English Super League powerbrokers are "poised to agree to a new marquee signing allowance that will make it more attractive" for the National Rugby League's elite to head to England, according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Under a new proposal, Super League clubs will be able to "recruit and retain superstars outside the salary cap to bolster their rosters." While there has been no official announcement, the initiative is "likely to be approved and introduced" in '16. The "implications" for the NRL will be significant given the top English clubs -- including Wigan, Warrington, Leeds and St. Helens -- will be able to "compete financially for superstars with Australian teams." As the proposal currently stands, each club will be able to "pay a home-grown marquee" more than £200,000 ($299,000), which "won't count as part of its salary cap." Alternatively, clubs can spend as much as they want to "recruit a bona fide superstar," with only £200,000 counting on the cap. Super League's salary cap is £1.8M ($2.7M), "well below" the A$6.5M ($5M) figure in the NRL. But the marquee allowance plan, coupled with the strength of the British pound, will "make heading overseas a more viable option for big-name stars." Super League side Salford Owner Marwan Koukash has "regularly called for the salary cap to be raised, but the current pitch will only affect one player in each team's roster" (SMH, 4/21).
