I think I know what it means, but I reckon it's easier said than done.

If what we're talking about here is trying to boost the game's profile in comparison to RU, which, despite being a poorer product than RL, is still the darling of the establishment and the national press, and as a result enjoys an international profile, which, thought it may leave us baffled, is now on a global scale, I think we're on a hiding to nothing.

Let's be honest, there's no way we will ever be in a position in GB where we can say: "Come to us, lads - even if you get picked for England RU, you'll never enjoy the profile (and the spin-off benefits) that players in RL now get".

For me, the only thing we can really do to weigh the dice in our favour is introduce modifications to the Cap, such as discounting juniors or ex-Academy players from it, so that we can concentrate all our capped resources on keeping the big name stars in the game. Despite the best efforts of many Saints and Leeds fans, I've yet to hear a reasonable argument as to why that would be a bad idea.

Just to confirm for the record that according to official statistics Rugby League is the second most popular team sport in the UK after football. This is judged using the measure of the number of fans who go through the turnstiles at games over the season in domestic league competitions. Based on this Football is way ahead with over 25 million strolling through the gates. League is second with 1.64 million taking the time to have a pie and watch a game and Union is third with 1.48 million people daft enough to watch blokes have an extended cuddle, lift each other up like a chorus line and kick the ball to the fans. If anyone is interested Cricket is a distant fourth with 888,000.

Based on last full year of statistics available.

I do have a life........honest!!!

Ben Foden would be a world class full back in league IMO

Well played Chris. Bombed his big one chance (literally). Just kicked too early. Inexperience apparently. I'd suggest club experience would give him the know how of when to kick in that situation but hey ho...

He just panicked. But, well done Chris!

Always nice to see a Wiganer play on the world stage.


He did take the wrong option on that kick though.

Glad he lasted the 80 mins.

It was inexperience and a shame he couldn't capitalise on it. I watched this game purely to see Ashton play. Apart from the spectacle of the occasion, and a couple of big tackles the rest of the game was hugely boring. I just don't get it. Nothing happens. I know that exposure of the union game is massive and so it's going to draw large crowds but why oh why would anyone want to spend their hard earned money and precious free time watching that???

It's so frustrating. I honestly feel if you sat down a load of union, league and neutral fans and made them watch the full 80 mins of both a top flight league and union game they would come away saying that league is much more interesting.

Definately lived up to its name - Rugby Yaaawnion.

i did and i dont no why

I did not watch the game, but it was perfect for a saturday night. Mindless crap for the masses...

Have you ever watched a movie that was so bad you cant stop watching it