Why would anybody take notice of Kevin Ashcroft ?

I hope he goes, for his sake.



He is without doubt the finest RL talent that I have had the pleasure of watching since Hanley. He is one of those players who I would turn up to watch (if you know what I mean

)



One bad tackle and it could all end.



He deserves to earn some decent money, if only for the entertainment that he has given us already.

I don't think any of us realistically expected Sam to spend his entire career at Wigan. So when he does eventually leave I hope it's to the NRL. It's already the best competition in world Rugby, and with the new television deal on it's way, it's soon be the richest. I'd much rather he stays in League, and hopefully by playing in the NRL he'll fulfill his undoubted potential.

I think Sam would kill it in RU for what its worth.



The amount of space he'd find off 4 thousand kicks a game which he would return if he plays at FB, and their staggered defensive lines chasing, he would find gaps what the Yawnion followers didnt even no existed.

I think there would be a danger of this being coached out of him though. Sam's style wouldnt suite union atm because there would always be a danger he'd be caught in possession on his own.



I think he'll end up in the NRL, with a lot of other British players as well, not only is the cap increasing, so are the playing squad sizes (25 to 30 players) and also apparently the competition as a whole from 16 to 18 teams. Thats 140 extra players in the competition, these cant all come from the academies. As long as the RFL refuse to change the current policies we are going to see a continual drain of our best talent. Thankfully it's in the correct code but unfortunately it's on the wrong side of the world!

I don't see either brother making a huge success of it. Fifteen defenders in or level with the ruck = not enough space. That's why even union's homebred superstars aren't super very often.

Same thing crossed my mind. There is actually no news in that article. It is all Ashcrofts opinion and nothing more.

I seriously hope Sam plays crap in the 4 nations. I couldn't really care less if England do pants again, it will be no different to what I am used to. I am going to Wembley with some mates but I seriously find myself excited by the prospect of watching Lockyer in one of his last ever games and seeing Marshall run riot, I am not looking forward to seeing our national team play. This really saddens me, it's not an opinion I want to have. A huge contrast to 2004, I went to Elland Road and can't remember ever being so excited for a game of rugby, the excitement was for our home team and not the aussie stars.



The reason people are talking about Tomkins leaving all comes down to our sport going downhill compared to Union, this wouldn't happen if our international game had some credability. When our fans boo the players and the RFL play the games in small empty stadiums, why would he want to stay in league? It's only 6 years ago that we were playing games as GB infront of 40k at eastlands and Elland road and beating the aussies and NZ. If that were to happen again then I'm sure we would find it easier to keep hold of players, we could pay them more for international rugby etc.



Maybe Sam won't leave, maybe he will. Either way this is the start of many of us getting annoyed at hearing about the rumours all the time, it will get worse if he has another good season and Joel leaves.



I would much rather see him go to the NRL and rival Slater as the worlds best full-back, I think he has the potential.



Finally, just the fact we have to question him leaving or not is starting to get to me as a RL fan, I hate that we have to be on guard as a sport, worried that our best players might leave. I just don't like the situation at all.

I can't see Sam doing that well at all in the 4N's.

Hasn't played that well since Wembley (injury or otherwise...take your pick). He struggled through last Friday before being brought off...although he put a decent pass in to get us back from behind.



Something just doesn't seem right with him, he doesn't look the same player who tore Wire & Stains apart in the CC.

I think the main reason he will play poorly is the players around him. Everything we do in attack at Wigan links up with Sam in one way or another. The England players don't know his game. I lost count of the amount of times he would run around the back of the dummer runner last year down under and he was not given the ball.

Billy Slater seems to do okay in the Kangaroo team despite being surrounded by players from other clubs who aren't fully familiar with his moves?

Difference is Slater will play with a domanating pack and the best halves combination in the game who will create space for him. Put Slater in a England shirt he would struggle as well.