If only I knew how to budget like Saints... (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

If only I knew how to budget like Saints...

7:50am Friday 27th July 2007

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I wish I could have met the St Helens accountants before the missus' birthday.
Wandering around the shops it seemed like she wanted a Chanel handbag, a Gucci dress, maybe some Louis Vuitton shoes, a nice bottle of perfume and possibly a weekend away in Paris.
I told her - not that she needed telling - that so many luxury gifts just weren't feasible given my limited budget and she understood. I think. Anyway, I splashed out on the handbag although, it now appears, that may be a fake but, hey, I tried. You can't always get what you want.
Unless, maybe, you're St Helens. As the latest salary cap saga came to a head this week, that expensive birthday wish list got me thinking about those Saints.
Wigan have overspent by a whopping £222,314 - a massive 13 per cent above the limit - so obviously someone's a bit free and easy with the cheque book over there.
But, despite the various big-earners on the pay-roll there, they also had plenty of players of such pedigree as Harrison Hansen and Olivier Wilkes.
What astounded me was they came so massively above budget yet St Helens quietly crept over by a paltry 0.8 per cent.
This is the same St Helens side that can call upon TEN Great Britain internationals including such stellar giants of the game as Paul Sculthorpe, Leon Pryce, Paul Wellens, Kieron Cunningham and Sean Long.
There's Jon Wilkin, Lee Gilmour, James Roby, James Graham and Ade Gardner not to mention Aussie superstar Matt Gidley and Kiwi legend Jason Cayless.
Plenty of Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci in that shopping basket, not to mention Prada, Versace and Fendi with a little Burberry too. The wife will be jealous. I wonder what their secret is….