I seem to hear calls for transparency from the RFL and in the game in general, especially where there are threads concerning Crusaders, Harlequins and any decision from the RFL that a fan disagreed wtih.

What I want to know is what would it change if there was transparency from the RFL?

A lot of fans do not believe the RFL whatever they say so why would this 'tranparency' be taken on face value.

My guess is if the RFL were being transparent and said "We've given Crusaders X amount and have given Quins X amount in the past" certain posters would take an I told you so stance and blast the RFL. If the RFL said that no money has been handed out to help said clubs posters would label them liars and say that money has been handed out regardless.

As far as I can see the RFL are damned if they do and damned if they don't. The fact is whatever they say people view it differently depending on agenda (anti-expansion, pro-expansion etc) and ignore the facts regardless. If transprency arrived at the level that anybody called for the whole saga would remain as clear as mud. People's viewpoints would still be motivated by what they wanted in the present and future regardless of facts.

I think it would make a terrific difference.

The RFL often claim one thing and then do another; this just lends itself to conspiracy theories when they actually tell the truth.

They were willing to turn a blind eye to salary cap breeches by Crusaders when in the NLs. The people who pointed this out were labelled hateful flatcappers and later it emerges that those players were supposedly professional picture framers playing amateur rugby for no fee! (and working illegally to boot).

What does this do but make claims that the RFL was paying for hotels and flights for Crusaders seem plausible? I don't believe this myself but the lack of honesty in other areas causes people to believe these things.

Does it?

Or does the RFL say one thing, and then random fans imagine they've done another?

My god you're delusion has reached new bounds. Can't be bothered to traipse through the internet finding evidence, but are you seriously suggesting that the RFL have never backtracked on anything?

Who can say? There is no evidence to back either argument is there?

Random fans and the UK Borders Agency.

Not if you're going to ignore or deliberately refuse to believe it, no.


As an example: I point to the perennial "The RFL bailed out London Broncos" posts that have been appearing on these boards with monotonous regularity, irrespective of how many times the facts are pointed out.



Go one then, I'll bite.

Name one single instance of the UKBA accusing the RFL of saying one thing and doing another …


In fact all you do is prove my case.

When did Crusaders breach the salary cap?

This is my exact point about people making up their own 'facts'. I cannot ever remember the Crusaders breaching salary caps and the RFL turning a blind eye.

All they were found guilty of was playing on the wrong VISA's. The salary cap did not come into it. Or do you have proof to suggest otherwise?

classic

ditto:

I didn't say that the UKBA did anything of the kind.

What I said was that Crusaders were breeching the salary cap rules came out when the UKBA started investigating.

It is not just my opinion that Crusaders were declaring that certain full-time players were on £0 per week and were getting their salaries from Dekor plc. That's what came out.

They were paid by Dekor plc as picture framers and were supposedly playing rugby in their spare time. This is exactly the kind of "boot money" that we love to criticise in rugby union.