No, without the salary cap I'd be worried about losing my club rather more than just losing the odd player here and there. Players are always replaceable, Union lost their best players for decades and were still always the superior code in terms of crowds and importance to the nation.

Given how special Eastmond is, if he has an injury free spell I'd say Union was an inevitable and unstoppable destiny for him. Graham just seems to want the challenge of the NRL, like Ellis and Burgess I don't really see money as being the root cause of that.

Let it go? Never. I've engaged a private detective to source the proof you seek. He is currently following a trail of dropped fifties and diamonds around Warrington that seems to be headed for the airport.

But in all honesty it's untraceable and we're never likely to find out. As you and I have both mentioned this incident isn't unique in the sport, most clubs have probably done similar things. But when a big local rival signs yet another top player to add to a backline that already made Saints look decidedly amateurish, it's only natural to have a pop or two.

I'm sure you'd all do the same if Amos Roberts suddenly opted for retirement and Greg Inglis rocked up in his place on the same day.

Ok try this
4 out 2 in

Warrington with no intent to sign anyone else, we still have money to 'give' Hicks so then that could 'technically' be construed as 3 out 2 in BUT with him going opening up the QUOTA space. Everyone's a winner.

Unless you know something though and have proof try shutting your cake hole until you do.

Am i blinded by loyalty or are you motivated by jealousy ?

No Saddened, go with me. Just send the cash to my account and it will be reinvested back into Australia I guarantee that.

I agree.

I've just bought shares in fosters, just in case he goes with you

This really is not intended as a Dig at Warrington, but when will the Rugby League grow a set and start to ensure their cap is being followed at all the clubs?

The Hicks Monaghan story has elements of Radders come back for Wigan a few years ago, playing for free?

Looking at some of the squads Warrington included there are either some very undervalued players out their, or some well paid family members!

Your Saints club has thgis year signed Shenton and will be paying him not far off double what Warrington will pay Joel Monaghan next year. If you have a problem with that criticse Saints not Warrington.

I see Saints still employ Paul Sculthorpe does his salary count on the cap after-all he "conveniently" retired when injury was keeping him out year after year. If Warrington decide to pay a non-playing registered Chris Hicks next season that's their look-out. I seem to remember Wigan not regeistering Karl Pryce during his first season with them so his salary didn't count enabling them to sign Tim Smith (or was it Cameron Phelps) mid-season. Where was your hand-wringing moaning then?

Whilst most clubs fans seem to have taken the signing as an opportunity to re-cycle the same canine related jokes over the internet's message-board it seems to me that Saints' fans are truly bitter about this.

When Wells and Robinson retired at the beginning of last season at Quins they were both paid off and the money paid went onto our salary cap

Don't see why your all that bothered.
Your clubs could have had him, that proof of that because it says in the BBC sport atricle "He had been courted by Castleford Tigers and Catalans Dragons before opting for Warrington"
Yes there will be some 'dog' chants, but i'm not sure he cares, or anyone at Warrington are either. When he delivers the goods, you'll all be silenced. Just you wait.

I know it was a stupid thing to do and waste of everybody's time but I actually went and read the salary cap rules to see what they say about this scenario. If anybody else wants to do that (and I know its better to just read what Saints fans believe the rules to be if you want the truth) here's the link

HTH

Cheers Stinky that makes sense. That looks like exactly what has happened.

Usually when there's some case of unfairness you get an article in League Express or something with a club chairman "so and so blasts salary cap rules" or so on. There's been no comment from other clubs about unfair play regarding Monaghan signing for Warrington and Hicks leaving, the only whinging has been from no marks on internet messageboards. Which implies to me that other clubs chairmen know what the rules are and that Warrington have just followed existing rules.

Seems fair enough to me. Warrington are a club I've always respected and I'm sure they wouldn't even consider cheating, lets not confuse them with Wigan.

Backtrack-tastic

I believe a thread on the Wire board needs a retraction from you now...