I could see Tony Clubb being a target, possibly Tom Briscoe.

Not sure who else comes to mind.

No argument there!

What's worth bearing in mind is that Joel has now won everything he can in Rugby League. Rep Rugby League is practically non-existent, and England aren't going to win anything anyway.

We have to face it, Rugby League is in the shadow of Union. As to how we address that, I don't know. But something needs to change.

Completely disillusioned with Rugby League.
I love my club but if whenever we produce such talent, they swan off to RU, what's the bloody point?

I wouldn't blame Joel
BUT for his 'I want to play at Wigan with my Mates & not go to RU anytime soon' crap only in MARCH.

Seriously disappointed in him. I don't blame him for taking the money & lifestyle. I'd do the same - honesty - but i don't like being lied to.


Rugby League - the peasant sport. Pathetic

Bad news for RL if true. As much as I dislike JT, he's got bags of potential in RL. With his frame, power and pace he could easily be the next Keith Senior (in a good way). Still, Sam would be a greater loss.

Given that he's won everything he's likely to win in RL at such a young age, and that mentor Maguire is imminently departing, I suppose it is understandable that he may want a new challenge or time in a sport with bigger media coverage. Hope it doesn't happen though.

I don't think the salary cap is to blame, although I do think it needs to be raised somewhat. Ultimately RU offers things that RL cannot - whatever sums players are paid.

Why do you dislike JT? -.-

I agree with the rest of your post though.

The RFL need to wake up and smell the coffee - the salary cap, the pathetic way internationals are treated (by fans and the RFL) are all partly to blame. If he was going to the NRL then I wouldn't mind as much, but to switch codes? Hardly a surprise though - don't the Tomkins bros have the same agent as Ashton?

Can't blame the lad. Only has one career so he has to make the most of it. The higher profile international game is the real difference. I expect Sam will follow at the end of this year as well.

Nobody is bigger than the club, if you dont want to be here good riddance.

God bless the salary cap, no wonder we are and always will be a minority sport.

Is it money or the case he gets the chance to play International Rugby in front of 80,000 people and get the subsequent media attention?

Personally, I think the fact that the second he puts pen to paper he becomes an instant millionare may be the deciding factor.

Judging by his interview in March its the money. He said you have to look at someone being offered 2/3 times as much in union and understand why people will move

I'm no big fan of Wigan, and I do support the principles behind the salary cap, but when such a massive club cannot keep their best young talent then questions need to be asked and answered.

Regardless which club you support, this potential move can only be bad news for our game.

Lomax, Gaskell, Sam all will be next, the Salary Cap has killed Rugby League. No superstars will ever play RL for a full career in this country again as long as we have this rule, and as long as this continues the mediocrity of Super League will get worse than it already is.

Me & a friend were discussing the whole "when will Joel & Sam bugger off to RU" topic after both signed their new 5 years contracts. The way he saw it was now they've signed they'll stay until the end of the contracts then go, my take was wigan gave them new contracts fully expecting them to go within a pretty short timeframe & were just protecting their investment by making sure they got a decent return on them.