Quote ="Father Ted"My whole attitude on the Robinson matter is that if his son is in line for a contract with 13 others when there's little in ability between them and the club is offering ten places then he wouldn't be in there. We'd be far better off giving that place to a lad who will be far more likely to stay and seek a rugby career with us.
As for RU/RL attitues. There is a difference on how we feel towards people at Twickenham and those running local Union clubs.
When I was involved in the start up of the Liverpool Buccaneers the people at Sefton Union Club were superb. We played at their ground and still do, some of their Union players played for the Buccs and their committee were brilliant and that did come as a surprise.
Being involved there for over two years I drew a very great distinction as I said above between Twickenham and those at local clubs. I'm sure I saw it somewhere that around 75% of Rugby League summer conference clubs play at Union club's grounds. The Union people at Sefton are a great bunch and I will never have anything but praise for them.'"
The problem is, Ted, that anyone who turns out to be a real bright prospect is likely to be targeted by Union, regardless of whether he had a dad who went for the money or a dad who stayed.
The kind of money Chris Ashton was offered would have turned any kid's head. That decision was made easier for him of course by Maurice only paying our youngsters peanuts at the time. They're on pretty good wages now, so it won't be quite as easy to turn them. But if a real superstar emerges, a package to match his status will be put together at some point in Rugby Union, and whoever his dad was (or wasn't) won't matter much.
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