simple through the hands, nowt special, did well to get it down in the corner

Simple winger try. Shame he didn't show what he can do, union isn't the sport for showcasing skill though and I hope he realises that.

Glad he got the try.



Looks shocking for Union with a League player walking straight into the team out of position and looking confortable and even scoring a try.

It was awful and that's being nice! No wonder Thayer get paid a lot cuz there is no other incentive to play! Utter caaaack!!!

All the talk from union fans about how their game is more skilful and more technical, well that is rubbish. The props don't know how to play rugby, they just know how to scrum and ruck and maul, the second row's don't know how to play rugby, they just know how to do lineouts, rucks and mauls, the flankers don't know how to play rugby...etc etc etc.



Even the players from Australia showed some pretty poor player. James O'Connor is supposed to be a young superstar but he doesn't even know how to pass a ball properly after making a break!



How can so many players not know how to pass or tackle?



I'm so glad that Sam played in that game because it gave me an incentive to watch and my appreciation for rugby league has reached a level I wasn't sure existed.

I meant to catch this, kinda glad I missed it now!

Something most of the barbarians squad spent the afternoon saying to themselves too

Bit O/T, but I was talking to a RU coach last night. He spent time coaching the junior set up at Sale and has now moved on. Very interesting comments on why they are trying to get young players to switch as well as experienced players. The money being thrown to kids to switch over is enormous and it isn't all about talent sadly. He quoted £50k a year being offered to kids to play in the academy at Sale just for one thing. Apparently the RFU pay clubs to run an academy set up. The RFU go around the clubs and if its not up to standard they pull the money on offer. Sale where on the verge of loosing their money as the set up was shocking. Hence the move for the Wigan Kids over the past few years. They can offer out huge contracts because they get that and more back from the RFU. He quoted players names who I cant remember who where on £40K a year and never made it and at the age of 22 just left the sport altogether.

The money ?

I was so against Sam playing in this game but after watching that dross it could be a masterstroke.

How much money do you need though, given his current wigan wage and him being young he will be more than comfortable in league money wise

Remember the money isnt going to be much more now as we are paying him 300k a year anyway. Which is alot baring in mind that reportedly Joel is at Saracens on only £250k.



If he went from 300-400k a year it would in real terms be a jump from around 162-210k after tax. Now thats a big sum of money I agree but he may feel that the difference isnt worth the whole change. Remember cost of living is much more expensive in every way than living up here and he may have that difference reduced by upto 10k a year just in renting a different place down there to the same standard as wherever he ends up living up here (believe he still lives with his parents atm.) Either way I think this match he looked bored and I dont think he is going to want to go as much now. I know he wasnt really certain about it anyway and I think this game has served the purpose I wanted it to and want the Saracens link to. I think it will have put him off.