Are there any teams in Oz or Europe that can afford the stars of Melbourne Storm? I'm worried that we may lose some of leagues best players to union. Are there any clubs in Super League that can afford players like Inglis, Slater, Cronk, Smith and Blairs wages. It would be amazing to see them over here and a great shame to lose them in our game.

I hope not ,to lose talent like that to yawnion would be a massive waste.

I know matey, i'd rather see Inglis and Slater at Wigan that going to Union, and that's saying something for a leyther.

Melbourne couldnt afford them

No,never,the smugness from the Goons would be unbearable

No chance any of the superstars ie. Inglis, Blair, Slater etc will come to SL. They will stay in the NRL. Only way I can ever possibly see any of them coming over would be because no NRL teams can afford them this season, so they come over here on 'loan' until the end of the SL season.

However, its highly unlikely and I fully expect the majority to stay in the NRL.

I suppose a loan is an option if anyone has got a space in thier squad, i'd have Slater at Leigh, it's not the wages though, Donlans on fire, not sure he'd get a game!!!

I dunno. Players move for differing reasons. Jamie Lyon spent 2 years at Saints.

As you say if thr NRL clubs can't sign any available players this year they would move to SL for a spell at least. But I think Melbourne will cut other players in order to keep the stars and those stars will probably take a cut in salary to stay.

Have Catalans not got a spare place in their squad?

I've just thought that if any team can find some way of getting him, Cameron Smith is the kind of player who could make the difference and win you the Grand Final.

I think you’ll find that betting has more to do with the outcome of a super league grand final these days than a talented play. Hence why Lee Smith was awarded that try!

You're right, thats why London Skolars win it every year.

Warrington are getting them all, don't you know!

Hope so.

They'll stay in the NRL but be heading fer other clubs imo. Expect Cowboys (If Thurston doesn't resign), Broncos (if Folau jumps ship), Manly (If Stewart goes down) to all make moves for the big names. Finch was on his way after this year anyway and may end up in SL. Would love to see Blair go to the NZ Warriors. Only Inglis or Slater would be wanted by RU I'd say.

I'd be astounded if a number of French rugby union clubs haven't been on the phone to the Storm management already. They don't have a salary cap to worry about and the likes of Toulon and Stade Francais have plenty of cash behind them.

I can't see the likes of Slater, Inglis and co heading to Super League. Aside from the strength that their names have in Australia, no club can bring them in under the cap this year and I doubt they will next year either without major cuts elsewhere. If it turns out that criminal charges emerge from this as well, the chances of those players involved being admitted to the UK are probably slim given past examples. The question then is whether they can be encouraged to cut their earnings and remain in the NRL - and I'm not sure that they all will.

Could any of them get ahead of Bell at the Catalans? ... We'd also take a FB, all ours are broken!

As long as we don't lose them to the dark side, i'm not bothered who they join.

If they do leave RL fair play to them, it's not like they won't be replaced soon enough. Inglis is too fat anyway, he'll be terrible by the time he hits 25.

How much were they over the cap? Why would they have to get rid of all of them?

Apparently they are over by 1.5 Greg Inglis' according to the reports. (700,000 Aussie dollars). I think the 'average' NRL salary was estimated to be $160,000 so it's either cut a star ($500,000 ish) or several lesser players, therefore weakening your squad strength.

More worryingly the new Union startup in Melbourne is rumoured to be looking at them all and there are questions about the future of the Storm as all their sponsors and backers are jumping ship.

wouldn't suprise me if the nrl raise their cap to ensure they don't lose these players to union or the uk

it won't happen for a few seasons when the new tv deal comes in.

Reports have Lima to Canberra, Tolman to Canterbury and Finch to Newcastle.

aidan tolman is going to the bulldogs
jeff lima is headed to another nrl club
brett finch is going to newcastle knight or melbourne RU team

then theyll try to keep the rest with restuctured deals

they probably will keep inglis, slater, smith and cronk