If Saints ever pulled a stunt like that I'd be livid. There are some very suspect undertones to Leneghan's statement, it's as if he sees Wigan's future as a feeder club for Rugby Union, or perhaps in Rugby Union itself.

WIGAN MUST BE MAD WHAT IF HE BREAKS HIS LEG / ARM www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... mkins-deal

WIGAN MUST BE MAD WHAT IF HE BREAKS HIS LEG / ARM www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... mkins-deal

Not half



. . .where a previous regime tried to get one over on RU



. . . where a previous regime tried to get one over on RU



. . .where the current regime decided to bend over and not only lost a current RL international, but partner them so they can have a direct line into Wigan's best young RL players.

Surely you can see the differences between your decisions and those that went before Ian?

It's times like this when I am dismayed by my unfair banning from the Wigan forum.

What do the Wigan fans think about this? Do you like where Leneghan is taking Wigan? Do you want to be a feeder club for Rugby Union? Would you like to see Wigan RL become Wigan RU?

Three things could happen:

Tomkins could play well, and think "hang on, I'm pretty good at this game. And these Australians are *rubbish*. Not like our Australians", and increase the demand for him to go to RU immediately.

Or he could play poorly, and have @rsehole Rugby Club types laughing at League being second-rate (while still encouraging him to "learn the skills" for his crossover in three years time).

Or he could get injured.

None are good results for our game.

He has not been picked for an international team, Barbarians is purely an invitational team with no ground, base or permanent coaching staff.

Despite what has been claimed by Tomkins/Lenegan seems like this was already being discussed and possibly part of the deal before ST signed his new contract. As for coverage the only former/current RL player to get any real coverage for being picked for the Barbarians was SBW in Australia mainly because he was already a very big sporting star and all the talk was about SBW and his talents rather than RL. Willie Mason got picked, and received less coverage than his move to SuperLeague. I suspect ST will be discussed similarly to SBW namely about his skills because like SBW he is a stand-out talent.

No, he'll be spoken of as the rugby league star having a trial with Union.

I hope he plays better than he did on Saturday

union-bound obviously

This is the ifrst time I've ever completely disagreed with Lenagan on a decision he's made.

I simply can't see how it benefits Wigan in the slightest. What good can come of it?

How do you feel in general about the direction Leneghan is taking with the club? His sugar sweetness with Union seems a tad off to me. He seems to be firmly positioning Wigan as a feeder system to Rugby Union in this country.

Will his argument be that it can work both ways? Because that just will not happen.

SO who will be watching this game on Saturday now then? I didn't even know it was on and now I am curiously interested.

Allow me to enlighten you.

Clearly Sam wants to go to Union. Like it or not thats where the money and the glory is. You can't blame him for that.

So Lenaghan decides to let him play for the Barbarians against the side that finished third in the RUWC and one of the best RU sides in the world. He will get destroyed. Well he will if they give him more than 5 minutes off the bench towards the end of the game. He will slink back to league with his tail firmly between his legs. That is if the Wallabies havent broken both of them for him and the tail wont fit between the plaster.

Wigan and RL retain Sam Tomkins.

Win. And Win.

I say let the Rat go, he may be one of the better players we have, but he does not want to stay and some of his actions this season makes me not want him to be associated with League, Onion can have him, but I only think they will take him when he learns to catch!

First and foremost, Lenagan's a Wigan fan. I may not fully understand his decision regarding Saracens, but I 100% believe he's made the call he thinks best benefits Wigan given Joel's clear desire to defect to the kick and clap.

Despite the wailing and gnashing on here I can't say I'm too fussed. No-one would give a toss if it was a golf tournament or football, and yes I fully understand the historical aspects of RL vs RU. It's one game and as far as I'm concerned the only risk is injury. It's also a gamble - if he plays well he increases his value, if he's not great they'll pour scorn.

But perhaps we need to face facts. RU is a far, far stronger game, and it's nationwide. Even in the RL heartlands it's strong - probably because it's an easier game to play and gets the national exposure. I can't imagine IL has been walked over in his RU dealings - they came wanting Sam and Joel, they've got Joel (and good luck to him), we've got a 'partnership', a cross-code game and Sam will play a bit on Saturday.

Personally, I think the time for cross-code games at the top level has passed, expect perhaps for charity, but I'll still watch. The partnership is a strange one and it'll be interesting to see how it develops but again, there's no chance IL has left Wigan open to Saracens snatching our players at will. The fact is if a player doesn't make it in SL he has few options for a career with the oval ball and perhaps RU can see him right, offer him some prospects and a good wage - the same applies to RU lads who don't make it - their skills might be more suited to RL. They are entirely different games after all.

I think it's obvious Sam will go to RU eventually. Fine, good luck to him - it's a short career and why shouldn't he earn as much as possible. I do think he's torn - he's a RL lad but can also see the advantages and challenges of a change and I think we'll see his best years before he switches. Either way, his latest contract ensures any RU will have to front millions if they want him now.

My take, from observing ST over this tournament, that he appears to represent the typical modern day British sporstman with a bit of talent. He appears to look to the camera, be self-conscious, pose, etc anf grossly over-estimate himself - rather like most English footballers. Compare that with people like Lockyer and most truly great sportsman - humble, head down, working hard for the team not personal glory. Personal glory, like money, should be a bi-produce of team success (or success in any walk of life) not the prime-mover. It it is the prime influence then potential and happiness is never achieved. I saw enough over the tournament to form the personal opinion that he'll never make a great of international RL. If I were Wigan I'd issue an ultimatum - either you want to RL or RU and if the latter take the biggest amount they can whilst his contract is new and re-invest it in player development and people who want to play the game. If ST is one of those well that's fine, but all this nonsense is a distraction to ST's development as a player, Wigan and RL in general.

WTF? It would be like Jobes (RIP) guesting as CEO for Microsoft! Why oh why do we give our biggest competitor such favours. It's embarrasing and reminds me of the worker dothing his flat cap to the factory owner as they drive past in the rain in their RollsRoyce. Grow a pair RL!

Haven't read the whole thread but WTF is Tomkins up to? He's an RL player so why feel the need to go swanning off to play in RU exhibition matches? Last week I was feeling really optimistic about English RL - Sam signing a new contract, England hammering NZ to reach the final. Not quite so this week!

He'll be complaining about burn-out next season, no doubt.

Jesus Christ, he's playing one match it's not like he's signed his soul away. He can't do that for another three years. I assume playing for the Barbarians is a quite a big honor so why not let him play if he's been invited to do so?

The way some of you people moan and go on about him all the time makes me wonder if you're all secretly in love with him and have little shrines at home of him that you worship.

Who do you support? You talk like this kind of thing happens all the time.

I think the response from Wigan says it all about the future of rugby league in this country. All they are talking about it how much bigger Union is and what an honour it is to be chosen by them. Is there any future for RL if it's 'biggest' club is so fixated on union?

I agree with that, I am stuggling to see what the problem is. We have him for 3 more years minimum, hopefully he will stay longer as he is a huge talent but if not good luck to the guy. It will be a nice little earner I assume

I hope for RL, Wigan and England's sake he doesn't get a career ending injury playing in this game