deffo agree with the international part of your post , i fondly remember the ashes against the green & golds or even the world cup final at wembley with a crowd of 90k , these games was the highlight of the season

i dont think it all boils down to money , like sam says in his interview union stars are household names and most people outside of the rugby league family dont recognise our star players

At the end of the day, Sam isn't thick .. He knows he is the star turn of the whole league - whatever he says in NATIONAL papers, the RFL will surely read and take note..

He might not actually ever want to go to the dark side - he literally just might want to stick with Wigan his whole life, like Radders.

He obviously understands the need for healthy debate within the media about either code and that way, increase the profile of the sport not only in the 'home counties' but further afield.

That's the point of the using the media anyway - of course, the RFL will probably take the whole article literally and just ignore it.

There will be some speccies pleased if he goes to Union and there will be some SL chairmen who will be more than pleased.
They will feel that their clubs can become more competitive with Wigan and it won't have cost them a penny or an ounce of effort.
The tail wags the dog in SL!

What we need is our star plays to stay and help promote the game not jumping ship. It grates me that Nigel Wood and Richard Lewis seem like very intelligent blokes when it comes to running the game but they need to outsource the publicising of the game to a marketing company, someone with contacts.

Forget putting Sam on Question of Sport nobody watches it anymore its the most outdated programme on TV and it makes me cringe when they try to liven it up with those daft tasks they do. All they do is ask an unknown sportsperson a pi55 easy question on their sport.

Get Sam on Soccer AM, The One Show, Blue Peter, etc

Commission a TV show like 'Up and Under' showing behind the scenes runnning of a club etc, funny stories and stuff and showing daft celebrations after a cup win. If Peter Andre can get a TV show showing him go to the shops, change his tyres and generally about and have lots of fans and maximum publicity then so can we.

I don't know why people bother with Union, would you ever experience atmosphere at games in Union? Like at Warrington in the Semi Final? I doubt it, the closest thing you get to atmosphere at Union games is 80,000 fat old farts wearing cotton trader rugger jerseys with a cardy around their shoulders with a big wobbly chin waving a glass of gin and called Jeremy/Rupert/Giles singing 'Swing low sweet chariot'.

Whos with me?

If he ever did go to RU, how soon would he be referred as 'Milton Keynes born' Sam Tomkins?

Can forget about becoming a leg end or face on a flag if a player left for the fame and fortune.

Faz has got one.

He served his time 91 - 05? IIRC? Went after his tesimonial and gave us his best years.

maybe the week leading up to wembley wasn't the right time for sam to have such a frank interview. slightly takes the shine off the build up for me.

Don't worry I'll be fine tomorrow

I genuinely think that they have fabricated that as it seems so much different to his usual responses I've heard him say in person in several TV and radio interviews. The end bit about him saying to imagine old men in a pub saying he was a good un that Tomkins also seems unlike Sam's usual modest replies.

Have some peope actually read the interview before commenting?

I thought it was a great article, who wouldn't want to play in front of 80,000 people?

Everything sam said was about how much he loves the game, the fans and the way way the true legends of the game are respected - but he thought it was a shame they aren't exposed to a wider audience because they are probably far more deserving than some other His frustration at the state of the international game was clear - and something we all know.

His main ambition was to become a legend of the game - not a RU player.

I hope Sam gets a heavy fine and a match or two for what he has just done to the Leeds fans after Charnleys try. Idiot.

And what does this have to do with this topic?

I found this article to be an extremely odd piece and typical of the Daily Mail's attitude towards Rugby League and what we have come to expect. It wasnt even written by the person that normally covers Rugby League and seemed to be more of a propaganda piece for Rugby Union than anything for Rugby League.

Here we are, the day before possibly the sports main showpiece event of the season especially for those with just a pssing interest in the game, and all Rugby League gets is a rare full page article with next to nothing about the game or anything positive about the game as a whole. Why couldnt we even get a full page about the actual match or event? Instead it is an article which makes the game sound like its on its deathbed and is just a feeder sport for Rugby Union. Sam can only answer the questions that are asked and I cant imagine Rugby Union players being asked all about Rugby League or Footballers being asked all about Rugby Union. It seems to be like it was put in there simply to undermine the sport and the occasion and to show the virtues of Rugby Union.

This is exactly why Rugby League struggles for recognition and sponsorship. Like it or not the Daily Mail is a very successful paper and has a huge readership. Why would anyone want to invest in the sport or feel compelled to watch or try it after reading an article like that. It just makes you think that the sport doesnt stand a chance and is fighting a losing battle against what is essentially a competitor in Rugby Union which gets millions or pounds worth of free PR top bolster its game.

Poor wickle Weeds fans.

Today's Mail, small article bottom of page with " the Sam Picture " was there a Cup Final this weekend , rubbish coverage all they talk about is the Sam 1 second incident.
Anyway we have the Challenge Cup, Super League trophy, Wigan are back, and there is a lot of people can't stick it, well TOUGH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And why would that stop them going to Union? Or wanting to stay down under?

The basic problems are RL is a lower paid sport and has not got the International profile. The England Ireland RU game was dire. Compare that to the CC final and it's no contest but the fact our sport is a better spectacle doesn't alter the basic facts and I don't see how two years in the NRL changes that.

Leigh Fan

Yes I know that. But he said for what Sam did to the Weeds fans.

Weeds fan not complaining.

Cool. To be fair most aren't. Mostly Stains and Dire on here these last few days.

Well Sam did more in 2 seconds to raise the profile of the challenge cup and rugby league than the entire game. I was there on Saturday and work in the south; I am the only Rugby League fan I know. However, after the match a lot of people told me that not only did they enjoyed the match, but wont stop talking about Sams V's.
Naughty, but nice.

I agree. I just don't see how sending players to the NRL will advance the UK game. It may give us more of a chance on the international scene, but thus far our NRL 'success stories' - Burgess and Ellis - have done little more in Test matches than their fellow British forwards. And Morley's only memorable contribution was getting send off in the first 5 seconds.

Personally I want the UK competition to be as strong as possible, and that means keeping as many of our star players as we can away from the RU and from the NRL for as long as possible.

The simple fact is that rugby league needs to get more cash and a higher profile or it will continue to lose a lot of its talent.