This is, ultimately, the crux of the problem isn't it? Not that Graham is demanding more than St Helens can pay, not that he is demanding a more competitive environment, but that he is looking for a better lifestyle. Quite frankly, can anybody blame somebody for thinking that Bondi is probably a better place to live than Blackbrook? I believe that Gareth Ellis turned down a bigger offer from Leeds in favour of a move to Wests - put simply, Australia offers a lifestyle that the UK doesn't.

I can't see what the RFL can do about that, other than to introduce more European teams to try and speed up global warming?

Please let Graham come down under I'm still trying to convince people in Australia he is the best prop in the business today.

Lots of English forwards would cope with the NRL; not so many backs would.

How ironic now he moans, didnt see him speak up when Leeds and Bradford lost players

I find it quite amusing that clubs are worried and yet do sweet FA about it.

It's called FORWARD PLANNING and is used quite extensively in business, but seems to be an alien concept to sport in general in GB.

Perhaps that is the reason why the national teams are such world beaters amongst the few sports that have utilsed the concept.

We were hearing this ten years ago when Morley went to Australia and Robinson and Harris went to union.

The RFL set up that Club GB thing to make sure Cunningham stayed in league and was available to play for GB (ironic)

Yes a few players did go to union...Chev Walker, Gareth Raynor, Karl Pryce, and then we lost Sibbit, Thorman and later Ellis to the NRL, but the game survived.

I'm sure McManus would be celebrating for the good of the game if the salary cap was lifted and Simon Moran was able to outspend the Saints so Eastmond and Graham signed for Warrington, rather than being lost to another competition.

But playing in a comp full of mediocre imports hasn't worked...well not for the last 15 years it hasn't anyway.

As I say, the Australians are now starting to pay the price for over reliance on islanders and Kiwis.....the toyota cup is crammed with non-australian talent.......the Kiwis will dominate over the next 10 years once the slaters et al are gone.

ESL should be about European players...not dog f()ckers or has beens. Hull Kingston Australia and a few other teams are just taking the pi55....and the international game (as far as England is concerned) is suffering as a result.

You are fast turning out to be one of my favorite posters.

Was down in Wellington yesterday - bit of a 'fresh' wind for us Bay softies.

I really don't feel any sympathy for St Helens, not just because I don't like them, but the big teams don't bat an eye lid when they sign the best players from outside the top 4/6 super league teams. I'll give you Micheal Shenton, Richie Myler and Ryan Atkins as an example, or Paul Sculthorpe, Terry O'Connor and Gary Connolly going back further.

Now I don't like players going to Union, as that reduces our international pool of players, but how can anyone complain when a player decides to better himself within the better code rugby. There has been much talk of Australian talent being on the decline, but they always seems to handle the loss of their top players to union. What we need is better production of home grown players. With the Aussie's raising their salary cap, super league teams are going to have no choice but to start producing more home grown players.

McManus is only concerned with the good of his Saints team, not the good of the game. So he should shut up and stop moaning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...nowt but a breeze lad...nowt but a breeze

Personally I don't think Graham should go to the NRL for a couple of reasons.

1. We have already got about 3 or 4 poms in the NRL. Yes, I understand we have to help develop the English game.. but I look at it this way. If there are say 4 poms in the NRL.. thats 4 places taken up that Aussie players could have. 4 is plenty. Swap him with Burgess or Eliss.. but there is no need to take another one on. I don't have a problem with giving poms a go in the NRL but it should be on a rotational basis.. one in, one out.

2. He is not good enough.

How is he not good enough? Petero Civoneceva has said he'd be a big hit and he stands up well against Australian test prop forwards, so surely with NRL training and coaching he'd make it over there.