The general trend with UK lads going to the NRL is that our backs really struggle, and our forwards on the whole thrive.

Few harsh comments in here, he's going there to improve as a player and whatever his attitude has been in the past, he's still a young lad. He could well mature and work through that, and I hope he does as he has bags of raw potential. Best of luck to him.

Having travelled in Aus, having an son there as well as regular business interests there before I retired, Their economy is not in great shape it is only the mining in the northern territory that keeps the figures healthy. The other states have been close to recession for a few years & their high wage economy is costing jobs as they outsource to Asia.( In my opinion)

Their economy won't grow and grow forever but any recession they do have will be pretty minimal in comparison to here.

Just like Tomkins, Burgess, Mossop etc.

Yup, along with all those well known highly successful Wakefield players who have tried their hand in the more competitive league. Hang on a minute.............

It's a myth that Tomkins & Burgess didn't perform in the NRL - when fit.

I see that the Wigan fans are getting a tad defensive when their players abilities are being questioned



Please enlighten me as to which of your Wigan players that have played over in the NRL has earned adulation and respect from the Aussies?

Joe Burgess was a flop at the Roosters and merely a squad filler at Souths who only got a gig cos Maguire was coach there
Sam Tomkins was nothing more than a bang average player in the NRL despite being on mega bucks,He wasn't even in the top bracket of full backs
Mossop was bloody awful over there at Parramatta,before returning to Wigan and being bloody awful there too
Sarginson will be back in SL very shortly and probably at Wigan as he is nowhere near good enough for the NRL

IMO players like Morley,Ellis&Sam Burgess have earned the ultimate respect over there and even Tom Burgess and George Burgess have earned far more respect from the Aussies than the Wigan flops that have come home with their tails between their legs

Haha really?

Regards

King James

I don't think this forum has enough pages for people to post all the NRL players who've come over here and turned out to be bang on average or worse.

Joe Burgess wasn't a flop IMO. He signed for the wrong team, who had two very good wingers already. It took him half a season to toughen up in contact, which is far harder for an outside back moving from SL to the NRL than a forward. I've no doubt he would have stayed at Souths if he wanted to - he was looking quite comfortable at the end of last year.

Tomkins played OK and was a core part of the Warriors attacking game and his defence was pretty sound. His problem was that his kick return was awful due to his lack of size/speed. May be harsh but that is a core part of the full back's role and he was easily the worst in the NRL in that area.

OTOH Mossop was a complete dud and Sargison looks as bad as Eden in terms of not being physically up to it.

A very good summing up, Eden has pace & skill but like most super league backs lacks the size & sheer power of the southern hemisphere centres & wingers, at our club he showed promise & at Cas outside a good centre &half back is ripping up super league. I watch nearly all the NRL games & the size of most of the players never fails to amaze me. We only have 2 or 3 wingers who compare in size. Unless you have sheer pace you have to be something special as an average size person to make it in the NRL. I have no idea where these big guys are in the UK? There may be a few in union but they won't come for our money we just don't seem to breed them that size?