I think we're just going to have to accept the fact that Union is aggressively targeting the best junior talent in SL and we can't compete financially (especially if the ERU is prepared to supplement club wages).

What the solution to this problem is I'm not sure. But I suspect things will get worse as the crowds fall off in SL (as a result of the seemingly endless economic gloom) and gate receipts take a hit. Union will feel the pinch also. But the ruggeroid fans are probably more affluent and are thus more likely to attend. And the ERU never has a problem filling out Twickenham for the big games.

If this situation continues over the long term perhaps SL might have to think about tinkering with the rules in order to increase the differences between the two sports, thus making a successful League to Union conversion more difficult. I don't know.

Look, foster is a lovely lad who is doing well at Saints, but hes never going to be a world class back. Some of the adultation is way OTT

He's a great kicker, so no it isn't.

It's also great to have a young guy who is not only playing just fine at 20 years old with hardly more than half a season's worth of experience but also a character in the side with his hair and boots and Mr Cool image.

great reason to keep him then?.take away the goalkicking and he's on par with most super league wingers,theres a few who are better than him.

Jamie Foster is not being tracked by Union. I do know he was lucky to get a new contract in the summer and the money wasent good at all. This will all be a ploy to get him a better contract.

Yep. So why the complaints? He's a young guy who was trained as a centre but is on the wing and is doing a good job. He is also an excellent goalkicker, he has good positional sense and he can catch a bomb (and those three factors alone make him better than Meli!). He is nippy, knows his way to the line and will try to beat a man on his kick returns. He has only just started out and so how anyone can judge whether he will be a 'world beater' or not at this stage in his career I have no idea. Well, they can't.

I'm not so sure why people say take away the goal kicking and he'll be average, it's part of his game. Yes he would be average without it, but the fact is he's got it. It's like saying take away all Puletua's size and he'll be average, well done do you want a lollipop.

His final try againts Leeds, and the one in the corner against Wakefield showed great finishing and composure too. He's definately a cut above most of the wingers/centres that age if you ask me.

If Saints have any sense they will get a sprint coach in over pre-season, or even now, and get him working with Foster. He would be a top winger if he had a few yards more pace. I know Saints had a spell of having a sprint coach at the club, not sure if they still do but looking at the squad, i can't see it.

I'd like to see Foster have a gallop. I don't I've ever seen him put clean through from far out. He looks nippy enough to me close to the line.

He showed a bit of pace for his try against Wakefield when Wilkin broke free. Granted there was nobody in front of him but he still had to run about 50m.

He did fine for his longer try against Wakey but he doesn't have the natural speed of Makinson so far as I can see. However, he has other qualities. And great boots.

And lovely hair