The one thing wrong with the RFL is Nigel Wood. The sooner he is shot of the better for UK Rugby League.

I meant use the occasion to illustrate that Union does not have streets paved with gold for everyone.

Loath though I am to say this - and I never wanted to sink to the levels of RU in its Shamateurism days - but I think we should now be on a war-footing with RU.

There's no point us pretending that all is good and fine between us and them. It isn't. We get nothing of value from them - Powell being a case in point - and they have the potential to take everything of value from us. The first casualty of this should be Andy Farrell, who can surely no longer be invited into RL's inner circles. He was once a favourite son, but he's clearly indicated that this means nothing to him.

However, I do take your overall point. Sometimes it's better to behave with dignity. Especially, I suppose, when you've got no real choice.

I totally agree with this. Especially the inviting of Union coaches into Rugby League environments. Farrell will always be remembered as a great player but not for his actions since crossing the code barrier. You cant blame him he is doing his job, but I do not see the need to give him or others access to the clubs/players. That goes for others too, perhaps with the exception of Shaun Edwards who has conducted himself very well despite being employed by the other code.

There is no need to be ignorant or unprofessional to these people, just stop inviting them in to our backyard and decline any invites from them.

In my opinion the damage was done when we became obsessed with Australian Coaches and the brain drain commenced. It was only natural that with no pathway into coaching players would drift to the 15 man game and take there scouting knowledge with them.

The long term impact of selling Faz to Union has been a disaster for the code, and one hopes that we learn from those errors, sadly I don't have any faith that we will though.

At first the cap was lauded as a way of stopping clubs going bust and when that didn't prevent that happening they moved the goal posts and now it's to level the playing field, if anything it's making the playing field much steeper for the top clubs who are still winning everything (bar Huddersfield last year because of the play offs the LLS is seen as a pointless way of playing all your cards at once by the teams who have won it and failed in the play offs).

What makes multi millionaires throw money at Football clubs even though they know they will run it at a major loss? Unless they win the Champions League.

It's a play thing, a hobby, an ego massager to walk onto the pitch holding up a trophy with the team.

Why stop Koukash pouring money into Salford? If Salford signed Sonny Bill Williams he states they could attract 3000 more fans to every home game, TBH I'd probably go just to watch him if I'm honest and definitely go to an away game at Salford.

So 3000 x £20 ticket x 14 home games is an extra £840,000 pa minus Tax (50%) and overheads your probably looking at £400,000, would Sonny Bill and the likes come to Superleague for £400,000 a year, I'd like to think so.

If you were a local business man would you be more inclined to sponsor Salford if Sonny Bill Williams played for them? I sure would.

If Salford attracted 10,000 a game with SBW playing for Salford would Sky pay more for the viewing rights and would more people upgrade to the Sports package?
I reckon so.

All in all would the game be better off on a financial level, commercial level and quality level? Apart from the Wakefield, Castleford, Bradford and London yes, it would be.

But for all this to happen the first thing that must be done is give clubs the opportunity to earn and pay more.

If I worked for a company and was told to make 40 items a week, anymore you won't get extra pay for I probably would t do anymore but if they said you get paid a certain about for however many you do over 40 would I be inclined to do more? You bet ya!

Has anyone considered that this isn't just about Bucks.
SBW wants a RU World Cup winners medal, maybe Burges want one as well.
Good luck to him.

A quick example from my job which I think is similar to this.

I used to work at Xercise4Less in Wigan but have since moved to another gym, in my new role I have poached members from X4L for my new gym. It's good for business.

Now flip that to AF, in essence he has done/doing the same thing. Poaching RL members for RU. It goes without saying there is considerable difference but I think the general jist is the same. He is just doing his job, however much it may p*ss us all off.

Along with Sam Tomkins, Sam Burgess is a once in a generation player (must be the time of the Sam's). Losing him to RU is an absolute hammer blow to not just UK RL but the NRL. If he could of played SOO would he of stayed? Doubtful. IMO to really cement his star quality as an overall rugby player he needs a World Cup or an international title (be it 6N, GB & I Lions etc). He wants to not only emulate SBW but be better than him in all aspects. It's possible SB will be back as a RL player in 4 years time, its possible he won't be but either way IMHO he has done all that is possible for him to do in RL. By "doing all is possible" I mean as in what the team he plays for is capable of doing. England got to a WC SF, realistically if we had got to the final would we have won? Would South Sydney of won the NRL GF? I can't say the answer to either question is yes.

