Hope he plays better than he did sunday, He was rubbish

Why did he play again the day after the Four Nations Final ?

Must have had a run out for orrell to prepare himself for the big one.

No it is nothing like that, ST has only just established himself as an international RL player, this is for nobody else's benefit than ST. Your analogy is way off the mark it is more like a software developer doing some work for Microsoft with the agreement of Jobes (which has happened) and do not forget Jobes and Gates have worked together.

ST is playing in a meaningless exhibition match sandwiched between far more important club fixtures. RL main competitor is not RU (Leeds and Quins are testament to that) football is and by a very long way.

It's Jobs. Steve Jobs.

Jobes to his mates. I called him Jobesy.

Is it, or is it more like Jobs turning up at a microsoft meeting and saying "I'd do it like this, becuase I'm hot. The way you do it - its kinda boring to look at."

Assuming it goes well, it [icould[/i be used as an excellent marketing tool for SL - playing on the fact league produces a more exciting and capable rugby player. Or, we could all sit round and moan about it.

There will be rugby union speccies that have never been interested in whether league is any good or not. Seeing Sam run rings round a few union lads will surely help the exposure of league and increase interest in it.

Alternatively, watching him flail hopelessly at a series of high balls will confirm their belief that when they turn up in their Range Rovers and Barbour jackets, they're watching a superior game.

Which would surely help put off the Rugby Union from poaching our stars?

Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Your relentless optimism has defeated my sarcastic nihilism; I am unable to retort.

I am wondering if the majority of the posters on this thread do, given the outcrying to effectively ban Sam from playing in this game.

Come on over to my side - Its warm, your glass is always half full and there's cuddles for all!

Do none of you have doubts about Leneghan's long term intentions? I can understand the link up with the Scorpions and accessing players from Wales, but the link with Saracens and the constant fawning over Union doesn't seem very productive.

He seems delighted to be setting Wigan RL up as a feeder system for Union.

As for the actual match itself, Tomkins playing well will merely ensure he moves to Union quicker. He'll also have his head thoroughly turned in terms of what he could have down there, despite Wigan's claims he can't talk to other clubs until 3 years are up, he'll be doing it on Saturday without doubt.

You make my skin burn.

I see that the Union slant on it is that the Barbarians have previously invited, for example, Lote T, Matt Rogers, SBW and Willie Mason some of whom were already on their way to Union. They apparently did well "on the big stage." Implies they consider ST will be on his way at some point.

I'm sure Australia will be under orders to let ST score long distance tries when he gets the ball - to help convince him RU is the game for me. Call me a cynic - but these games are just exhibition matches where the result doesn't matter.

Nah - I'd only spoil it for everyone.

Good old jobes

It may or may not have been mentioned in this thread, but it shows how desperate rugby union are.

The Barbarians are the best of the best, the cream of the union crop. If they can't fill that team with their own talent and need to look at the more athletic, mature brother in rugby league then so be it.

It speaks more about their game than it does ours - we know ours is better, and now they do too.

Sam must be ing himself - he's got nothing to lose.

You don't know what you are talking about. The Barbarians are not 'the best of the best, the cream of the union crop' at all.

They are just an invitation side put together to play one off matches and traditionally they include an uncapped player.

Thats not why they are picking him. They are trying to make his head turn.

Compare the RFL and Wigan's reponse to the NRL when Benji was offered $1m to play Union in Japan during off-season couple years ago

Now thats leadership. Thats an orginisation which doesnt see itself as little brother to the Union or the AFL.

Isn't it. Makes the RFL look ridiculous.

I just don't understand the apathy from the Wigan fans. They refuse to see the negatives in their owner whoring the club round Rugby Union suitors.

It's not the fact that Tomkins is playing the match that grates on me, it's the sugar coated grovelling tone Leneghan takes and the RFL's response was just incredible really. Taking it as a compliment and getting all excited about it was pathetic. We shouldn't be making it so easy for Union to succeed IMO.

Wigan are behaving like a newly interned prisoner who just became the bitch of the toughest gangster on the landing; they may be afforded some measure of protection, but they're still going to get painfully bummed on a regular basis.

The latest indignity appears to be that Master Tomkins (S) can now do what the love he pleases, including turning out for the Barbarians only one week after a super-special deal was announced, preventing him from talking to RU clubs. Will he be chaperoned during the build-up and on match day, to ensure he keeps his end up?

Who cares. Sam Tomkins and his flirtations with RU are a symptom, not a cause, not a death sentence. A symptom.

Stopping Tomkins playing in this match wont address the reasons his brother has left, and wont address the reasons Tomkins is so open to the idea.

if we address those reasons players like Tomkins will have no reason to be looking enviously at their RU counterparts.