I'd forgotten about the "star player" thing. Break out the Hedge funds Mr Coleman.

Unfortunately, as I understand it the clubs voted against a 'marquee player allowance' at the last big meeting about the restructuring of the league. A massively shortsighted decision IMO, and this is exactly why - a club like Salford may just have been able to turn Marshall's head if they'd have been able to bid what they wanted. What a fillip that would have been to SL.

Dont the goons have special deals for Tomkins and that Union pudding Powell? If Marshall came to SL he would be the biggest star by some way , unless these rules only apply to Wigan - wouldnt be the first time

I think with Tomkins they just used the homegrown player allowance, which was new at the time. Apparently there's a 50% allowance for the first year or two on signings from union, which they took advantage of with Powell.

I'm sure they got something special to bump Tomkins contract up to keep him in superleague - or was it the time when he coincidently got a job presenting for Sky TV?

Neither rule existed. Wigan just said they were doing and the RFL changed the rules to suit. Had Wigan wanted to sign an aboriginal winger at the time and not a Union player, there would have been a new aboriginal winger exclusion brought in. As ever it's Wigan refusing to live within the rules everyone else lives within, but I guess I'd rather Saints were at least trying to improve so I'd probably be all for it if it was us benefitting for once.

@RLW_Mole: Moley hearing Tim Moltzen to St Helens is just about a done deal... another of Benji's crew leaves @Wests_Tigers

The Mole's quite reliable usually, confirmed Walsh and Masoe months ago so there could be truth in it.

Indeed. Strange that Moltzen himself would deny it today though, isn't it?

Best thing about this news is that it means one of our terrible overseas players won't be playing for us next season. Hopefully Laffranchi, but I'll settle for Lance.

I'd be happy If all current overseas players left the club. It be great to replace them but I'd even go with the kids before this lot.

TP, Perry, Hohaia, laffranchi can all go for me.

Excellent signing if this is true. The Mole is usually spot on when concerning NRL players comming to SL.

As long as his knees don't go again i'm extremely excited as to what next season will bring.

Our backline will be very fast for once and finally a general organising everything.