Union's cap is £4M and they don't even adhere to that. In France the cap is higher still and just there as a token measure to be looked back at as they soar past it.

I don't know the exact details with regards TV deals but ESPN show union matches as well as Sky so they have negotiated in there to get that. ITV pay so they can broadcast a highlights show as well. It's like BBC's Superleague show, but professionally done and broadcast nationally.

Try and google to find out how much the union deal is worth and you'll have great trouble finding it. It's bent.

Eastmond will not only be earning a bigger salary but now will be pen to more personal sponsorships, endorsements etc. So in the time he has before his biscuit ankles give way on him he now has much more earning potential.

Ultimately though this is a hugely complicated issue that has chicken & egg parts to it as well as the class system and inept RFL top brass hindering the game from being paid what it is truly worth to the broadcasters IMO. It will be interesting to see what kind of TV deal we can negotiate this time given the viewing figures they get for our games, the relative money going to union and the fact that the people running our game sometimes look like they couldn't organise a good session down the boozer.

Not robust enough for international selection. A good hard tackle and he limps off. And we ought to know, it has happened when we have been playing them.

My opinion too.

Saints are in rebuilding mode at the moment, so I would blood a youngster as you say, and sod Eastmond off into the second team and let him stew there for the season, he is on contract so can`t do anything about it and his game should suffer for this and Bath would have to start afresh with him.
Can`t blame him for going for the money, but if Saints offered him the same, I have an issue with that as Saints have put 7 years into his development.

It would be unfair to judge Tompkins harshly based on the four nations as hardly any of the squad did themselves any favours. Robinson did himself no harm, but on a week by week basis Tompkins has shown he has something very special and he will become a class act on the international stage given time. How old is he anyway? So much talent it's a joke, but I agree he does have a sly side to his game which he could do without as he is good enough that he doesn't need to cheat.

Tomkins !!!!!!!!!!

The Tompkins spelling was annoying me

The best halves have always had a bit of needle in them. It's part of what makes them what they are. If he loses his needle he loses an essential part of his game. What he needs to do is add a bit of control & smartness to it, which will come with experience and maturity.

He's a cracking player is Tomkins.

id have him playing for me. when fit and on form hes great.

still a loss for superleague and international game... if im paying my money or watching on tv i want to see the best players on tv and he will be playing next year but not for rugby league

As there was really only one broadcaster with the cash to sign up RL last time then is it no wonder that the RFL took what was on offer and tugged their collective forlocks at the Clan Murdoch??

The interesting scenario will be at the end of this season when a new rlTV dealrl is negotoiated as Sky now have a genuine broadcasting rival in ESPN for all the UK sporting rights Sky currently control.

If the RFL are smart and get in a serious sports broadcasting rights negoiator at this point then the money that could come into the RFL and ultimately be spread throughout the game is a lot more than at present. Maybe the game could afford to increase current salary caps in all professional competitions.

Also a 2013 World Cup win would also make the national media have to take note of the top tier of the game at least. Allowing for greater exposure of the games stars and those commercial revenue opportunities that fall into the laps of other sportsman currently.

The downside of increased TV revenues would be at some superleague clubs that "blinkered" directors and coaches would want to fill up their squads with even greater numbers of "convicts" than they already do. Unless the overseas player rules are tightened up even more than currently, say by offering more from central funds to those clubs who sign less overseas players as has happened in county cricket, therefore rewarding clubs who seek to promote the most of the home grown talent that is available.

wouldnt want espn to get the rights, would be a backward step.... even less exposure on that channel

Based on what? The fact that there is no RL currently on ESPN?

RL "Heartlands" the home of the "Glass is half empty" brigade.