“WHAT’S the worst that can happen?” – That’s the view of Wigan Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski when talking about raising the Super League salary cap.
The cap currently stands at £2.1 million, but it has been frozen for its sixth season with some clubs still failing to pay up to the limit.
In recent times, there has been clamouring to both increase and reduce the cap, with the idea that the current set-up is not working given the fact that only four clubs have ever won the Super League Grand Final and one of those – Bradford Bulls – have not even been in the top flight for over a decade.
For Radlinski, the sport is, at present, caught in two minds about what it wants to be.
“I think access is our biggest strength and our biggest weakness,” Radlinski said on Sky Sports: The Bench podcast.
“We are very good at letting people in and the impact for our community but we want to create superstars as well.
“But superstars don’t give you access, superstars won’t talk to you for 20 minutes in a supermarket.
“We are caught in a paradox situation where we want to create superstars but we want to be humble and community heroes.”
Radlinski also feels that to be able to keep more superstars in the northern hemisphere, the salary cap must be raised.
“We need players who are recognisable, who are marketable and we are caught in this situation of the salary cap.
“There is some narrative in the game that we need to reduce it which comes from cash-strapped clubs and an increased cost of living etc.
“We are trying to create higher-profile players and you can’t have both. If the salary cap would have increased at the rate of inflation, we should be at £2.6 million – it’s £2.1 million.
“Prize money has gone down and so has broadcast money. These players are putting so much into the sport as we know it.
“We preach and amplify the message about welfare yet we are talking about reducing the salary cap.
“We have a bit of relentless cutting and trying to survive rather than progressive growth. We want high-profile players but we are talking about paying them loss.
“The overall value of the product is down so what kind of message is that saying to future investors or kids who want to play the sport?
“Should we be held and pulled back by clubs who are struggling or do we try and go the other way?
“Players have never been worse off. These are strong messages and need to be considered.
“I would raise it in line with inflation and see where we get to. We have got to still protect the game – what’s the worst that can happen?”