Thats the problem we have, nobody can blame somebody for going for the big money for a secure future. We need something to offer these players to keep them.

I didnt see the Saints fans flooding on here saying how disgraceful a certain Mr Ashton was when he left for Yawnion.

Although I agree its a massive blow for Rugby League it benefits Wigan hugely.

Bad new in my opinion even if he is a Saint he is one of the very best players in our league and without him Super League will be worse off, if he wanted change and higher pay he should have turned to the NRL were I'm sure his style of play would be well suited.

Twitter roycee will break him and send them damaged goods, not before he makes him wear the pink tutu !

Eastmondcracksthesadsagain !

Bugger, I must get some new glasses, I thought it said 'he was having a bath' !!!

Two minds

1. It means the England team takes a major hit

2. Saints take a major hit, although judging by his recent efforts, no great loss!

Feel for Saints, imagine how we would feel if Sam did that to us. Poor from him, very poor. Should have seen his contract out

It's bl00dy annoying. As an England and GB fan, we need our backs to stay in this game. Our forwards are never going to go to union which is why we're hardly struggling for a pack to put against the Aussies and Kiwis. We're already threadbare in the backs as it is and we need to start holding on to the gooduns. If the RFL care about the international game then they need to start making more allowances for local talent to stay in the game i.e. salary cap exemptions... If it was Tomkins, we'd be spitting feathers...

I remember them laughing their cocks off when we lost Farrell.

Screw them.

Yep. But we've signed him up for another five years, so unless someone ones to give us £2m to release him, then he's ours and we'll get his best years!

Jokes on them, Wigan had the best out of faz, where eastmonds best years will be in the treatment room at Barth

Indeed. But Wigan fans have a bit more perspective than Saints fans on the whole. Many Saints fans are so blinded by their hatred of Wigan and a general inferiority and insecurity complex that they can't see the damage being done to the game. Just look at the SC threads on which they insanely continue to deny reality like flat earthers confronted with photographs of the earth from orbit.

Years ago Saints fans told us that there wouldn't be defections to RU, or that they would only take the odd player who was at the wrong end of their career. Defections like Jason Robinson were dismissed as anomalies and nothing to be concerned about.

They continued to defend the status quo because they thought it would benefit their club, not caring about the obvious threat to the future of professional RL.

It would be very easy now to laugh at them, to say they are getting what they deserve, but I can't.

If Eastmond goes to RU it will be a bitter blow.

Unless RL discovers some ambition and starts planning to grow the game then the future for professional RL in this country looks pretty grim - a second rate sport played by second rate athletes in front of small crowds and with even less media coverage than it gets now.

I hope the Saints fans and other idiots who have posted on this board to defend the abject failure of the RFL and the SL clubs to manage and develop the game are happy.

im disapointed to see him go to be honest. He is a cracking player (when fit). Eastmond and tomkins would make a superp pairing for england. Saints will have his salery cap space to replace him.No doubt they will have their eye on someone. On the flip side it is saints were on about so anything that weekens their team is a bonus

On a serious note with the sky deal due for negotiation what are sky going to think when so called top names are defecting to RU, they pay there money to show a quality sport with the best talent on show and likewise so do the fans. If the quality of the product is diluted or the biggest names who draw people into the sport are leaving then sponsors and fans alike have every right to ask what are we getting for our money ?

It's okay the game still has Richie Mathers.