Ignorance and arrogance.

There are many RU forwards and backs who came to RL and have been a great success for years.

Most of them were not exceptional when they came here but became exceptional by playing, coaching and fitness/

Saints described offiah as an uncoordinated clown and would not touch him with a barge pole.

Widnes signed the clown and the rest is history.

Isn't it amazing what hard work and perseverance can achieve. Today too many clubs want the finished article without the hard work.

Offiah was a hit in RL very quickly, not after years of hard work. Most union international outside backs would be a success in RL. Halfbacks are less convincing - scrum half in union in effect plays like a hooker in RL. When RL signed RU halfbacks a lot of them ended up playing in a different position - Davies was never that good at stand off, but brilliant in attack at fullback.

Forwards aren't that similar either, with RL forwards being far less specialised. Union front rows would generally be useless at RL, as would RL props at union. RL has no need for beanpole lineout jumpers, and compared to RU has a massive number of 7/8 style forwards.

In any event, RL won't be poaching RU players any time soon - probably never again. The main aim would be to minimise the numbers going the other way, and the bonkers selection of Burgess as a centre will hopefully dissuade both RL players and RU clubs. If they do target RL, hopefully they'll continue to sign RL players rather than target those who could more easily transition, as they'll have more failures than successes.

I have no idea how Farrell ended up being a backs coach. His international experience at stand off was similar to his son - boring and frankly looking nothing like a playmaker.

Thirdly, the defensive line is set at 0 metres rather than 10 (which is why the defences look better than they are).

Andy Farrell and the word international should not be in the same sentence. If I am correct British RLs least successful international captain ever. A knackered prop then suddenly plays in the back line for England RU in his final days as a player. Then becomes an international coach in a sport he barely played and helps create the worst ever World Cup team of a host nation. You could not make it up! He must be a hypnotist or something to get these positions!

This is definitely true. I remember David (Dai) Young (Wales) and Mark Brooke-Cowden (World cup winning New Zealand player) playing for Leeds in the 80's. Young didn't seem to know what to do with the ball, whilst Brooke-Cowden ran into tackles and came to an immediate stop. - He looked like he would have trouble breaking through a wet paper bag!

I seem to remember Dai Young getting reasonably good towards the end of his career at Salford - I may be wrong about that, though.

Union does seem to be producing much fitter athletes than it used to. I suspect you wouldn't have the situation now that you had with Tuigamala, to give one example, who seemed to take a year to get up to the required fitness level (what a player, though, when he did). I reckon there are a fair few outside backs knocking around the RU world that would be a success in RL.

So would i, but its not going to happen.