It seems a bigger Wigan issue than anyone other clubs but you are right Saints have lost not just Graham but Eastmond went as well. Its an issue in the game as its weakening SL year on year. Maybe the reason Roby has turned down 3 offers is that now is he not in the same situation as SOL he has some exemption on the cap as playing for Saints for over a certain amount of years. So at his age now its not worth it to go down to the NRL especially if he has a family and is on top wages in Saints.

NRL do seem to be targeting younger players with no family or kids.

I wonder why the Rhinos seem to be able to keep hold of Hall and Watkins?

I don't know the answer. You would think that they wouldn't be short of offers. Hall had a great World Cup and Watkins is probably the best young British back in super league now that Sam has gone. Leeds seem to be able to keep their talent better than either Wigan or Saints.

Well, you have named two, the rest of their "talent" is too old, or not good enough individually... We have a crop, just as the big bucks have become available to the NRL and the RFU.

Or, maybe it's that Wigans players, like Wigan fans, are more ambitious.

thought mm was ok yesterday but not as good as some of the posts here. forward passes, late hits on kicker and struggling for fitness (one whole set in 2nd half he never made it to dummy half when we needed him) says to me I've seen him play better.

IL will not pay more than what he feels is acceptable for any one player. Since this type of attitude is what got us into trouble under the DW/ML era, i'm thankful for that. If players want to leave for more money - then so be it, I have every confidence we have the ability to replace any player - yes even including Sam Tomkins.

I'm quite proud of the fact IL has to confidence & business savvy to not have the club held to ransom.

Sam Tomkins didn't hold IFL to ransom? Lee Mossop also? IIRC doesn't Geoff Lima also come into this category?

Not sure of your reasoning here? I did name two - Hall and Watkins - and you seem to dismiss them as unambitious.

Also you say the others are not good enough. You think Lee Mossop is so much better than anything the Rhinos have?

As for the fans - how can Leeds fans demonstrate their ambition? They do get bigger crowds than us after all.

Hall and Watkins may be easier to accommodate within their cap/spend...

Yes.

We have much higher expectations, thats why we are not liked...

They still couldn't afford to pay them what an NRL club could afford

Surely not!

Agreed!

As usual MM was ferocious in defence and showed wonderful commitment.

There were a few occasions where he was completely off the pace though, struggling to get into dh (leading to some sets falling apart in decent positions), some woeful distribution and the obligatory foul play penalty.

The thing about the Roosters is they played a squad that no Super League club could afford to come close to in quality. Sonny Bill alone is more than a SL club could afford if they were to have a quality side.
No use talking about the expansion of the WCC unless and until the disparity in salary cap is addressed and narrowed.
If it were expanded and their SC increased at the same rate as their central funding whilst our remained static at £1.8m then yesterday's 36-14 defeat would seem like a close run thing.
Whether our SC will rise when we get to the 8 team Super League next year I don't know. If Hetherington etc wants to expand the WCC then they have to at least double our SC to have any hope at all of our clubs competing with the top NRL clubs.

Difficult to disagree with what you say to expand the WCC at this stage is pointless and to be honest i don't see the cap being increased significantly due to the dire state of the finances and the club owners show no desire including our own.