WIDNES and Wigan legend Martin Offiah believes that the best rugby league players in the northern hemisphere should be earning millions of pounds in order to raise the profile of the sport.
Offiah, who registered 145 appearances for Widnes and then 159 for Wigan during his lengthy rugby league career, in a special Rugby League World question and answer column, has hinted at allowing clubs pay more for the stars of the game.
“We’ve seen what Jai Field and Bevan French are doing, not only on the pitch but for the town of Wigan, they’re absolute superstars,” Offiah wrote in Rugby League World.
“We need to make them superstars nationally. I was part of the Wigan team in 1994 that won the BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year.
“Short of England winning the Euros, I think this current Wigan team should be favourites to win the Team of the Year award again.
“We know Wigan are the greatest rugby league team the world has ever seen – now it’s about getting that message out. Not preaching to the choir, but getting it out.
“We need genuine superstars who are earning millions of pounds. I said it years ago and people thought I was saying it just because I was an agent, but I said if the players on the pitch are earning a lot more than the people in the stands, you become an aspirational sport.
“How do we do it? I know a lot of the clubs will say ‘we can’t spend what we can’t afford’. But if clubs can, let them do it.
“I’d rather have an uneven competition with genuine superstars than an even competition which is dumbed down and players are only earning £100,000 a year. They could earn £1.5 million in the NRL or rugby union.”
At present, the Super League salary cap stands at £2.1 million with that being the same figure for five years in a row, though 2024 did see the addition of a third marquee player spot for homegrown talents.
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