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Bardon and Gnostic: so well put. Ever more so as your assessments correspond perfectly with the recent history of genuine change in our State RUs. Namely, real and substantial change only comes when the local franchises have gotten to a point of a disastrous outcome or near-death experience...

Does anyone feel like me that Diggers is down a tad of pace and is making his electric breaks on half not full voltage? Just doesn't seem quite at his best, the breaks seem to die off and not find support and explode as they used to.

CFS: something about him, something very special, force of nature waiting for a football.

Is our attack and handling looking good enough for 4 try BP? Thoughts?

WJ - just to be clear - I was not trying to 'blame' the ARU, merely highlighting how their (important) part plays out in the overall process and that no one yet quite knows how Robbie and Nuci decide on what 'top up' level is offered. Side point: Whilst the ARU intends to only offer 32 'top...

Agree Penguin. The only time I've said this for a long time as I'm not a ref-basher: with a 'normal' referee, I think we would have won re Cru, I really do. I'd also add that remarkably poor defense cost us hugely v Stormers. That too was a game that we should and could have won with better...

THE central issue that keeps being skated around in all of this is this: do we have local RUs in Australia that are competent to manage their total businesses successfully for the medium term, or do we not? Successfully = a composite of building quality teams at multiple levels, growing revenues...

If you read the long quoted media text in Tangawizi's post above, even the most ardent salary cap supporting posters here must agree that the whole player reward system in terms of overall process management, RUPA-ARU processes, and timing within the playing season and the massive distractions...

I'm looking forward to a 2012 Reds game where I _think_ I can relax as to the outcome, a first this year! Most others have been high anxiety roller coasters.

We Reds' fans are pleased to receive the kindly philosophical advice re the calm and considered manner by which we should accept the departure of a (supposedly) $ motivated Higgers to bleak city... but am I right in recalling... ...when KB (Kurtley Beale) was similarly poached with Rebels' currently uncapped...

Umm, their notorious historical problems had nothing whatsoever to do with 'excessive player payments', not even close. Rather, maladministration and/or poor team performance. Just crap general management and leadership prior to those bailouts. I doubt Jim Carmichael would accept a description...

Barb, when you get this petty and remonstrative, my motivation to continue a discussion lapses. Since I've been here, you've more or less always supported the status quo of Australian rugby union, I have more or less always debated and argued it should be changed. Let it be.

Barb, you have said this, what, 4 times in the Higgers context. How can you possibly know this so categorically without full knowledge of all of the QRU's forward budgets, cash-flow estimates, ARU grants look-forward, other actual and likely player costs for 2012 and 2013, 2012's gate income...

Oh look, I am only trying to be constructive FFS, now you come back and want to argue against your own suggestions! I haven't thought through all the permutations of something like this. And your $1.25m is a randomly chosen figure which you now have problems with. But what you argue over is...

Huge points above, thanks Bb. Note all Aus posters extolling the seemingly hallowed benefits of our salary cap: RSA rugby now has 2-3 consistently strong top S15 teams who have won multiple and many S1x titles. Sorry there's 2 weaker clubs but the harsh fact of capitalist life is that an...

Bh81, that's constructive input, something like the above (which should not go on forever) would be far fairer and more sensible than the current scheme (which is effectively designed around and will perpetuate Aus S15's rugby's weaknesses, rather than its strengths).

Funny, but oh so wrong. We always admired and still do Higgers; you and Bob D were the long-standing haters. It's the whacko system that's seemingly prohibited the Reds from retaining him at market value, that is the object of many of our loathings. So the curve should plot 'respect for salary...

Everyone knows my implacable opposition to this ludicrous salary cap scheme (as implemented currently) and the laughable, dysfunctional general structure we have in Australian rugby where the nanny ARU micro-manages various aspects of the franchises' affairs, but has no care for or influence...

I have not yet relinquished all hope that Link and Jim C will mount a counter attack out of this ruck and hold Higgers. The fact that just yesterday (as LG noted above) the Rebels CEO said no offer had as yet been made to Higgers means that either Harris has jumped the gun (hardly surprising...

Didn't you see this posted right here 7 hrs before Slim?