: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:29 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

I've no issue with union players coming our way, and they bring something to our game that I think our players lose at some point in their teens.

I'm not sure anyone in union circles would really regard Farrell as a success, given how much he cost. Their position is this:

"we don't know in what position you will play in this game that you haven't played at any real level before, and you are old, past your best, and your knees are shot, but whatever position you play in, there will be no better player in the whole of England in that position, because you will have the England jersey."

That was the RFU position, and for me, it showed the union game in a very poor light.

As for the rest, if Ashton has broken a try-scoring record and Myler has knocked on the door of the full England squad, then I reckon I could get a game.

Do you watch much union?
Saints are chasing Myler as a replacement for Long.

Andy Farrell England International, Captain of his club side and one of only 2 players retained by them for next season.

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:33 am  

Only when I have trouble sleeping.

I like rugby because of the free-flowing running plays. For those who prefer a bit of that but interspersed with lots of wrestling on the floor, then maybe watch rugby league, but have Women In Love on hire for the half-time break when you can watch the naked wrestle with Oliver Reed and Alan Bates.

Personally, I am happy for my rugby to be interrupted by nothing more exciting than a warm pie.

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:36 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

Only when I have trouble sleeping.

I like rugby because of the free-flowing running plays. For those who prefer a bit of that but interspersed with lost of wrestling on the floor, then maybe watch rugby league, but have Women In Love on hire for the half-time break when you can watch the naked wrestle with Oliver Reed and Alan Bates.

Personally, I am happy for my rugby to be interrupted by nothing more exciting than a warm pie.

So how can you claim the players you have listed failed?

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:36 am  

jonh wrote:

Do you watch much union?
Saints are chasing Brough as a replacement for Long.

Amended to be consistent with groundless rumour on here.

They would be brave to take Myler on, given that he has not proved himself at League and maybe the years have ticked too far on to be regarded as a protege.

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:38 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

Amended to be consistent with groundless rumour on here.

They would be brave to take Myler on, given that he has not proved himself at League and maybe the years have ticked too far on to be regarded as a protege.

Brough is 2 years older than Myler.

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:43 am  

jonh wrote:

So how can you claim the players you have listed failed?

The RFU had much grander plans for Farrell than what transpired.

Harris did well early on, but the consensus in Welsh RU is that he was brought on too soon, and thus failed (a failure of Welsh RU, not Harris).

Pryce and Walker beat a hasty retreat back to League.

Ashton was an okay full-back. One of the last appearances he made in league was at Belle Vue, when he bottled tackling Moore and took out the support player off the ball instead. He was derided at Wigan in his final year, as I remember, for developing a superstar attitude on the back of one decent season. He was not, and never became anywhere near., Kris Radlinksi. Myler did okay at Salford, which is no great tribute. If these average players are excelling at union, maybe it says more about union than league.

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:49 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

The RFU had much grander plans for Farrell than what transpired.

Harris did well early on, but the consensus in Welsh RU is that he was brought on too soon, and thus failed (a failure of Welsh RU, not Harris).

Pryce and Walker beat a hasty retreat back to League.

Ashton was an okay full-back. One of the last appearances he made in league was at Belle Vue, when he bottled tackling Moore and took out the support player off the ball instead. He was derided at Wigan in his final year, as I remember, for developing a superstar attitude on the back of one decent season. He was not, and never became anywhere near., Kris Radlinksi. Myler did okay at Salford, which is no great tribute. If these average players are excelling at union, maybe it says more about union than league.

To play down the achievements of Faz and Harris is just daft. And totally incorrect.

Pryce never made it he really struggled.

Walker was as England A international.

Ashton was very good for Wigan untill he signed for Northampton after which point he had no interest.

Myler has a better pedigree than Brough at the same age in League.

Union have a much larger selection pool and it is a very different game. To dismiss the achievements of these lads is in my opinion very disrespectfull to them and born of ignorance.

Most League fans do not rate there achievements as it suits there agenda.

Faz was in a car crash and out of the game for 18 months but still became an England international.

Very few failed/have failed but it does not suit the League fans agenda to recognise this.

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:25 am  

jonh wrote:

Karl Pryce accepted.
Andy Farrell England International in the World Championship team
Iestyn Harris Welsh international and there stand out player in the World Cup in 2001 I think.
Chev Walker, less than a year in the code England A international


Henry Paul England International and voted in the top 3 players in England by his fellow players 3 years in a row.

Stephen Myler. Northampton stand off England A international.

Chris Ashton. Broke the try scoring record in his first season.

Strange how all but 1 of your selection returned to the 'real' game. Which shows to me that we should let be, what will be for now.

You can take a man out of League, but you can't take League out of the man!

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:18 am  

jonh wrote:

Jonathan Davis
Paul Moriarty
John Deveraux
Alan Bateman
Va'inga Tuigamala
Scott Quinell
Scott Gibbs
Steve Hampson
Martin Offiah
etc etc etc

Also, a few players started off in union at a younger age and are now playing in super league.

: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:25 pm  

adam9641 wrote:

Also, a few players started off in union at a younger age and are now playing in super league.

Anyone special in mind there?