A full international programme, played during the regular season would raise the profile of the sport. Rugby Union's six nations is on now and the domestic season continues unabated. England RU manage to play ten or more games a year no problem during the regular season . Its a Club versus Country issue in RL which until International Rugby takes preceedence over SOO and Magic Weekends and club games will leave the game totally in Union's shadow.
It is flattering when Rugby Union tries to buy one of our top Players as it doesn't say a great deal about it's own development programme. It also sends an interestingly negative message to aspiring Players like Leroy Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees about their standing in future England plans. If Burgess goes he is not the first or last and the game goes on producing players. But the supply of good high profile Union recruits to Rugby League drying up is telling...
The ARL and The RFL (NRL & SL) need to sit down and sort out this aspect of the game.
Perhaps the Australians might even realise that by raising the profile of the game in England it would do likewise for the game globally.... no perhaps not... but looking at the bigger picture would help. Players will always have their heads turned at the prospect of playing on a bigger stage why not? Rugby League needs to create a bigger stage of its own.

Couldn't agree more

Union copied better aspects of our club game to enhance theirs, it's time we learnt from their international game to enhance ours.

The problem with Sam (and the rest of the so called 'Burgi') is that they have been hyped to the max ever since they have gone to Australia and yet they havent really turned out to be these supreme world beating athletes that Russell crowe and the rest of 'Souffs' made them out to be.

Sam... decent enough player on his day... has missed far too many games through suspension and injury. Not even the best forward at Souths let alone the NRL. Touted as the darling of channel 9 although his popularity is waning as a large proportion of footy fans now see him as a 'grub' because of his antics on the field. Just been dumped by his girlfriend as well so might fancy a fresh start back home.

George. like Sam a decent enough player but is also known for his embarrassing off the field incidents (smashing a car window in Cairns and taking naked selfies) although most people admit he is just as good a player as Sam (some would say better - much to the chagrin of poor Sammy boy - despite the fact it was his late high shot on SBW that cost his side a place in the final against us )

Tom. An NSW cup player - nothing special.

Luke. Pretty hopeless and not even good enough to make the England RLWC side. However he's not that bothered as the 'lifestyle' in Sydney is all he really wanted.


If Sam does move back to old blighty and play union he is unlikely to make the grade. He is no Sonny Bill .. and to the best of my knowledge hasnt played the game. He has no chance of making the England world cup side - certainly not this time around anyway.

If he does go at least we will all be spared the hype and programmes that show the 'Burgi' eating their lunch, hanging out on the beach and tying their own shoelaces.

Personally though I cant see him leaving the NRL.

if south sydney are only going to be paid 500k in compensation and he has 3 years left on his contract does that mean sam is only on 166k a year?

If so i would be more than happy for koukash to pay sam 300k a year and get him back in super league and not left him raise the profile of union any more.

Also please keep andy farrell away from England RL this is the 3rd or 4th player he is trying to poach.

The day of the opening game of Super League and the BBC's top RL story is about Burgess being ready for the 2015 union WC. They are just loving it.

The performance from Burgess in the RLWC semi final was the best performance from an Englishman in decades. Anyone now slagging him off is just upset.

What is it about people like Andy Farrell? No doubt they grew up supporting RL. Then they give most (if not all) of their professional career in RL. Only to give-it up and then systematically proceed to stab the sport in the back.

I know the vast majority of you might say; money talks, bull walks, etc...

But surely, these people are fans of the game, and they know about its struggles, and should (one might think) always maintain a level of sympathy, emotional connection with the sport that defined them? How does that suddenly stop?

That's not true. The club competition is poor while the internationals are on. The top teams are badly hit and it is a poor spectacle to watch unless you are one of the lower teams trying to take advantage.

So? What's the problem if it enhances the international development of the game? It's club v country again and it isn't right that the clubs always win.

On Burgess, IMO he's looking for a couple of years out of the game to play in the RUWC and then he'll probably want to come back. They probably want him for longer, but maybe doesn't want to commit his long-term future. A assume it's the T's and C's of the contract they're still haggling over...

it's always a poor spectacle to watch but watch it they do.....

Which team won the 6 nations last year and how has that helped the domestic game in that country?

WALES

WRFU turns over more than the RFL......it's not even a country but actually a principality.
rlhttp://www.wru.co.uk/downloads/ARA_Final.pdfrl...they have the funds to sort out their domestic game.

Add an extra 0.

The RFU are going PR-crazy on this, and the rah-rah loving media are falling over themselves to lap it up. Can't be having the riff-raff getting positive media attention, what.

I see even the toffs' favourite trained northern monkey has been wheeled out, trying his best to hide his wigan accent as he tried hard with his received pronunciation, to twist the knife a bit more.

I know many of these RL players just see £-signs, but do they ever just stop and think about the damage these defections do to the image & morale of the game that put them where they are now?