Wigan Warriors CEO Kris Radlinski Advocates Salary Cap Changes to Combat NRL Raiding
Wigan Warriors CEO Kris Radlinski has admitted that Super League clubs are powerless to stop the raiding of their players by deep-pocketed NRL clubs due to the current state of the salary cap. Radlinski is now advocating for changes to the existing system.
In recent weeks, South Sydney Rabbitohs have secured the services of St Helens half-back Lewis Dodd from 2025, while Warrington Wolves back-rower Matty Nicholson has been snapped up by Canberra Raiders. Wigan themselves lost two forwards, Morgan Smithies and Kai Pearce-Paul, to NRL sides at the end of last year.
Radlinski concedes that English clubs have little protection against the approaches of wealthy NRL outfits. “It’s going to be a challenge because we’re unprotected really to a degree as clubs,” he told Love Rugby League. “The reality is you’re unprotected, and with our salary cap being what it is, there’s not much you can do.”
The Super League salary cap has remained at £2.1 million for the past five years, while the NRL’s current cap is £6.085 million (AUS$11.65 million) and is set to rise to £6.32 million (AUS$12.1 million) by 2027. Radlinski is aware of the financial situation in the sport and believes discussions are needed about the future of the salary cap.
“Now there are discussions taking place around the table about salary cap tweaks, adaptions, dispensations, or even getting rid of it all together,” he said. “We need to get to a place where we’re at least having discussions about the future of the salary cap, what that looks like and probably in line with the IMG period.”
Wigan have several academy products, such as forward Junior Nsemba, who have attracted interest from NRL clubs. Radlinski is determined to retain these players, stating that the club’s owner “doesn’t want to lose these kinds of players.”
The uncertainty around the salary cap limit for the 2025 season has added to the challenges facing Super League clubs as they look to navigate the recruitment and retention process. Radlinski believes the direction of the game should be a collective decision involving the governing body and club owners.
As the rugby league landscape continues to evolve, Radlinski’s call for a re-evaluation of the salary cap system could have significant implications for the future of the sport in England and its ability to retain top talent.
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