sam t

[Kittwazzer]

Why do we keep going over same ground regarding Sam. His he will he won't he saga.

Because this is the Rumour Mill and someone has heard a rumour which he has elected to share with the rest of us!

[stevo38]

Why do we keep going over same ground regarding Sam. His he will he won't he saga.

Because this is the Rumour Mill and someone has heard a rumour which he has elected to share with the rest of us!

:eusa2:

[Owd Codger]

Until the time that Sam decides what he will do at the end of his current contract, supporters should stop speculating and enjoy what he does for us now!

[TonyH]

Don't normally post anymore but do read everything. The fact remains that even if the RFL come up with a new salary cap/central contract thingy which allows players to get paid more, the International scene in Yawnion is going to tempt anyone, including Sam. He keeps eluding in interviews about moving to Union and that will probably be where he ends up, he will play in the RLWC this year and then try and get in to the England RU team for the 2015 World Cup, bet you.

Money talks, listen.

[josie andrews]

Not too sure about union, he says its too boring!

[jobo]

Not too sure about union, he says its too boring!

Potential earnings from image rights, advertising contracts plus a salary far in excess of what RL can offer, along with nationwide fame, might persuade him otherwise.

Hope it doesn't but he's hopefully got a long life ahead of him and only a relatively short career.

[thegimble]

Not too sure about union, he says its too boring!

Potential earnings from image rights, advertising contracts plus a salary far in excess of what RL can offer, along with nationwide fame, might persuade him otherwise.

Hope it doesn't but he's hopefully got a long life ahead of him and only a relatively short career.

Only 1 English Rugby Union player has made any substantial money from image rights etc. Johnny Wilkinson. All this he will get more from from that if he goes to union due to nationwide fame is a wrong. When was the last time you have seen a Rugby player of either code on a billboard endorsing a product. Union as well as League is in terms of national exposure second rate. Football, Golf, Tennis, Cycling, Boxing, Darts etc gets more exposure.

Only thing he will get more of if he goes is a bigger salary nothing else. How many players of the England squad have endorsements with Nike, Adidas etc. Again not many and not on any serious money.

Only time you will see these is when they launch team kit. Both Union and League are not that a big deal for the masses in the country. Look at attendances for both they are rather similar none hardly go over 20k a game. In terms of money both codes are very poor when you compare them to Football, Tennis, Boxing, Cycling, golf etc. Union lives of International rugby thats all the exposure the top players get. Read the papers and you will see union and league get less coverage than a lot o sports. Both are lucky if they get a page a day in every paper. Once the 6 nations and World Cup happen they do appear in more papers but thats it for them. Whilst all the real bug sports will get more.

Has Chris Ashton got a bigger image yes he has but he does not have a multi million pound endorsement deal most high profile superstars have. Even Johnny Wilkinson did not get the sort of money that people think he did. This will not be a move to get a bigger exposure on a national level it will be about his weekly wage. After England's destruction by Wales they look miles away from winning the next world cup and that's the only chance a union player has in getting a decent deal. Andy Murray, David Beckham, Wiggins, Mcilroy have a massive image profile which alone is bigger than anything rugby can have.

For me i think he will either stay fro 1 more year or go to union next year and return very soon as its not his style to play. As he will not go to full back as he is suspect under the highball and wingers get little of the ball.

[Kittwazzer]

Not sure I'd agree with this. I was at school with John Carleton who went on to be one of Union's biggest names of the 70s. Wigan, St Helens, Leeds, Hull KR et al were offering him a blank cheque for his signature at a time when Union was the 'amateur game'.

I bumped into him one night and asked if he would ever switch codes. His words were "No. I couldn't afford it!"