: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:11 pm
jinkin jimmy wrote:
But why would any decent talent possibly wish to defect from union, irrespective of the poacher's credentials? The flow is all the other way at the moment and will continue for the forseeable future. IMO the only recruits from union will be returning "failures" like Pryce, Walker, etc.
I do not think we have to aim at the top International players who are earning thousands of pounds a week. In my opinion there are many union players some who are not even playing in the Guiness Premiership who would be much more suited to rugby league than they are in rugby union, i would suggest this would be the same world wide.
The man will have a network of contacts throughout the world, clearly young talent are still attracted to the game in New Zealand for example despite union being the national sport and a much bigger sport.
Given the federation trained rule and the loop hole of 3 full seasons prior to the age of 21 Jones may well be able to identify realistic targets who could be brought to the club at a young age and included on the federation trained list.
Its all speculation, clearly but you do not always have to look at the big earners in Union to unearth the talent suited towards our code of rugby, i think much of it has to do with ignorance of union, which having someone like Jones on board would put that issue to bed.