Two things

1. I wasn't having a go

2. I don't mind Union so don't give me that

Be interesting to see what Folau will be like when he fully understands Union

Which team is GB these days?

I grant you they'd get in to the current Welsh and Irish RL sides but then again so would G1 ..... possibly.



You can't prove that and I would still doubt it even if you tried.

Jason Robinson had pretty much passed his sell by date in League before he joined the Union but absolutely ripped it up in that sport when he got there - despite Stuart Barnes' opinion. That doesn't say a lot to me for the quality of Union outside backs at the time. Eastmond is now earning some plaudits (according to this thread) and his value in League was pretty debatable. Difficult to judge as the requirements of the two codes are often quite different.

Games shouldn't be fre-flowing at the expense of the rules. Reffing of the rucks was appalling.

RU is also killing scrummaging at the moment.

Folau is a freak (in a nice way) athlete who appears to be good at any sport he turns his hand to. George North is almost as good physically but knows the game better.

Jason Robinson had pretty much passed his sell by date in League before he joined the Union but absolutely ripped it up in that sport when he got there - despite Stuart Barnes' opinion. That doesn't say a lot to me for the quality of Union outside backs at the time. Eastmond is now earning some plaudits (according to this thread) and his value in League was pretty debatable. Difficult to judge as the requirements of the two codes are often quite different.'"

He was well past 26 before he made his Union debut for Sale (after his full-time switch) and yes in my opinion he'd ceased being the threat he once was on a Rugby League field. Perhaps that's a relative judgement in his case and he was still earning his place at Wigan but his days of terrorising the Leeds defences were seemingly over.



Greenwood perhaps is worthy of inclusion in a discussion about quality outside backs but Dawson would have been a RL hooker and Wilkinson could tackle (when not injured) but possessed a passing game that made Rob Burrow look like John Holmes.

In purely physical terms, today's RU backs are a different animal to the ones Robinson played against. He was a phenomenal player in either code, but would probably struggle to make people look quite as sluggish on a modern day field in either sport. I suspect that the athleticism of other players in RL hadsimply caught him up a little (and he was still one of the best wingers in league, so 'past his sell by date' might over-state rumours of his demise a tad) rather than his own ability waning in his mid-20s.

Eastmond to be fair is earning no more plaudits in RU than he was in RL before he left. In both cases he was getting international call ups, but in both cases probably not quite first choice. In both codes he was/is a huge threat in attack, but had/has questions to answer defensively.

I still think RL is a touch ahead of RU in terms of handling skills, but the gulf has become a small gap, and the days of resting on laurels are gone. Players are still switching codes and going well, but it isn't as if a background of success in League automatically makes you a superstar in Union. For instance, I'm pretty confident (of course I can't prove it) that Joel Tomkins would be a fixture in the England RL side by now, but remains (for now at least) a little way down the pecking order in RU.

Mike catt, Ben Cohen, Josh Lewsey & Mike Tindall were all good backs playing for England at that time. I think your initial comment about the quality of Union backs at the time Robinson crossed codes was harsh.

Robinson appeared to very quickly become a dangerous attacker at International level in an alien sport after losing much of his ability to terrorise even SL defences, IMO. That was the context for the earlier Union back comment - harsh or not.

You haven't mentioned Jodie yet? Salfords very own wing wizard, you feeling ok?

I'm good thanks, just treated myself to a new aquarium so I've got something to look forward to at long last. I try not to mention Broughton unless prompted by others to do so. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ep-3186588 a few of the current top clubs were circling but haven't heard anything further just recently.

I'm good thanks, just treated myself to a new aquarium so I've got something to look forward to at long last. I try not to mention Broughton unless prompted by others to do so. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ep-3186588 a few of the current top clubs were circling but haven't heard anything further just recently.

This post doesn't say a lot to me about your judgement either. Robbo's best season for tries in League was 1996 I think with 24. His next best 3 years were his final 3 years in League with 23 tries in 2000, 19 in 1999 and 17 in 1998.

Eastmond's value was not debatable IMO. An excellent and outstanding talent who was troubled with injury before and after he joined Union. He looks a class act and could well remain in the England squad when their Lions return.



I am pretty sure he was nearer 26 than 27 when he made his debut for Sale Sharks and was about 22 when he played for Bath RU.

Not a "relative" judgement just a poor judgement. Didn't he win the Harry Sunderland Trophy in 1998 (just 2 years before switching to Union) against.....err Leeds I seem to remember. And as I said his 2nd best season for tries finished just before he switched codes



Not "harsh" just wrong. A unique rugby talent like Robinson had together with the speed that he retained made him lethal in either code.