By regularly switching codes SBW isn't maximising his potential in either sport IMO. He could have been one of the RL greats. Same can be said of Sam Burgess.

I didn't say maximising his potential at either sport but maximising achievement of ambition.

More like maximising achievement of £££....

One thing that always gets me is that we all start playing sport for the enjoyment of it... Now I know that things change when the guys are making a career of it, and they've to look after themselves and their families financially - but ultimately, they're losing out on the chance to play the sport they love, whilst still being very well rewarded financially and with the chance to build 'legendary' status just for extra money and supposedly 'challenging themselves' (though I don't really buy that - I think that's a convenient excuse for chasing the £).. I don't buy that either Burgess or SBW enjoy playing or the 'ambitious challenge' of RU as much as they would enjoy RL....

Or testing themselves in another sport.......................

It must be very difficult if someone turns up with a contract worth heaps more cash than you are getting and offers more media exposure, better sponsorship etc

Although we like to knock Union on here and personally I don't understand why it has such a huge following, you cant blame any league player for giving it a go.

There were plenty coming the other way until they went professional(as opposed to brown paper bags full of cash or overpaid jobs with sponsors etc), some were excellent and others flopped.

I do like a bit of loyalty, and people in sport seeing the job through. I think Burgess will stay with Barth until 2019.

Loyalty as in how Burgess asked to be released from the last year of his contract with Souths you mean? Or how he milked the whole Burgess clan nonsense for all it was worth then left the country?

From the point of view of the game it would be great for him to come back to RL. On a personal level I would be highly amused if he stays at Bath and ends up a journeyman forward.

Burgess was never going to come back, he is getting paid a fortune for doing very little.
It makes me laugh when people say he didn't go to Union for the money.

Burgess has no choice but to come back. Once the Rugger Bugger media decide to make some player the goat it's practically impossible to gain England selection.

Right now Burgess is toxic. Any incoming England coach will be incredibly wary of selecting him. It'll be hard enough turning this bunch into a functioning rugby team without having the press on your back, too.

Deluded/
£800 K PA will make him cope with any crap he gets from the media.

A few months at 6 and he will be in the England squad. Maybe not playing in the team but will be in the squad.

Just imagine he earns more than 50% of a WHOLE SL teams salary cap or
20% of an NRL cap.

Burgess didn't join Union to play domestic football. If he's consistently overlooked he will walk.



Yeah, sure.

For me its all about the occasion and union certainly does that and I can only imagine how a player feels out in the middle of a packed partisan Twickenham.

However, if that passion of the crowd turns into a concerted dislike of a player it must be a lonely place.

I think he will be back in League. Unless some agent somewhere stands to lose a packet on him.

Is Chris Caisley, Walker Morris Solicitors, Leeds (ex Bradford Bulls Chairman) still his agent?