The club need to make sure this is sorted out very quickly, while at the same time making sure they get the right compensation from Quins/Saracens so that it can be used for transfer fees for a quality replacement.

It is indeed and is something that needs to be addressed by the RFL, although some clubs (and fans) I would imagine won't be bothered as it weakens one of the stronger teams.

Have you seen the rumours about Gareth Thomas? The rumour there is the RFL want a high profile club to sign him and in return as the RFL will pay his wages and those wages will not count on the clubs salary cap. Wigan are of course the high profile club linked with signing Thomas on this deal.

If the RFL can pay the salary of Thomas a 37 year old RU has been who has never done a thing in league while watching young RL players lost to the game even when they have 5 year contracts then we really are a sport run by a complete bunch of morons.

If they go to RU, I for one won`t blame them and I will wish them all the luck in the world.

IMO a large proportion of the blame lies with the inadequacies of the salary cap. There is a significant imbalance between RL and RU and even also between RL and NRL.

And if Sam and Joel do move, one thing can be guaranteed - they will not be booed and criticised by their new club`s supporters in either RU or NRL and neither will they be booed at RU International level where they will be playing on a larger international stage and will be treated and paid as superstars.

Other RL clubs, particularly Saints with their talented youngsters, will also have to be on their guard too.

This

I could see Tony Clubb being a target, possibly Tom Briscoe.

Not sure who else comes to mind.

No argument there!

What's worth bearing in mind is that Joel has now won everything he can in Rugby League. Rep Rugby League is practically non-existent, and England aren't going to win anything anyway.

We have to face it, Rugby League is in the shadow of Union. As to how we address that, I don't know. But something needs to change.

Completely disillusioned with Rugby League.
I love my club but if whenever we produce such talent, they swan off to RU, what's the bloody point?

I wouldn't blame Joel
BUT for his 'I want to play at Wigan with my Mates & not go to RU anytime soon' crap only in MARCH.

Seriously disappointed in him. I don't blame him for taking the money & lifestyle. I'd do the same - honesty - but i don't like being lied to.


Rugby League - the peasant sport. Pathetic

Bad news for RL if true. As much as I dislike JT, he's got bags of potential in RL. With his frame, power and pace he could easily be the next Keith Senior (in a good way). Still, Sam would be a greater loss.

Given that he's won everything he's likely to win in RL at such a young age, and that mentor Maguire is imminently departing, I suppose it is understandable that he may want a new challenge or time in a sport with bigger media coverage. Hope it doesn't happen though.

I don't think the salary cap is to blame, although I do think it needs to be raised somewhat. Ultimately RU offers things that RL cannot - whatever sums players are paid.

Why do you dislike JT? -.-

I agree with the rest of your post though.

The RFL need to wake up and smell the coffee - the salary cap, the pathetic way internationals are treated (by fans and the RFL) are all partly to blame. If he was going to the NRL then I wouldn't mind as much, but to switch codes? Hardly a surprise though - don't the Tomkins bros have the same agent as Ashton?

Can't blame the lad. Only has one career so he has to make the most of it. The higher profile international game is the real difference. I expect Sam will follow at the end of this year as well.

Nobody is bigger than the club, if you dont want to be here good riddance.

God bless the salary cap, no wonder we are and always will be a minority sport.

Is it money or the case he gets the chance to play International Rugby in front of 80,000 people and get the subsequent media attention?

Personally, I think the fact that the second he puts pen to paper he becomes an instant millionare may be the deciding factor.

Judging by his interview in March its the money. He said you have to look at someone being offered 2/3 times as much in union and understand why people will move

I'm no big fan of Wigan, and I do support the principles behind the salary cap, but when such a massive club cannot keep their best young talent then questions need to be asked and answered.

Regardless which club you support, this potential move can only be bad news for our game.

Lomax, Gaskell, Sam all will be next, the Salary Cap has killed Rugby League. No superstars will ever play RL for a full career in this country again as long as we have this rule, and as long as this continues the mediocrity of Super League will get worse than it already is.

Me & a friend were discussing the whole "when will Joel & Sam bugger off to RU" topic after both signed their new 5 years contracts. The way he saw it was now they've signed they'll stay until the end of the contracts then go, my take was wigan gave them new contracts fully expecting them to go within a pretty short timeframe & were just protecting their investment by making sure they got a decent return on them.

Start by getting rid of these two clowns




This whole debacle wouldn't be an issue if we had one man back in charge at Red Hall



Someone who loves the game as much as we fans do and would do his upmost to help all clubs prevent RU slowly bleeding Super League dry of successful youth academy products by the amount of money they can offer in comparison to our Salary Cap crippled sport.

This.

If all of this is true I'll be very disappointed. If we continue losing our young players like this how much of a future does our game have?

Of course money plays a large part, but who the hell really wants to play in a recognized international match at Leigh fecking Sports Village in front of 5000 when you can play in London, Paris, South Africa, Argentina in front of guaranteed sell-outs and get column inches in the national press...

Once you get past the Grand Final and Challenge Cup (which JT has one in the last 2 years) this game offers our players absolutely naff all...

It wouldn't be an issue because we wouldn't have a sport to call our own. If he was still in charge at Wigan, you wouldn't have a club to follow

Totally agree with cod'ed
If uncle Mo loves rugby league so much how come we never see him at any games these days