If there is ever a better example as to why we need to introduce this I've never seen it. m.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/26064628 Think its pretty much a given that the Doc would in for him like a shot and make a real statement about the club and the sport as a whole.

If there is ever a better example as to why we need to introduce this I've never seen it. m.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/26064628 Think its pretty much a given that the Doc would in for him like a shot and make a real statement about the club and the sport as a whole.

What a bitter pill to swallow it would be if Sam does indeed switch to union. It just shows you how much money must be knocking about in RU if they can go over to the NRL and cherry one pick one of the best players in the competition.

Odds on Salford signing him in 2017?

Tremendous player.
They say he's being poached to play inside centre.
Just don't see that.
It hasn't worked at international level with Joel Tomkins and although Burgess is a better player,I think it's a stretch to see him in that position in RU.

Burgess is an exceptional RL player but would make an average RU centre.Just dont think he has the required skill set for that position to be an international.

Maybe Worzel can offer his advice being as he is an ex RU fan.

It's really bad news to hear Sam Burgess may cross over. Absolutely proves how right Dr Koukash is regarding English RL being able to retain its stars ( I know he plays in Oz. )
Burgess for me would be a fantastic Number 8 in union.

without doubt he will make a world class number 8. But he would just be average at best in the backs. His aggression would be a big boost to the england pack

Just occurred to me that this is the only report of this I've seen, maybe a lot of hot air.

Though with the Doc announcing we have spent up to the cap but should there be a seed change by the RFL/SL we have one Marquee signing waiting in the wings.

I wonder who it could be???

Hearing rumours it's Joel Tomkins...

Crazy how Englands RUWC back line could consist of Chris Ashton, Owen Farrell, Kyle Eastmond, Joel Tomkins and Sam Burgess. Would we have beaten either New Zealand or Austrlia in last years RLWC with those names included in the team? (Obviously ignore Burgess).

Do you think any of those would have made the England team? Eastmond maybe, but would you put Ashton ahead of Charnley or Hall? Farrell ahead of Sinfield/Chase/Widdop? Nah.

A load of rubbish www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/f ... ugby-union

A load of rubbish www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/f ... ugby-union

It’s a tough one. No doubt Eastmond would have been in there, the others have question marks over. Owen Farrell had all the potential to be one of the best and I think had he stayed in the game he would have taken one of the half-back roles. Would Chris Ashton have got in ahead of Sam Tomkins? Not a chance at full-back. Tomkins would probably have been a shoe in for one of the centre positions.

Just occured to me with Burgess being just about the best English/British player currently going you'd expect tge RFL to make a contribution to saving, the stumbling block being him being signed to an NRL who would obviously benefit most from him staying in RL.

More fuel to the fire of a Marquee exempt signing if you ask me.

Thinking about it, I'm not even sure Eastwood would have made the team. Where would he play? For me, he's a running player rather than a creative player, so is best suited to the outside backs. I doubt I'd put him ahead of Tomkins at full back or Charnley/Hall on the wings. Unless, of course, he turns out to be our potential marquee signing, in which case he's better than all of them.

I think had Ashton stayed in rugby his career trajectory would have been similar to Kevin Penny's, because he is the worst defender I've ever seen, and I've seen Paul Carige. A few years around the Championship then picked up by a SL club in the hope that he might have improved.

Joel Tomkins, we'll never know, but we are a bit short in the centres. Owen Farrell neither. He's never played rugby at a senior level, and the only times I've seen him in union he's been little more than a kicking machine. I've never seen anything to suggest he'd be a better half back than what England have already got.

The danger with this is that you end up in a bidding war with an entire sport over one player. If you lose, you lose the player, if you win you end up forking out mega-bucks.

Still say if a club get a private individual who is willing to sign a player on behalf of a club it doesnt impact in any way SL.


Sure most teams have someone known to them who would be willing to be associated with a Burgess, Slater, Williams or Tomkins.

I think the Marguee signing is an idea worth looking at. But what about the teams who struggle financial as it. Surely those teams would miss out or will the rfl, subsides any short comings.

I would love to see big name players in Sl. From this season we are lacking a really stand out signing from any team.

That's why aa marquee exempt rule needs to be policed by the powers that be.

Any salary for the term of the contract help in a secure account and for any interests to be plowed back into the sport at a grass root level.

This way no club is left mid season paying wages for the marquee player and struggling to pay the rest. Ive long since said at the start of each season clubs should be made to hand over annual playing staff salaries to gaurantee teams can get through the season without any issues.

Those players are in RU for a reason.

None of them are good enough for front line RL.

according to jack deardon earlier on gmr the burgess to bath deal is done

Stuart Pyke ‏@stuartpykesport 28m

I have it on very good authority the new 'marquee' player rule (salary cap exempt) will be given green light very soon #SuperLeague

We know that some of our signings this year were purely short term ones, so it would be nice to replace an older forward with Burgess for 2015 - but I'd still be amazed to see him leave his brothers, mother, and the Sydney "celeb" lifestyle for either a pile of money playing in SL, or a pile of money, boredom on the pitch and possible brief fame in late 2015 playing union.

Really?

eastmond, tomkins are defiantly good enough. maybe ashton and farrell depending on how they come back. Farrell looks like your typical old school 13, strong in the tackle night quite strong enough for 2nd row but has good hands to make up for it not mentioning his kicking abilities.