I'm annoyed he's gone to RU but I suppose how we as RL fans are feeling now about it is the exact same as to how RU fans felt when RL poached their stars. I hate saying it and I hate doing it but all we can do is grin and bear it.

If we grin and bear it rahs just burying our heads in the sand and we will go the way of speedway and snooker, we need to round up the wagons and come up with a strategy for the future of the game.

First on the agenda, let clubs spend up to £3,000,000 if they can afford it, if no SL club can as yet then they have the option to if they market themselves well enough, for the money we got for Tomkins and Sams wage we could pay Billy Slater to play for us for 3 years.

Clubs should be able to spend exactly what they can afford to spend. The likes of Wiga, Warrington, Leeds, St Helens, Salford have the money to spend. It annoys the hell out of me when the RFL won't allow clubs who have for years been sensible with finances, clever in the sales& marketing environment and have the cash to spend are restricted.

Sod bringing us down to Wakey, Cas and London's level. If they can't keep up then tough. It's about time the RFL grew a set IMHO.

How do you reconcile this with a chairman in IFL who sells players for profit and is opposed to increasing wages? I'm not necessarily saying IL is wrong and it could be that he is holding wages down to help lower clubs but you can't avoid the fact that some of the largest clubs are showing no inclination to increase their costs at all and they are probably prudent to do so. The thing that really frustrates me is that the hierarchy actively prevent money from entering the sport, be it external player endorsements or from benefactors such as Koucash.

Saints have lost around £10 million since 2000 (they lost over £1 million last year) The game itself needs to be on a better financial footing. Wigan have only started generating a profit in the last four or five years. Sadly the clubs voted for a the new deal without looking at what was available down the line. Lenagan whom I generally support should have voted NO rather than change his mind the day after.

No - I don't think anyone actually considers this and I can see why.

According to Russel Crowe Sam has gone because he was not permitted to play Origin - I have asked the question before about how much player's in Origin can earn but nobody seems to know - but for me the quality produced in Origin may be because there is more than just state pride on the line.

I'm still waiting to see if there's any truth in the rumour that Sam had some kind of bust-up with Souths.

I too find it very difficult to believe that having won constant rave reviews in the crucible of the NRL - where RU is routinely laughed at, especially the Pommie variety - but never having won any actual silverware to prove his credentials, big Sam was suddenly bowled over by the thought of representing England RU; to an extent where it would turn both his and his family's worlds upside down. The idea is almost laughable.

First Live Game featuring Wigan on TV in NZ for a very very long time.

Come on Wigan.

Bit Grim at half time. Not likely to win but we could claw this back a fair way by cutting out the errors.

<sigh> www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 33911.html

<sigh> www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 33911.html

Quote ="TonyM19"<sigh> www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 33911.html'" I couldn't care less what he does or says these days. He did the dirty on us and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do it to the Warriors. We are in a whole new scenario now re player loyalty.

Quote ="TonyM19"<sigh> www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 33911.html'" I couldn't care less what he does or says these days. He did the dirty on us and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do it to the Warriors. We are in a whole new scenario now re player loyalty.

I entirely agree....

+ 1

Quote ="TonyM19"<sigh> www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 33911.html'" So in other words, "Okay, I've tried the NRL. England come and get me." It was only a matter of time.

Quote ="TonyM19"<sigh> www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 33911.html'" So in other words, "Okay, I've tried the NRL. England come and get me." It was only a matter of time.

I wonder how this affects Joel Tomkins. He seems to be further and further down the pecking order as far as the England team is concerned. Is he a realistic hope for the World Cup.

I don't follow union and wouldn't know if he is playing well or even if he is playing at all. What are the chances of a return to League?

having watched the England ru games he played in I'd doubt he'll be getting anywhere near their world cup side. would like to see him back tbh as the season he had as second row before his move to centre he was very very good.

I think Joel has maxed out in RU with his couple of caps. However, he can still earn way more than we were paying him and can play Heineken Cup rugby even if he never pulls on an England shirt again.

Joel got injured against New Zealand in November and I don't think he has played since. He hasn't set RU alight but was doing ok and was involved in a win against Australia. I can't see him returning to RL any time soon.

I was expecting to see Eastmond returning to RL, but he has signed a new contract for Bath.

A quick check of the Saracens website confirms that he was on the replacements bench on the last two games the last one being at Salford against Sale. Can't think why I didn't go!