Buying only the 13 best players in the world - which is the worst possible case scenario, in practise totally impossible (Wigan would need to by immensely rich to do that), still wouldn't give you total dominance. ( 3 injured at any one time, 3 out of form, who can even decide what 'best' 13 is anyway, etc. etc. )

Wigan skewed the competition primarily because they could have fielded 3 teams, 2 of which would have been in the top 3 and third mid-table at worst. THAT should never happen again.

What I want is clubs, any club to be able to buy *commercially attractive* stars, if there's a way to do so without debt.

Feel free to respond with cheap 'typical Wigan fan' digs, but whether you believe it or not, my argument is nothing to do with Wigan signing Billy Slater, and much more to do with Hull (say) signing Johnny Wilkinson. Which would do virtually nowt for their abililty on the pitch, but do absolute wonders for RL's profile, through news, sponsors, probably even a documentary...' Johnny does League

'. If there's a way to do that kind of thing without financial risk to the club (e.g. sponsor paying some or all of the wages) it should be allowed.

As to your point about incentive. I'm sure Wakefield would like to grow their crowds. But they seem to consistently fail. What's incentive got to do with it? They're crap at commercial development. We've tried to help, and they've still failed. Give others, like Leigh a go.

I'd go along with this, particularly if it really does result in Wilkinson turning out for Hull.

If I rememeber correctly (and I probably don't)...I think his brother played League in the Northeast. Gateshead?

Wakefield are more deserving at present as they have been awarded a SL license for the next three years whereas Leigh have not. Did Leigh even apply for one this time around?

Meh, these secondary trophy winning Lancastrian clubs are all the same to me

A couple of things help to prevent poaching by Union. Contracting your brightest stars on long-term contracts, and if things are working out, looking to re-sign them well before they run out. Seems to me that GH is doint this very well after the Walker/Smith experiences. Showing loyalty to young players can't but help when they consider options as well. That's why I hope Leeds don't sign another centre for next year but back Watkins and Hardaker instead.

Secondly, with respect to Leeds players, we have our very own Lee Smith who can testify that the grass may well be anything but greener in Union. We also seem to have a very tight-knit bunch of players - that will sway some people as well.

Union will probably always be able to offer more money - but the more failures that cross the better. For every Chris Ashton there's at least a couple who didn't make it.

Sparks is an animal. Did conditioning and fitness work for many teams in the North East. Tall, rangey, strong. Nails hard.

Johnny. If League could ever afford him, would be a success in League. He's scary quick over the first five yards, has a game brain I have only seen equalled in any form of rugby maybe twice, and he tackles like a steam train. Ask any of the Leeds Rhinos players who trained with him.

It amazes me that League fans talk of Union as this inferior game for girls and Southern types that League would dominate. And yet simultaneously talk of a game in which League players can't make it.

It's either dead easy and you go there to extend your career. Or it's not, and you go from a Great Britain League career to mediocrity having failed to make an impact. The only exception being Steve Myler. Who is frankly awesome and a pair of wingers.

Or they're two separate games where the skills required overlap to a certain extent, but in essence don't always translate from one to the other.

I think that most converts (in either direction) have the ability to make it, but never stick it long enough to make a good go of it

Think someone like Joel Tomkins has the skill pace and size to do very well in union. Agree with the above often the conversion of code takes a bit of time and people don't always give it long enough.

Personally I find it amazing that this guy has racked up so many caps. It think he is poor as an open field player, and there have been better fly halfs during his reign. He's in the team for his kicking and kicking only, which is hard for anyone else to match.

Not true. He also controls the game better than anyone who has challenged him and his defence is probably the best I've ever seen from a 10 in Union.

He no longer takes on the line as often as he used to. He's a conservative England selection - Toby Flood will go to the line more and make things happen, but he won't structure the midfield. Personally I'd like to see England take the shackles off, but until they do, Wilkinson is the best man for the game plan.

Flood is the first credible challenger to him in a long time. The likes of Hodgson, Cipriani etc were nowhere near good enough.