You've every right to prefer RL that way. It's just that we can't really have it both ways. If we want significant profile and media interest, we need cash, simple as.

So what do you think will happen? One day RU will 'go bust' and the sport collapse? No. Some rich people will lose money, then some more rich people will come along and probably lose theirs too. All the while, RU fans get to watch the top 'talent' (yep, beats me, but hey, they seem to like it) in their sport.

Or maybe it won't happen as you predict and some clubs will ultimately pay the price for overspending.

In fact it's already happened in the case of Richmond who rode the wave of euphoria under the newly professional RU competition but when success didn't follow their owner pulled his money and the club ceased to exist.
It sounds very much like Kennedy is on the verge of doing the same at Sale

It will only take a Bath, Leicester or Wasps club to go bankrupt and the sport will have to curb their spending like every other UK sport other than Soccer.

Nrl's salary cap is going up every year, that is a far greater threat to the quality of SL than any union increase.

This. Union will always pinch one or two of ours every now and again but the NRL increase means a continued strangle on the quality of import and the atraction of the big $$'s to our few top stars.

They are reasonably paid, but my feeling is that our players that join the NRL mainly do so to play at the top level.

You could take the case of Burgess, who I'd suppose is now on a helluva lot more than when he was first tempted to join, yet is leaving the NRL for an even bigger profile RU posting.

You may take the view that he's just a mercenary and money talks, but personally I think that's not the main driver. Making it in RU (eg Jason Robinson) gives you a genuine world stage profile and the chance to play in some extremely high profile international games.

Agree with this.

I get the impression that his motivation is celebrity status, high profile stardom, whatever you wish to call it. The money is the secondary consideration even though it will inevitably flow thusly, should the primary motivations be satisfied/attained.

He's going to require some elocution lessons and a posher accent to succeed in the celebrity stakes in Union though. A whole lot better than his cringeworthy monotone performance on Premier Sports which goes something like this.....

[i"Watch the NRL on Premier Thporths... your home of the gratethst gaimmm"[/i

Good luck to Sam, NOW can we PLEASE return to discussing Rugby League?....Thanks!

On your point about lack of international game; I noticed that when there are any Aussies on Super League Superstars, they often state their career highlights are playing State of Origin and representing Australia against Great Britain.

GB disappeared and I think the best part of international rugby league disappeared.

richmond were the first pro union club in britain and were bust within 3 years......in the following 15 years wasps, sale and a few others have had their owners grumble loudly about expense, yet they are all still there, throwing cash after more cash into black holes......god knows why.
If Nigel wray were to let wasps fold, I can assure you the game wouldn't 'fold" as per your prediction......Union is inherently wealthy from the ground up, with most clubs owning their own grounds or having long term deals that suit them. The international game is a mammoth and even compares favourably with wendyball when it comes to attendances.....sponsor flock to be associated with it and next year they will shift a fair few white shirts with roses on them.....just because you WANT them to fold doesn't mean they will. They have a TV deal that is managed well, a European comp that is popular and even the piddly little unions like scotland managed to turn over more than the RFL....wanting them to fail is fine, but predicting based on your hatred of the game is a pointless.

It's a great move for burgess, to a bigger, and better game.

Where did I suggest that "the game would fold"?
Your whole hissy fit is predicated on a false premise, ie that I want Rugby Union to fold. What a silly assumption that is, it's based on nothing more than some phantom "hatred" of mine which certainly isn't evident in my post nor any other I've made.

I certainly hope you feel better after that rant because otherwise it served absolutely no purpose whatsoever!

Edited for greater accuracy

I'll rephrase then.......wasps, bath and leicester could all go bust and the aviva premiership would still carry on as it does now. Their game is built on foundations that a few clubs going tits up would not shake. Take wigan and leeds from SL and we'd be buggered in the uk.....

Aru have just cut all the academy funding to super 15 clubs, they are broke lol.