We would get more than that surely? Transfer fee and 4 years contract remaining should mean some serious lolly in RL terms anyway.

I hope its not true TBH but the rumours seem to be growing

The only thing that worries me about losing Joel is it might entice Sam. Joel is replaceable. Sam is the kind of player that comes around once every blue moon, I'd be absolutley gutted if we lost Sam to RU and it would be the final nail in the coffin to our sport vs RU IMO.

That's it in a nutshell, Joel is a good player, but he is replaceable. Sam is not easily replaceable at all with the salary cap in place (IMO).

The other problem is that once Joel goes, surely Sam can't/won't be far behind?

Although it was hilarious to watch, yesterday's defeat for England in the World Cup is a disaster for Rugby League. Last time they were knocked out in the quarter finals with a set of backs as uninspiring and one dimensional as that, they came to RL looking for a quick fix. The fact they pretty much found it in the shape of Jason Robinson means they will try and do it again and their search will be starting with S Tomkins Esq. Today's Sunday Times even suggests him as a man to add some spark to the 2015 England squad..worrying times

Equally, as Wales are taking the tournament by storm at the moment, the chances of 'Alfie' Thomas and Iestyn being able to attract young Welsh Union talent away from a successful environment are receding. At least if Wales win the Cup there won't be much left for Shaun Edwards to do in Union and he could be our next coach...

The game must stand together when it comes to Sam Tomkins possibly leaving for union. He's simply far too important to English Rugby League to allow it to happen. I'm confident at the moment that there's not too much in these rumours but one day the dark side will come calling. When that day comes the RFL must help us act. We must be given a licence to offer him what we want without it affecting our salary cap.

If we can't keep him here we must make sure we block any move to Union and force him to the NRL. The RFL should help us do that by offering to pay is compensation for turning down the Union coin.

Lose Sam Tomkins and it's pretty much rock bottom for the sport.

Lose Joel and he's not much out of the Chev Walker league. He's a good player and borderline regular international but he isn't the best....Sam is.

In the Times today S Jones usual hater of RL players in RU has S Tomkins as one of the 10 players that could win the RU world cup for Eng. Farrell and Ford included in the list funnily enough no mention of Ashton or Eastmond

I was going to try and find the article, but then remembered the Times online isn't free.

Jones does like a rant but he does have some good points about academy players being drilled into robots that cannot think for themselves and change a game plan when under pressure.

JT is a first 17 player so absorbing his loss is not as easy as that. Who is as good in the pack as Joel now Hoffman has left? Him and HH along with Lockers make an awesome back row.

What good is money when it can't be spent on players wages due to the salary cap?

Wigan should look at this simply from a playing point of view. They gave him a five year deal that still has four to go for a reason and it wasn't because they wanted him to leave. If Leeds came in and offered him £200K a season and said that they saw him as the natural successor to Peacock Wigan would just ell them to go away. They should do the same here. We should not cow-tow to RU so readily.

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oc ... igan-coach Looks like the joel rumour is picking up momentum

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oc ... igan-coach Looks like the joel rumour is picking up momentum

I had it told to me today by someone 100% in the know that Joel has signed.

On Gareth thomas, i was told "he will play a lot more than most people originally thought due to Joel leaving".

He said we've signed 2 welsh lads. The phrase transition season was also mentioned once or twice too.

Sh$te!