This is the down side to the salary cap: it's been at the same level for some years now, meaning that league teams can't pay anywhere near what union teams can and that promising league players will continue to be enticed away from the game by the lure of big union money. Surely this can't be good for league in the long run.

spot on, was just going to mention Lewsey, similar in stature and versatility, I like Smithy, never plays the game by numbers, just what he sees in front of him and isn't afraid to try things.

Listen to the last Bulls podcast. Mind you, he's not going to come out saying that this move was the worst thing he's ever done.

rlhttps://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/podcastrl

Just going to say the same thing. Imo Smith will do well in Union he has skill, pace and is a good kicker, what more do you need

There's not many 22 year old English backs who have the skill set to play all the positions Smith can play. He's probably out performed Webb at full back this year (I don't think there're many full backs in SL as good as him), and is starting to make the right centre position his own. He's a big loss IMO.

I say i say you are foghorn leghorn and i claim my £5

The salary cap is doing a fantastic job. We shouldn't over-react because one player has gone to RU.

If the loss of Andy Farrell, Jason Robinson, Iestyn Harris, Henry Paul and their like didn't kill Super League then the loss of Lee Smith will barely register a scratch on its' skin.

Where will the Lions tour now that the seasons here and down under run concurrently?

Agreed, problem is SL is hardly awash with quality strength in depth at international level. I'm just fearful that more players may go...

On your last point answer is it can't really be done... which is a damn shame and imo damages the game. don't really know what the answer is but we must have a better international game.

The only way to get a better international game is to get more nations who are competitive at the top level, and in particular get a northern hempisphere nation able to compete with England so as to give us a meaningful mid-season test.
Thats why teams like Catalans and Celtic are so important and why they deserve a franchise place at the expense of heartland clubs.
Making the likes of Wales, Ireland, France, PNG and one of Tonga/Samoa/Fiji competitive against England, NZ and Australia is the key, and the only way to do that is to have a domestic team playing at the top level such as Catalans or NZ Warriors.
A PNG team in the NRL would be great, as would an Irish or another French team in SL.

No, the key is for England to be competitive first. If England continue to lag miles behind then there's no point even talking about France, Wales, PNG etc.

The real key is to raise a flicker of interest amongst the Australian team to play anywhere outside their own country, to raise a flicker of interest in the Australian supporters to want to watch anything that happens outside of their own country, and to raise any interest, even a flicker, amongst British supporters who have a track record of almost zero interest when it comes to internationals - and I include myself in that number.

Well for the games profile to be raised in the press we must have a better international game. Doing this will lead to more people playing league (hopefully in schools) and the sport going from strength to strength.