Interesting to note the RFL have posted a £2m loss for 2017. No international home games explains some of the loss, but 3 home tests doesn't explain the full gap.

They are claiming they have invested for the future, but as much as I love this sport it has felt on a downward spiral for a while now.

We didn't and we lost two key players early on, anyway that's one game, over the season if we had more luck with injuries we would be in the top 4, think of the top 6 teams, only us and Cas have suffered badly.

IMO our 2018 team is better than the 2016 team, the backs are much better IMO, certainly more depth, 2016 pack was better though.

Them cheating helped them massively to get to where they are, that success form chaeting brings in money and players, which puts them on the front foot compared to other teams.

They also have no competition from any other rugby league team when it comes to development, imagine if Hull had the pick of every young player from Yorkshire.

He didn't have enough money, look at his past dealings, he simply never had the money to buy the club outright alone, even less so when he had his own money in other pies. It's irrelevant to the point I was making about financial decision making and you still failed to understand what a benefactor is as opposed to an investor, so it was you who went off topic bringing the subject up.

You think the 2018 side is better than the 2016 side ???
Mmmmmm
Ellis Fonua Watts Pritchard
Who’d we replace them with ?
Have another think again
This seasons side is leaderless without Ellis

I understand the difference between a benefactor and an investor!!!!
You’re argument is built on speculation not evidence as per usual. Jesus H Christ talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Wizeb was right maybe I have changed my opinion of you. I have constantly defended you but not any more, you’re viewpoint of the club and it’s owner is appalling, why do you bother.

OK let’s try and put this to bed
We were totally outplayed in wollongong and it wasn’t because we lost our winger
We we’re out smarted out played too slow
Whatever you like we were a model of inconsistency in that game and we’ve been like it all season

Melbourne Storm - you allege they have the pick of Melbourne hence success
I’ve lived here since 2011
Please back up your point and name me a Melbourne born and raised player who is in the team ?????
Who ?

OK the Dave K comment is somewhat wrong about Melbourne being a huge source of talent (I think Fonua wouldn't be too far off being the only Melbourne born player in the NRL). But the Storm have always had a strong presence in Queensland and get a lot from there.

On other issues they have always been well funded and certainly haven't had the cash struggles that have hampered other NRL clubs - News Ltd used to chuck in loads to them. I'm not going to rubbish their on field achievements because they have been impressive and Bellamy is undoubtedly a very good coach, but neither should we forget that they are better funded and resourced than most of their opponents, plus they weren't afraid to cheat either.

Still even with a good deck you still have to win and they have done that - there are plenty of examples of moneybags teams who still come away with nothing.

On to Hull and can they compete financially? Maybe not right up there but certainly close enough that with good management they can be genuine contenders so I'm not too worried about them falling behind yet. As for investment in RL , I don't think anyone is in it for big (or any) profit and they would be daft if they were. Like lower tier football it is something of a rich fan's plaything at times and the owner's tend to be accepting that it is a hobby that will cost. What does surprise me is that more don't put their money in RL for enjoyment compared to League 1 or 2 football. Similar crowds but RL would be cheaper and the chance of becoming a local celebrity if the team goes well is much greater as is the chance of reaching towards the top of the game - something that will never happen to the Scunthorpe's, Yorks and Grimsby's of this world in football.

Can we compete financially? I would say the ground issue is a bot of a red herring in terms of us competing financially to an extent.

We already appear from what both AP & LR have said to compete with a squad using the full SC, so that in itself means we can compete with any other team in SL. Where we may not compete is in terms of profit made with us not owning the ground but that does not mean we can not compete on the field.

AP has invested heavily in to the club from top to bottom and turned the club around to now be genuine contenders.

The other aspect to look at is we are not the only SL club in the City and both ourselves and Rovers to an extent are cut adrift from the closeness of the West Yorkshire & Lancashire clubs which results in pretty low numbers in terms of away fans attending.

All in all AP and his team have made the club financially stable and able to compete at the top of SL.

We're breaking even in a non wembley year but we've cut backroom staff to a minimum, only pay for 1/2 an academy and have one of the smallest coaching teams in SL. My question was based around other clubs bring better quality players in and whether we can afford the same? saints bring in barba and it transforms them