Warrington’s Tony Smith has already drawn up a wishlist of marquee players for next season and has thrown his support behind Super League’s new ruling.
Clubs voted on Wednesday to introduce a marquee player rule starting from next season, with Warrington one of the driving forces behind the proposal. Under the terms of the agreement, clubs will be entitled to sign one player who will have a notional value on their salary cap of either £100,000 if club-trained or £175,000 if non-club trained.
Warrington are already scouring the market with the aim of securing such a player for 2016. “I certainly hope to use it,” he said. “Have we got a wishlist? Of course. But you’ve got to know it’s going to happen before you can offer anything. We’ll certainly get out in the market now it’s been approved to find something we can spend it on. Most of the best players are tied up for some years, but hopefully we can find something.”
Smith insisted the rule will help Super League to grow as a competition, and said the league could not restrict themselves to the financial spend of their least-richest clubs any longer by rejecting the ruling. “If we keep staying to what our lowest clubs can afford, we’re never going to grow,” he said.
“The day has to come where you stop limiting things as much as what we do. I’ve no problem that we’ve a salary cap to help our competition but at some stage you’ve got to grow. If this is the first step towards that, great. Eventually, I hope clubs make the move to have two or three marquee players.”
Smith paid tribute to his brother and incoming Wakefield coach Brian Smith, saying he would be nowhere without the help of his elder sibling.
The 61-year-old has been handed the task of trying to keep bottom-placed Wakefield in Super League after being appointed on a deal until the end of the season. The first meeting between the brothers is at Wakefield on 12 July.
“I can certainly say, hand on heart, that I would be nowhere near where I am today without having worked with Brian,” said Smith. “I worked with him three times throughout my career, at Parramatta, Illawarra and St George, I’m indebted forever for what I’ve learnt from him and some opportunities that have arisen because of him as well.
“There will obviously be friendly and brotherly rivalry that week we play, but I think there’s nothing but respect from each of us for what we’ve done in our careers.”
Smith also believes that such is the experience of his brother, who is regarded as one of the most influential coaches of his generation, Wakefield have given themselves a great chance of staying in Super League.
“I’m really pleased for him and the club, and it’s a great recruitment for Super League as well. He’ll get a response from the players, I’m telling you; those other teams had better be good as Wakefield have some terrific attacking players already, and he’ll work on their defence no end.
“On a professional level, it’s great for our sport. It’s incredible how many people he has influenced. I went to a testimonial the other night and the number of people asking about Brian showed me how many people he has influenced. He’s been doing it for 30-odd years and he’s got an incredible record.”
Rangi Chase makes his return for Salford at St Helens on Friday night. The 2011 man of steel has been banned since Easter and Salford have lost all seven matches in his absence.
