Quote: hatty "Then let them go to a rival. We aren't and should never be used as a springboard to the NRL.'"
We are and have been for quite some time. Whether we like it or not 99% of the best British players ultimately want to go to the NRL at some point. We're not in the same situation as 20 years ago where we could reasonably hope to fend off NRL interest. Too big a difference in the money, quality of competition and international selection prospects. We need to work that reality to our advantage, not pointlessly try to fight against it.
I would not he surprised at all if Wigan used this as a selling point to help secure the best youngsters (we'll develop you and help you achieve you ambition of playing NRL as we have with Tomkins, Williams, Gildart, KPP, Smithies etc). Presently the only way not to be a stepping stone to the NRL is to not get players who will ever be good enough to play there (bar the very odd example such as Farrell who clearly chose not to for whatever reason).