Newly-appointed England captain Jon Wilkin is urging Super League clubs to learn the lessons from the financial crisis that is threatening to engulf Bradford.
The Bulls were the success story in the early days of Super League, winning the title four times in eight years, but are on the point of liquidation after running out of money and have made their entire coaching staff redundant.
"It's a bad situation and we need to ensure that, long-term, going forward, we don't get to this situation again," said Wilkin, who is chairman of the newly-formed Super League players' association, 1eague3.
"I think it's important to learn our lessons from this. Let's look at ways as a game we can reduce the risk of this happening again. As chairman of 1eague3 that's what I'm passionate about."
Wilkin, one of rugby league's most intelligent and articulate spokesmen, says the players can play their part in ensuring the game thrives but believes the onus for long-term stability lies firmly with the administrators.
"This isn't a rugby league problem," he said. "Sports clubs historically have always struggled financially.
"I think commercially we need to do much better than we have been doing. The crux of it is we need to get more money coming into the game from wherever we can.
"As players our responsibility is to make the product as valuable as possible by playing well and by presenting the game well whenever we get the opportunity.
"Away from that, it's down to the people whose job it is to bring in commercial revenue to ensure that they are maximising the value of our sport.
"That for me is potentially where the sport has maybe let itself down in the last few years."
Wilkin also believes the game's governing body can play a bigger role in ensuring the survival of the elite clubs amid rumours that Salford and Castleford are also feeling the pinch.
"I don't know about the financial state of other clubs but I certainly think it's something that should be more open," added the 28-year-old St Helens back-row forward.
"There ought to be regular audits to ensure that, if a team is given a three-year licence, it's not three years where they can relax their business and start losing money in that three years.
"I think we need constant pressure on clubs to perform as businesses."
