Its a crazy amount of money for any player but it is only one player. Its not like they have dispensation to buy half a team.

They aren't buying him because of what he can do on the field. He won't be anywhere near the best player in SL. They are paying this money because they want the exposure and a genuine big name who they can market. They could have gone and got Jason Taumalolo for that money. But the average Toronto sports fan wouldn't know him. The average Toronto sports fan would however be very familiar with the All Blacks. SBW is a name that transcends the sport and as a former All Black and world cup winner he is hugely marketable.

It also has a benefit to the league as a whole. More exposure and column inches equals more interest from sponsors and TV companies. And having a genuine superstar playing is going to put more bums on seats at all the games he plays in. Not just their home games.

If they have the money and are prepared to spend it then they should be encouraged. Its just a shame other teams don't have the resources to do similar.

Its a quiet time for news and raining like hell here so here are my thoughts on this thorny subject

I think the last post is a fair appraisal of what has happened but I also take on board the other points that have been raised here for it is certainly turning out to be a bit of a marmite issue as far as fans are concerned. The same of course will go for Clubs as well. Some who seem to have failed to change much their approach to audience building since the start of Super league will sit on their hands shake their heads and get their I told you so's ready for when it fails.

However, I would hope that others more forward thinking (like the two Hull Clubs try to be) will see it as an opportunity and although unable to invest at such levels themselves they will look to keep the momentum and hype this move has created going.

Like it or not, it’s a massive opportunity to kick start things for 2020, get some hype going and build the profile of the games top Division. I was never for the Toronto thing in the first place and still think that to have two teams outside the country of origin in a league of just 12 is ludicrous. However, they came in, won promotion fairly and squarely and so ethically they must take their place in Super League.

I think too that the Canadian Club realise that this is far more than a move to improve them on the field for they will never get their investment back, from ‘a banged up 34-year-old’.

But they have just the same signed probably one of the most iconic and recognisable players in the game and done it not just to raise their profile as a club, but also the profile of the game in North America, the sport of rugby League and the name of Super league worldwide. One Diary reader told me that his move had been featured in the media in Malaysia last week!!!

Their owner should be commended for that! Not bad for a bloke who has been told that he will not be getting any of his share of the Sky money and who will have to contribute to the costs of every teams travel to Canada next season (and no doubt have to put up a bond if he ever wants his team to enter the Challenge Cup). He doesn't seem to bare many grudges does he?

It’s not so much the signing that is significant now but how as a game we capitalise on the opportunity and exposure it presents. It’s the first big test of Elstone and Co’s ability to put their money where their mouth is and capitalise on such selling opportunities. But, will it ignite a change in the fortunes of the game, or just be another addition to the ever increasing dustbin of Rugby leagues missed opportunities???? That for me is down to how as a game we run with it and only time will tell on that one.

Good post completely agree with this

It’s a fantastic signing for Super League. The more superstars in our league the more the profile of our game will increase, and SBW is the biggest star in Super League

Seeing as SBW is coming from union salary doesn’t count on cap; same as Ratu Naulago

You're nearly right as he hasn't played league for 5 years (2014), so qualifies on that ruling, but only a 50% reduction, down to £75k.

He'll be there on the marquee ruling. The returning player dispensation allows 50% off the cap of the players salary. £2.6m reported yearly salary would only reduce it to £1.3m, still a huge chunk of the cap. Marquee ruling allows his cap wage to be reduced to £150,000 a year.

Try again, way off the mark.

Ok, thanks for the enlightenment.

My apologies, you're absolutely right - the rules talk about "salary cap value", which in his case is 50% of his salary. If that is more than £175k, he's classed as a marquee player and his salary cap value is reduced to £150k.

Odd that a player on £170k has a cap value of £170k.