How will sending our best players down under help SL get stronger? How will not playing against our better players make the younger players better players?

It won't make SL stronger. But IMO unless there's some big changes to the grassroots of the game it won't matter whether the better players stay in SL or not, we'll still always lose to the Aussies and lose most of the time to the Kiwis.

Short term, getting our best players playing in the best comp would raise standards for the international side. However players have got to want to try the NRL in the first place and I'm sure many will stay at home.

Given the current exchange rate and the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather and improve as a player I'd say going to the NRL can't ever have looked a better option than it does now.

I think the tightened quota rules and removal of relegation are already starting to see increased use of young players instead of journeymen Antipodeans. But that process is slow and not one that we'll see the benefits of for another 3-5 years at the earliest.



But that weakens SL. What happens when the current best players are past it? Do we send the next lot of our best players over to the NRL?



Undoubtedly.

Our two current NRL "stars" haven't looked any better than the rest of the team. I think this theory of the superiority of NRL is now discredited.
How come we win most of the WCC games?
I think our top 4 would compete well with most NRL teams.

Where we go wrong all the time is a lack in strength in depth, a complete lack of team and individuals confidence, having to play to the Aussie's interpretation, Aussie dubious refereeing and the Aussie's style of play and (currently) by employing our worst SL coach (just before he was actually sacked) as England coach (our only decent coach in recent years was Smith).
What next? Promote Bobby Goulding?

www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 17hcw.html already in negotiations with Wests' apparantly. Is there not some anti-tampering deadline in place?

www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 17hcw.html already in negotiations with Wests' apparantly. Is there not some anti-tampering deadline in place?

The article says he has discussed with St Helens that he will be talking to clubs while in Australia. In itself that doesn't mean much because he will just be exploring possibilities and then returning home to explore possibilities with Saints - at least, that's what he has said to the media anyway.

As for an anti-tampering deadline ... do we really expect the Aussies to respect such things? If Wests want him then they'll do whatever it takes to get him. The ball is firmly in Jammer's court by the sounds of things.

The ball is in australia. Trust me, hes goooooooone!

Then I'd wish him all the best and await his return in 3 years time!

UT.

Grahams just like every other scouser,minute they make a name for themselves and a few quid,they're off..pronto.

like gerrard ?

That would probably the best option for him financially. Three years, hopefully doing well, in the NRL would mean he could return home for a real bumper deal to finish his career on.

Robes has also said he wants to go there and has only 12 months left on his contract.
We will miss him more than Jammer IMO.
This is all very depressing especially as Tomkins's both say they have no interest in going over there.
New Stadium opens to fanfare and our two best and perhaps our only world class players clear off to Oz. Will Gingerbread Kyle be off somewhere as well?

I hope Sizzler gets a grip of all this and quickly.

We could always sign Joel Monaghan, but we'd have to keep our mascot on a leash!

rlhttps://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/monaghan-future-hinges-on-board-meeting-20101108-17kjn.htmlrl

Apparently "While Monaghan had reportedly said he would quit the NRL to save the Raiders further embarrassment to chase a deal in the UK Super League, Banaghan (his manager)said there was ''no English offer on the table''.
Canberra co-captain Alan Tongue admitted a stint in the UK might be the best option for Monaghan

Aye, Whiston.