SOME NRL players earn as much as an entire Super League squad, according to Wigan’s executive director Kris Radlinski.
The former Lance Todd Trophy winner made the claim in an interview with the Wigan Observer as he outlined in detail the reigning world champs’ salary cap position.
He said Cronulla and Australia winger Valentine Holmes was probably being paid six times as much as Huddersfield and England rival Jermaine McGillvary.
“Two or three years ago you were talking about the first million dollar player in the NRL – I don’t think they’re far off having $2 million players,” said Radlinski. “With third party sponsorship, they’re earning a lot.
“The biggest stars in the NRL are probably earning as some of our clubs’ entire salary cap. That’s a massive challenge we’re up against.
“If we take Jermaine McGillvary, who was an England star in the World Cup, his Australian counterpart, Valentine Holmes, is earning six times the amount as Jermaine.”
Taking concessions into account, Wigan will spend Stg2.2 million ($A3.77 million) this year on players – and they will be paying the bill from the profits that come out of an upcoming two-match tour of Australia.
Shaun Wane’s side takes on Hull in the first-ever Super League game played south of the equator, at WIN Stadium on February 10.
A week later, they pay South Sydney in an ANZ Stadium double header that also pits St George Illawarra against Hull.
“We’ve been dealing with governments on both sides of the world, we’ve got 37 stake holders,” said Radlinski.
“The Super League game in Wollongong has to look like a match here, even down to the man of the match boards and pitch markings.
“We have two funding partners, Destination Wollongong and Destination New South Wales, and out of that money we need to pay for us and Hull FC to go over there, forfeit a game at DW Stadium, buy in South Sydney, buy in St George Illawarra and make two stadium agreements.
“How we make money now is getting people to those games so you will see us promoting this event heavily – we need to get people to these games to make it work.
“Yes, we’re pushing the boundaries and yes, it will be good for Super League but if it was a break-even trip, I don’t think we’d be doing it.
“We’re looking to make money out of this and that money will be reinvested in the squad.”
