Hmm, bit in two minds on that one. He won't have been on a masive wage but he'll have been doing alright.

Unless you're an absolute super star it's never been a lucrative career, as a promising-ish youngster (not saying I was good enough to turn pro, but I played at a decent level) I never really contemplated pushing it to become a pro, education seemed the more realistic option to getting a decent life for yourself.

The game is absolutely littered with former wonderful players who never really manage to achieve anything after they hang up their boots.

We are living in a totally different world now though.

Waynes world Waynes world party on excellent

Problem most RL players have (and I know a few of them) is that they're daft lads.

With the amount of training they do, they have a ridiculous amount of spare time in which they can learn a trade, gain qualifications, degrees etc. Some do, but most toss it off.

A close friend of mine played SL for a decade, didn't bother with qualifications, spent most of his cash/spare time on gambling, cars, going out etc, and now plays in the Championship somewhere with a part time unskilled job. Basically, he's got nothing to show for it.

It's getting better to how it was though. Leeds, for instance, put alot of their players through university (e.g. Rob Burrow is a trained masseur). Jodie Broughton (I think) is training to be an architect.

I think it's more of a problem in the Championships really.

A player these days (providing they don't have to retire early due to injury) can retire in their early 30's, and enter 'normal' employment with a relevant qualification, no education debts & probably with a bit of cash saved already. This comes after having the great experience of being paid to play the sport they love for however many years - the stadiums they've played at, people they've met, adoring fans etc etc.

dont say that on the wigan board there very touchy about it and will tell you leeds were full time pro before them

The difference was that Leeds did not have Uncle Mo's Blankety Blank Cheque Book and Pen so they could buy every one that came on the market whether they needed them or not just to stop the competition from getting them.

I totally agree with this, the problem as I see it is a lot of youngsters are signed up at as young as 12 yrs old with the majority of academy being 14/16yrs this turns their vulnerable little heads and they believe they are going to be superstars so are not too bothered about grades at school and colleges, then they are more often than not tossed aside at 18 yrs old and left to compete for apprentices/college places with kids who did apply themselves at school. For me a big responsibility in this are lies with the clubs (and parents of course), these kids should be told straight that the likelhood of them turning into SL players is very slim, and they should be encouraged with school work and college places. Also if they keep 18 yrs old on they should be working with them and encouraging them into college and universities, universities often have good rugby teams for these youngsters to play in.It has to be recognized that playing rugby as a career is less years than what you have to pay a morgate.

I will give you that one for a bloke ur age you've got a great mop of hair and by the way everyone I'm not saying he is old it's just a lot of men lose they're hair in they're 20's il just keep digging my hole

Sandra has a lovely mop of hair.

It's like Rene Higuita's hair. Thick & moppy.

But can he do the acrobatics like Higuita?

Possibly.

Ginger will know how flexible he is.

Hudge says today there could be potentially 3-4 new signings before the end of the season. Im not sure who, but there doesnt seem to be much kicking about on the market. Looking at the ins/out thread on the VT, these are the only players still OOC who we could be realistically interested in. The two lads from Warrington would be good signings.

Shaun Ainscough
James Donaldson
Daniel Addy
Will Sharp
Andrew Dixon
Rhys Williams
Lee Mitchell
Stefan Marsh
Joe Mellor