In fact, if you're an RU club looking to sign an RL player then the best way is to structure the offer in such a way as to have the most impact on the RFL Salary cap so their club struggles to match it.

That puts that one to bed. But even if had only been £60 grand, it's still a problem if you haven't got room under the cap.

Whichever way you look at it, RL has lost a talented player and RU has gained one.

Try and justfiy it all you like, with reference to "value" and the CC, but the reality is that it's a loss to Wigan.

Get a grip of yourself man!

He was 17 years old at the time!

Get down off your high horse and realise he was a year older than a school child!

If everyone was judged by the actions they make at that age I'm sure a lot I'd people would be screwed today.

There's nothing to justify. It happened, and the reasons why it happened have been given.

Whinge about it all you want. That won't change the reality that Wigan couldn't meet his demands.

If were all willing to forgive Hock and his drug antics, then Ashton prancing about in a RU shirt pales into insignificance.

We all make mistakes when young, some of us continue to make them as we get older.

Hang on a minute he was 10 days away from his 20th birthday (Chris Ashton, born 29 March 1987, On March 19, 2007 it was announced that Ashton had signed to play Rugby Union for Northampton). Regardless he was a professional Wigan RL player that commited the cardinal sin. Its like some 19 year old kid coming along a sh**ging your Maude then excusing him because he doesn't know any better. Utter nonsense!!

Even Maurice acknowledged he was being a tool (20 August 2007)......"Chris was anxious to commence his rugby union career with Northampton," said Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay.

"It is pointless having a player whose mind is elsewhere."

Lindsay added: "We decided to terminate his contract with us and he will join Northampton immediately."

LovesToSpooge, who said we are ALL willing to give Hock another chance, do you speak for us ALL?

Jes we have hit rock bottom when we think its ok to welcome back players that have sh*t on the club from a great height.

We all know that Ashton will never come back to the club as RU has far more money floating about and I for one couldnt give a monkeys chuff.

Bye Bye Ashton Bye Bye

Best post of 2009

It's not just the rah rah shirt thing, but his attitude off the pitch and the way he disrespected some of the senior players at the club at a time when everyone was pulling together to get us out of the .

I very much doubt that statement

You tell them, unforgivable behaviour from Ashton.