I see Burgess to Rabbithos has been confirmed good for him and England, big loss however for the Bulls.

[urlhttp://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5593570,00.html[/url

You already did. Months ago!

He turned you down to sign a new contract.

Might just be gathering a little pace now this story.

[urlhttp://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby_union/s/1149918_sale_tracking_st_helens_starlet[/url

It would be a huge blow to the sport if that one happens. It's not even about the players ability either but more the messages it puts across in general.

I really do hope Saints tie him down to a long term deal but with Offiah being his agent/Pimp i'd expect he'll go to the highest bidder and that will be Union.

Youv'e got to love that quote, haven't you.

Union sees him as the finished article due to his ability to break the line and kick.



What line?

I think the latter talent will be more to their liking.

The first line of 2 big fatties they mean and then the next line of 2 more fatties then the next made up of 1 fatty then another line and so on and on and on.

The best player that ever lived couldn't scored a decent try in Union because theres just bodies all over the place and no structure to a defensive line.

Jason Robinson could beat 3 men in league and be in the clear for a try......if he did that in union he'd still have another 8 or 9 players to get around.

This story has been running for months and isn't news.
Just Swanny trying to get publicity away from League to kick and clap in Stockport during the end of season for League.
Neil Barker has gone with it as it's probably a quiet Rugby day.
Could have been written anytime and they've decided to run it today.

Eastmond to Sale is a done deal already apparently.

I hope not, I don't blame players for going when they are at the end of their careers but what will Eastmonds exuse be exept I went for the money? That's the only reason because union is crap and if he does go I hope he fails to the highest degree but if he stays in league I hope he is a world beater (only when he doesn't play Wigan

)

I hope he doesn't use the Chris Ashton exuse of 'I wanted a new challenge'.

Massive loss to St Helens and RL in general IMHO.

I agree, I would respect him more if he simply said league couldn't compete with the money offered to him in union.

That being said, it would be a very small amount of respect as the lack of loyalty shown by the Eastmond and Ashton's of this world really disappoints me.

Or pose in a Sale shirt before his contract runs out.

The guy (swanton) used to be wigan media man or something like that he is trying to get publicity away from the PO and just trying to unsettle us league people tell him to try and get a proper attendance at stockport first.

Didn't he also work at Warrington?

Would be their first real loss to RU, unlike Wigan.

Shame IF he's going out of the game, but if it weakens Saints then that will do for me, didn't see many tears over Billinge Lump for us when Faz, Robinson, Ashton left for the other code.

Agreed.

But if this is true it is something the RFL must look at. How can we keep our potentially great (which Eastmond is) in our game? Why bother promoting these youngsters and putting money into them if they're only going to sod off to RU?

I realise I'm venturing slightly O/T here.

I don't think you're venturing off topic at all. I think this is the most important issue.

Saints lose a star player? - big deal. They couldn't have cared less when we lost one or two.

RL loses a star player - yes, that matters a lot.

What will be interesting now is how many Saints fans rush on here to yet again defend the salary cap instead of agreeing with us that it should be moderated. One or two will still defend it, because they'll want to keep up the pretence that it's good for the game and not look shallow and self-interested, but there won't be half as many as there are whenever we lose a star.

For 2010?

No, when his contract expires at the end of next year.

Be interesting if they give him the 7 shirt to replace Long next year then if thats the case, or if they go and find a 7 from elsewhere.

Big loss to RL if he goes to Stockport.
As the RFL/SL are going from an U21s comp to U20s next year as do the Aussies, perhaps it's time to do as the Aussies do with the salary cap, they exclude the reserve grade.
Should we now do the same?

I don't whether it would prevent Saints losing Eastmond but if I were Lenegan I would be petitioning the RFL that players brought through a clubs own Junior system should be exempt from there salary cap.

I know that would benefit us greatly as well as rewarding those clubs that do try and bring through juniors.

Have you ever bothered to read the salary cap rules? The £1.6m cap is based upon the top 20 earners only.

FIWI, some clown on the Saints board is already trying to claim that the Eastmund to Sale story is a Wigan conspiracy designed to gain their support in our opposition to the salary cap.

This would be funny if it didn't make three tragic presumptions:

a) That we are such fantastists that we'd realistically expect their support on any matter; b) that we are so insecure as to want their support on any matter; c) that we are too stupid to realise they would happily see Eastmund leave the game altogether before they did anything in support of us.

Yes I have read the SC rules, or those I can get to read.
The SC applies not to the highest paid 20 in the squad but the highest paid 25.
That includes U21 or U20 players at most clubs.
They need to be excluded from the SC IMO.
If we want to compete with the NRL on the field then we've to compete with them off it too.
U20s off the SC asap!