From the SL site
Warrington Wolves are set to lead the hunt for a high-profile recruit for 2016 after First Utility Super League clubs voted to adopt a marquee-player rule.
Under the terms of the amendment, the marquee player will have a notional value of either £100,000 if club trained or £175,000 if non-club trained which will count on their salary cap of £1.825million.
The Rugby Football League say clubs will only be allowed to sign a marquee player if they meet clearly-defined affordability criteria based around their income and expenditure.
Several clubs are expected to use the ruling to keep their top players away from the clutches of the NRL and rugby union while Wigan Warriors will take advantage of the exemption to ease the return of England full-back Sam Tomkins.
Salford Red Devils and Leeds Rhinos may be tempted to make a play for a big name from the NRL while Warrington coach Tony Smith says his club have drawn up a list of potential targets.
"You need to make sure the rule went through and now hopefully we can go out and knowingly shop," said the former England boss.
Smith, who has already recruited Australian utility back Kurt Gidley for 2016, broadly welcomed the change.
"It's progress in some respects," Smith said."I just think we've stagnated as a sport to keep our salary cap around the region it has been.
"We haven't progressed much and at some stage it's got to happen. I think salary-capping has served some purposes in protecting ourselves from ourselves and keeping the competition close but a lot of our players are getting picked off by other sports.
"You go to Magic Weekend and you see all the Australian managers and recruitment officers, who are not here to watch the rugby, they're here to identify our players.
"You can't blame young players for wanting to try their hand in Australia but it would be nice to be able to financially help them stay here. The NRL salary cap keeps on growing and growing."
Wigan coach Shaun Wane admits the marquee player rule will save him making some tough decisions on how to accommodate Tomkins, who will return to Super League next season after a two-year stint with New Zealand Warriors, and praised officials for backing the move.
"I think it's great news," he said. "I know quite a few of the chairmen have been pushing for it. If it lifts the profile of the game, then I'm all in favour of it.
"Obviously if we can bring some great players to the club - like we already have got some great players - and we get a better team, then I'm all in favour of it."
Read more at superleague.co.uk
