Vainakolo and Hape, big loss to rugby league and England

Really?? I mean, really??

In Vainikolo's last season he was way over weight, lost all his speed and generally wasn't fit for the game. His game consisted of being given the ball five metres from the line and falling over the winger to score.

Hape was good, but was he really that good? Also, he's a Kiwi, so no loss to England.

Pity we can't link to a video of Chris Ashton running away from Richard Moore when he scored that try. The question of whether Wigan miss him would never need to be asked again.

The England comment was a bit tongue in cheek as they both play for England RU.

Seriously you dont think Vainakolo was any good? Best winger of the super league era IMO

Danny Williams

Of course he was, I don't think anyone can dispute that. I was there for the Bradford-Wigan match on the opening game of the 2004 season when he scored five tries. Even as a Wakefield fan I had to acknowledge that I was witnessing true greatness.

But, before he left Bradford it was clear he was a different player. Union's gain was our greater gain you could say.

There's no doubt we have lost some talent like Robinson,Ashton and now possibly Eastmond to the dark side.
What really worries me is that sometime in the future union could actually take over RL (Pro level).

That tickled me did that!! Just brought up the Newcastle RU press release again.

On a serious note whilst losing players is devastating i do feel it is the knowledge/ experience we loose in not having people like Edwards, Ford and Steadman around. Edwards is even more important from a media point of view. I would love someone to tempt him back to SL - cash and the bright lights of London will keep him away for a while yet i fear

I think the point I was trying to make is when will the financial pull of union stop our young players leaving a much better sport?

Youve only got to look at Eastmond and understand that the talent that we develop needs to stay within our sport if we are to have any chance of catching the aussie!! Obviously they have a much larger population to develop talent from and the pull of union is not as great however you only need to look at Sonny Bill who left the game a couple of years ago!

Why has the value of the joy of the game suddenly been lost over recent years???

Success breads success and players can see those who have switched codes and been successful playing the easier game for more money and greater international accliam is quite a draw,and the ones who don't break into the England side come straight back to league.

I really hope this doesn't turn into lets increase salary cap bollox so we can beat the aussies, because the only rosy future i see for league is one where the goal is to be cash rich and if that means asset poor so be it, hell Union have been cash rich asset poor for their entire existance and it hasn't stopped the media drooling over the 5/6 nations every year.

SHAUN McRAE ...OH NO SUCH LUCK..WERE STUCK WITH HIM IT SEEMS

People who say that losing a player to union is no worse than a retirement need to remember that the rugby union authorities were openly hostile towards the sport of Rugby League for a century, making every effort to destroy us. I think RL players should bear in mind that, had they got their way, there wouldn't be Rugby League.

Absolutely agree, many national institutions still go out of their way to marginalise our sport - thinking of paper based media for a start

It does sicken me to say this but we did have a good run on the best union players for a very long time though!!

Prior to being approached by Union Ashton was good.
They go on about the 90 mtr try for England but he scored a better one for us v Saints at KR around four years ago. We got thumped 48-10 but Ashton's try was brilliant. Noble moving him to fb didn't do anyone any favours. Remember his game at Wire? He is a loss.

Jason Robinson, Henry Paul were losses. Big Les and Hape were not losses as their League careers were almost over due to injury.

When Eastmond's departure is announced then the questions will be asked as to the position he'll play. He isn't a natural Union half. He aint a wingman nor centre so where are they to play him? When he does go it isn't a given fact he'll be a success.
Would not surprise me to see him back in League sometime in the not too distant future.

You are really "cjhatesunion" and I claim my £5