In a strange sort of way I would love to see Henson give RL a crack, I think he would do ok. His Union game style does seem to rely on the guy to his side a little but I think he would work well in League for some reason

Muppet...

Do you still need a work permit when coming over from Wales ?

That would be back to Dwain Chambers then ....

any reasonably high-profile Union convert would be a boost IMO - the less league is seen as some kind of feeder comp for Union the better.

I can see the attraction for the PR guys. Our own Rugby League version of Posh and Becks.....there's nice!

But who would realistically take a punt on Mr Henson and the sort of salary he would be asking?

Forget Crusaders, they know their Rugby Union down in that part of the world, and I honestly can't see them turning out in any great numbers to watch him having a run out at League.

I wouldn't mind seeing him having a go, but in these financially straitened times it would be a hell of a gamble.

I see your points but I just think Henson is overrated and has off field issues that we could do without in our game, and personally I don't want his issues in the Wales RU game either. However it would be very good publicity but so would signing the others mentioned and out of those I agree with you that Lee byrne would be a massive plus for our game.

If Henson does switch codes time will tell whether he has it in him to be a good RL player, He would certainly enhance Celtic and the Welsh National side but I don't think he would make the grade at a top club.

I disagree. I think Henson has become underrated lately, which is largely his own fault with his off-field antics rather detracting from what he can do on the field. He needs to resolve some injury problems, but he has so much more to his game than somebody like Jamie Roberts (who I'm a big fan of, don't get me wrong). When he's fully fit there's only Brian O'Driscoll in this hemisphere that I'd pick ahead of Henson.

WRT Roberts, Byrne or S.Williams being better options, it may be true on some level, but in fact they are not options as they have expressed no interest in switching codes, so it's a non-debate really.

Loz, i'm not having a dig here or wanting bites, just a simple answer to What are you trying explain there? Is it that you don't think his style of play in union is any good, or that it is good, I don't understand your point!

TIA

Roberts reminds me a lot of Shane Horgan, who I always thought would have made a very effective League player.

Take Byrne's accurate and varied kicking game out of the equation and he's nothing special IMO.

Shane Williams is heading backwards at a rate of knots over the last 6-8 months, whether it's a case of believing his own hype or trying too hard I'm not sure.

One player out of that Welsh side I would like to see having a go at League is Mike Phillips. Good pass off either hand, quick off the mark and physical, I think he'd make an outstanding dummy half.

I think Roberts is arguably better than Shane Horgan, but I see what you're saying. He's big, powerful, fairly quick and likes collisions. Those are good traits for a league player, but I'm not clear what he brings that would set him apart from a lot of other League players earning less money.

Byrne's support play and angles of running would go down well in RL, but again I don't see that he offers a huge amount that couldn't be got much cheaper in RL, since his boot would be less valuable than it is in RU.

Williams I agree entirely about, except that I think another factor is simply that he was in red hot form in 2008 and has struggled to hit the same heights since. Halfpenny is the man in form for Wales at present. Given the dearth of British wingers in RL he would make a good convert, but will be earning some very big coin from WRU, so no chance.

Agree re: Philips. He would do better to keep his shirt number than his position if he switched, but again having really just established himself as #1 for Wales, I doubt the inclination or the cash exist to bring him to RL.

Personally I feel that having only signed a three year contract rllast yearrl there's an ulterior motive for Henson to suggest he may like to play league which probably has more to do with putting himself in the shop window of the Guiness Premiership clubs than wanting to switch codes.

Shane Williams is knocking on abit now as well isn't he? Well into his 30's. On his day he's pretty much unplayable, but IMO he's Matt Bowen without the pace over the long distances. Over the short he's rapid though.

Would Mike Phillips turn out to be another Terry Holmes if he converted?
However, I'm sure he won't.
Shane Williams is now too old, in his prime it would have been interesting to see how he'd have gone.
What about the big welsh no.8 Andy Powell? he would have the makings of a bullocking prop.
If we want to look at union we should be targetting the Polynesian islands, Samoa, Tonga & Fiji etc, naturally big guys who love to run with the ball in hand.

Someone must of read the forums 4.58935546875:5