hull KR stuttered this season, finishing in sixth on the ladder.
The 2026 season has seen the rise of Wakefield Trinity and Warrington Wolves to contest the Grand Final this Saturday, while Leigh Leopards have also become regular contenders in a season in which St Helens failed to make the play-offs for the first time since 1962.
The current Super League salary cap stands at £2.1 million – a figure which has remained in place ever since 2020, leading to some concerns about a potential player drain to the NRL, although it is modified by each club having three marquee player spots.
Despite that, new NRL club Perth Bears have poached the likes of Mikolaj Oledzki, James McDonnell and Harry Newman (all Leeds Rhinos) while former Super League stars Morgan Smithies, Matty Nicholson and Dom Young are already making their names Down Under.
But the salary cap was put in place to level the playing field in the northern hemisphere, and Lakin believes it is doing just that.
“Super League is getting more and more competitive,” Lakin said.
“I think the salary cap has balanced the competition out now and I know that the likes of Wigan have been quite vocal about it.
“The salary cap has certainly pinched us and one or two others because it is tight to work with.
“Some clubs have come up on the rails and invested well, but that’s the challenge and that’s what you want.
“I said before that to achieve what we’ve achieved is incredible, but that is the past and we’ve got to respond to it.”