I don't really agree. We aren't telling the wolf anything he doesn't already know. Canberra don't need to be physically in the UK to poach our players, or anyone else's. Of course we can't welcome anyone taking our young talent, but I have often thought about the pool of young Aussie talent just bubbling under the NRL, who might well find a couple of seasons in first-grade in SL would set up their careers. It's always nice to see an Aussie come over who's well under 30. Like Bevan French.

We’ve been down this path before with the NZ Warriors and apart from them taking Bell, Betts & later Tomkins I didn’t see much coming the other way!

Waiting for those special fans to say it's good for the British game when our youngsters go to the Shangri-la of RL.
I've said it for years, It doesn't, It might make the odd international game a little bit tighter but let's face it We don't see British whitewashes like we should be doing if our players are gaining all this RL experience and knowledge from the land of the arrogant ones, The only British players we see coming back are failures, I doubt we will ever see Sam Burgess or Bateman back here in their prime, Maybe one last season on big money before returning to the land of milk and honey, Poop on Canberra and poop on the NRL

I honestly think you must be on another planet.

We all understand why it happens. Why that means we should be okay with it, I can't imagine.

I see. So Canberra are doing this to pay us back for some imaginary offence we committed 30 years ago.

That makes it okay then.

I really don't see a problem.
Do you not think that the Aussies already identify players from over here?
Do you not think that they watch all the Superleague games?
Do you not think that they subscribe to and watch not just Wigan t.v. but all the other clubs up and coming academy players.

I KNOW they do.

I know that there are a few academy players from different clubs, including Wigan who are on "the radar" of Aussie clubs.

From an England perspective, the more players we have playing in the NRL the better.

From a Wigan perspective, we need to keep our best talents. By all means send someone like Partington for 2 years in a swap for a Hamlin (minus the drugs) and I don't think we lose much but not losing our best players like we have been.

We have had numerous tie ups with other clubs, both union and league, and even with other sports but I cannot , for the life of me, remember any lasting benefits for the club. It is not likely that we would be able to attract young Aussie talent as they will not meet the representative criteria and Aussie clubs seem happy using the Queensland and NSW competitions as reserves. I wonder what young Lam thinks about his decision to stay in Aus this season. I could see Canberra doing well out of any link up but I am not so sure about us.

Yes but other clubs don't put their players in the shop window like we do.

Nonsense. Every single player in RL is in the shop window. When you play for the biggest name in the game though it carries more weight when you perform well.

I agree. I also think we can expect quite a bit more interest since the Bateman signing.

it's a bit like RU after Jason Robinson. They unexpectedly found themselves with a storming player, and spent the next 10 years signing anyone and everyone, hoping to get the same thing again. I doubt Ricky Stuart and co will be that naive, but they'll certainly be encouraged to keep coming back. It'll be down to Wigan themselves to try and discourage them.

He's been retired 25 years and we haven't product a player like him in this country since. How many more years should we be trying and failing without looking at other options?

What is your point about him being at Rochdale?

ATEOTD Canberra and most of not all NRL sides are always on the look out for quality players. They will already be aware of the most promising academy players, not just at Wigan but throughout the country.

Whether they have an official link with a club or not that will not change. They and other clubs will still make offers for SL’s top talent.

The way I see it is the negatives of an official link will happen anyway so why not try and get something out of it even if it is just the gate receipt from a pre season friendly.

Agree with all of that. Problem is we can't stop it. The RFL and SL need to come up with a way of stopping it. For me it's pretty much out of the clubs' hands.

I also believe that Smithies is being courted by Melbourne. That would be a huge loss but on the other hand, how could he turn it down if they make a play for him?

Well being as this is a Wigan forum it was a matter of interest. People like to know what their old favourites are doing.