Now thats leadership. Thats an orginisation which doesnt see itself as little brother to the Union or the AFL.

Isn't it. Makes the RFL look ridiculous.

I just don't understand the apathy from the Wigan fans. They refuse to see the negatives in their owner whoring the club round Rugby Union suitors.

It's not the fact that Tomkins is playing the match that grates on me, it's the sugar coated grovelling tone Leneghan takes and the RFL's response was just incredible really. Taking it as a compliment and getting all excited about it was pathetic. We shouldn't be making it so easy for Union to succeed IMO.

Wigan are behaving like a newly interned prisoner who just became the bitch of the toughest gangster on the landing; they may be afforded some measure of protection, but they're still going to get painfully bummed on a regular basis.

The latest indignity appears to be that Master Tomkins (S) can now do what the love he pleases, including turning out for the Barbarians only one week after a super-special deal was announced, preventing him from talking to RU clubs. Will he be chaperoned during the build-up and on match day, to ensure he keeps his end up?

Who cares. Sam Tomkins and his flirtations with RU are a symptom, not a cause, not a death sentence. A symptom.

Stopping Tomkins playing in this match wont address the reasons his brother has left, and wont address the reasons Tomkins is so open to the idea.

if we address those reasons players like Tomkins will have no reason to be looking enviously at their RU counterparts.

I think its going to make a good viewing on Saturday seeing Sam play for the Barbarians.

Looking forward to it.

At least he will be wearing Wigan's socks. Or do the Barbarians still do that club sock business?

You wear your countries socks normally so he may well play in Wigan's

Ba-ba games are traditionally hard fought with a fair few young & upcoming players but the intensity is just not that of a full international. They have always been a release of the shackles type game in terms of throwing the ball about, defenders don't go OTT in their efforts so loads of points are usually scored. It IS an exhibition match so with the result not massively important expect lots of open passages of play which Sam might well expose if played in the right position.

Nope, but it might have stopped us looking like little b*tches who jump at the chance to roll out red carpets all the way to Twickers for our brightest young stars.

Pretty sure you wear your club socks?

Anyway, lots of paranoid bitching and wailing on this thread. So Sam got a call, "Hi Sam, RFU here, would you like to play for the Baa-Baas in a charity match against Australia?". He probably spoke to Wayne/IL and said yes. Simple as that.

It's a one-off charity game. For those who don't understand these things, Sam has just signed a big contract with Wigan. You might say "contracts don't count for anything" but what it does mean is that in the last few weeks he's committed himself to Wigan (albeit thanks to Saracens knocking at the door with a big cheque), and also - more crucially - it means that anyone wanting him will now probably have to pay millions.

Would anyone care half as much if Andy Lynch or Keith Mason or Danny Brough or Jonny Lomax had been invited and decided to give it a crack? No. We know Wigan have recently had contact with the RFU/Saracens - christ, they've just announced a partnership with Saracens! - so why should this come as any surprise?

If Sam doesn't perform, nothing lost. If he tears the game apart you might just get some kids wondering, "what's this Rugby League all about if they've got players like that?" How one lad playing a stint in a charity game is detrimental to the whole of RL I don't know. He'll still be back at pre-season and playing on a cold night at Hull KR in January. Business as usual.

RL fans being whiney paranoid tarts. Some things never change.

The important thing is, whichever decision is taken regarding him playing, is that the RFL have conviction and work to strengthen our game.

So, either they show the commitment the the ARL guy Gallop had in protecting our sport, or (assuming Sam rips it up) use it as a PR stunt and roll out a few adverts for Superleague playing on the fact our players are head and shoulders above when it come to excitment.

Or....

Give him a brown paper bag of cash to persued him to look as as possible, which will help put any union club off bothering with league converts?

RFU beat us to it mate. His value must have taken a nose-dive after last weekend