So you would rather Sam went to Union?

Bye bye Joel.

There's no way that would ever be allowed to happen. And it would be wrong to allow it. As much as I'd love Sam to stay at Wigan forever, That wouldn't be a fair way of keeping him on board.

But other clubs havent had to do that have they? Sinfield was touted for RU and he never went and we never got any dispensation from the RFL

We need to find a way to stop the loss of talent to Union though. The RFL need to act. The only reason players are going is for money and SL teams need to be allowed to compete on that level to keep our best players in the sport. Sinfield was an exception, not the norm

Pathetic.

£2.5 million from Saracens for both Tomkins brothers i got told at the weekend

Im sure people who want announcements werent expecting the club to be making one about a Tomkins to RU this week!

And when Sam gets booed playing for England, that will, Im sure in his mind, show him why he should leave.

If he does go Wigan need to make sure that we keep his RL registration for the duration of his current contract so if he comes back it is to us or others have to pay us a transfer fee like we did with Bradford for Karl Pryce.

Really bad news.

We had the chance in the early days of SL to reform the game's structures and grow its revenue base to help keep players like Joel in the game (or at least keep them for longer) but vested interests and anti-Wigan hysteria stopped that.

I think it's probably too late now to do anything to save RL as even a respectable minor sport in professional terms. Further marginalisation of our game seems inevitable as it declines to a semi-pro future (at best).

Good luck to Joel. I have no time for RU but at least he will be able to earn the kind of living that a talented athlete should be able to, in a sport which does not begrudge people doing well.

The club need to make sure this is sorted out very quickly, while at the same time making sure they get the right compensation from Quins/Saracens so that it can be used for transfer fees for a quality replacement.

It is indeed and is something that needs to be addressed by the RFL, although some clubs (and fans) I would imagine won't be bothered as it weakens one of the stronger teams.

Have you seen the rumours about Gareth Thomas? The rumour there is the RFL want a high profile club to sign him and in return as the RFL will pay his wages and those wages will not count on the clubs salary cap. Wigan are of course the high profile club linked with signing Thomas on this deal.

If the RFL can pay the salary of Thomas a 37 year old RU has been who has never done a thing in league while watching young RL players lost to the game even when they have 5 year contracts then we really are a sport run by a complete bunch of morons.

If they go to RU, I for one won`t blame them and I will wish them all the luck in the world.

IMO a large proportion of the blame lies with the inadequacies of the salary cap. There is a significant imbalance between RL and RU and even also between RL and NRL.

And if Sam and Joel do move, one thing can be guaranteed - they will not be booed and criticised by their new club`s supporters in either RU or NRL and neither will they be booed at RU International level where they will be playing on a larger international stage and will be treated and paid as superstars.

Other RL clubs, particularly Saints with their talented youngsters, will also have to be on their guard too.

This