We didn't moan & worry when Fylde RUFC swooped for Nicky Royle.

I wonder if the fact that Connolly played for Wigan had anything to do with his selection over Bateman



But yes I agree with you the 'success rate' of players going from league to union is not that great..

As good/better in union than in league: Robinson, Ashton, Stephen Myler

Not as good in union as they were in league: Henry Paul, Harris, Farrell, Vainikolo, Carney, Lee Smith, Walker, Karl Pryce, Raynor

The Wids did

loving that avatar sal.

Couldn't agree with you more Sal, re the Connolly / shirt he was wearing at the time. For instance, I give you Billy McGinty. Could barely get on the subs bench for us, yet, within 6 months, he's a starter for GB, down under, in a Test Series. I know Monie was a good coach, but even Jesus Himself, would have struggled to pull-off a miracle like that.

Can't really comment on players being better in Union than in League, as I don't watch it. Out of interest, where is Stephen Myler? I take it it isn't Sale, as I'd have heard his name on Radio Manchester's sports reports.

Again Sal (as you seem to be well read on Union), what happened to Vainikolo? I heard he started off like a train and got a load of tries when he first started. Did he just become pooh overnight? I've no idea. Was always awesome in League....same with Hape

Myler is at Northampton with Ashton, he's done really well for them and has been mentioned for England in despatches.

Vainikolo was fastracked to the England side, made a promising start but I think around the time when Johnson took over wasn't looked at favourably. I think he topped the scoring charts in the domestic stuff or was up there at the end of the season with a try tally of 12 or something fantastic like that.

Hape was taken to the WC, just lost his place (somewhat unfairly) when Tuilangi became English.

Oh, the irony.

That must have been a staggering season in RU, then (re Vainikolo). As I remember him scoring 5 of his 12 tries in one game.

Stephen Myler plays for Northampton with Ashton. He has done pretty well for himself in union, fairly low key player but he is first choice stand off for Northampton and has been a prolific points scorer for them. I think Myler was a bit underrated in league, it didn't help him being a young stand-off in struggling sides, I reckon had he been in the youth system of Saints for example he could have done much better like Lee Gaskell has done. He's more of a kicking halfback than a running halfback so union suits him more and is maybe a reason why he has adapted to union better than some bigger name league converts. If he was to come back to league, I think he might surprise some people. It would be controversial on here but I would take a look at him when we come to look for options to replace Briers, at least ask Richie to sound him out and see if he would be interested in coming back. He is more experienced and polished now than the kid we saw at Widnes and Salford.

Vainikolo - in fairness to him he hasn't been bad in union, he has scored his fair share of tries for Gloucester, but he only played a few England games and was dropped and not looked at again, he's been a good rather than great player. With hindsight Bradford moved him on just at the right time, he was still at the top of his game in 2007 when he left (had scored 16 tries in 17 for Bradford that season, and he got 5 on his union debut) but from 2008 onwards he has been declining (I suppose he was 29 and had played a very physical style during his career and so wear and tear may have taken its toll).

In fairness to Manu Tuilagi, he did go to school and play his junior rugby in England, he isn't a Rangi Chase type player. The controversy with him was his family were illegal immigrants. They had come to the UK on a holiday visa and then stayed on the quiet for about 6 years, and they got faced with deportation, I remember that being in the news, the only way he could stay was to apply for asylum but Samoa isn't a country known for human rights abuses. In the end he got granted indefinite leave to remain. Maybe another with a pet cat...

Let's not forget that the next RU World Cup is in England in 2015. After their debacle this time round, there can be little doubt they'll throw even more money at the next campaign. I think the problem for them is, though, that there are a limited number of RL players they can realistically target - forwards are pretty much out of the question in terms of being able to make a successful switch. Unless of course they decide to play them in the three-quarters



Joel Tomkins is no great loss to RL in the grand scheme of things. Sam will probably follow, unless he has the nuts to test himself in the NRL. Can't really see which position Eastmond is going to play in.

It's swings and roundabouts. Union players were once poached for League. Now it's th'opposite way around. In a few years the tables will turn again. Just let it happen. It's no big deal. I mean take the worst case scenario,for some, and imagine that Sam Tomkins went to the dark side. We'd have people screaming blue murder and arguing for a response from the authorities. I doubt anything would happen and within a couple of weeks we'd have moved on. Some young lad would have been promoted into the Wigan first team squad and we'd be marvelling about a 'new star'.

For those worried about any impact in terms of our international ability should any players switch codes, I really wouldn't bother.

The tables will not be turning, full stop.

Don't forget Wigan have got a strong factory of young talent coming through the younger grades as Rogues Gallery has been reporting on.

well, you saw the u20s grand final, right?

i think its all a big ruse..... engineered by wigan to repair some of the damage done by ratboy and fadge...

Joel will turn round in a few days and say he is going to stay in league for alot less money than he was offered to to go play union.

he will cite Wane's intervention and re-assurance...... and his love for Wigan and rugby league as his reasons for staying.

he will then be paraded around as some sort of rugby league deity by all and sundry.

Wigan and Wane well get some much needed positive press....Joel will get a nice pay rise and cult hero status.

How very underhand.

be funny as if this is the way it went....

also quite clever which would clearly make it IL's idea.

Anyone see the interview with shaun wane? not a bright bloke is he?

It's 'those things' shaun not 'them things'

at least he didn't say 'likkle'

I thought Myler was a part of Saints acadamy, Sally?

or am i well off?

www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/2793.php I think he did

www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/2793.php I think he did

Yes I didn't know that, he was on St Helens books but never played for their first team.

looks like young rodent wont be that far away either. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480 talking about a possible switch to union [i"In the future it could be something, you never say never"[/i

looks like young rodent wont be that far away either. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480 talking about a possible switch to union [i"In the future it could be something, you never say never"[/i

There is a long list of failures of players who go from league to Union.

People look at Robinson and Ashton but most dont make the garde.

Too true, you could start with Mike Forshaw who went to Sarries. One of the biggest disasters was Lee Smith who went to Wasps as a star, hardly played, and has been a disaster since he came back and signed a 4 year contract at Leeds.

We should have got the RFL to help when we kept this guy. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... Penny.html

We should have got the RFL to help when we kept this guy. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... Penny.html

We'll agree to disagree.

nope he is going should be announced very soon