Wow the good old Bulls Have produced the world number 1 Rugby League player in Sam Burgess. Who says this, non other than the BBC main news programme! But now here's the rub...Not sure if he will make it in the good old Union game! Because, the newscaster says not many have made the transition, and they gave example of those that didn't make it???
Such as Andy Farrell, that well known Union coach. But at least they mentioned Jason Robinson as the only exception??? What I actually found sad is that another superb athlete that has been produced by Rugby League and our club, will be used by the Union hierarchy as a Player who won't make it in the establishment of the game. Admittedly, that is still the best run off the field, even if to us RL fans is still a boring travesty of Rugby. Perhaps we should employ some of their spin doctors, instead we seem to have an episode of the muppet show running our sport? We have lost one more great ambassador and Player! Having known Sam I can't do anything but wish him all the very best for his future, but I can also feel the sheer waste of a unique talent to our game> Compare what Jimmy said on his retirement from the game, (2003 grand final) after receiving the accolades from the interviewer: Jimmy Lowes replied that "Thanks but the game is more important than him, and he was just glad he's been part of it" we certainly need more like him in the game of today?
Joined: Mar 05 2005 Posts: 3995 Location: 2.5 hrs North of Newcastle. 8 hrs South of Brisbane
Genuine talent can play well in both codes look at Izzy Folau, Sonny Bill Williams, Jason Robinson, injuries can be the problem if the player is around the 30 year mark and that has been a problem for cross coding. Andy Farrell a prime example, played his last season for the Pies injured most of it, then spent his Union career plagued by ongoing injuries, but Union recognise the intellect he had and that's why he is in their Coaching set up. Big Les carried on being injury prone when he went to Union and Shonny has also suffered for it as well. Sam has the attributes to make a great success of his Union career so good luck to him.
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Joined: Feb 17 2002 Posts: 28357 Location: MACS0647-JD
Lizzo wrote:If Andy Farrell was such a Rugby Yawnion failure, how come he played for England? What does that say about all the other English players who didn't?
Exactly right, but it's actually a huge compliment to RL. What it is, is that the Onions genuinely expect any convert to be the best Union player on the planet and that's why they get all "glass half empty" when he "only" makes the national team and gets 8 caps.
Last edited by Ferocious Aardvark on stardate Jun 26, 3013 11:27 am, edited 48,562,867,458,300,023 times in total
If they use him correctly he'll be a hit. What Union often fails at with League converts is not using their skill set properly and adapting the team game to take advantage of it. You need Sam at inside centre running onto the ball in plenty of space but you can bet the passes will be too flat and he'll get hammered in the ruck.
He'll also have to adapt quickly because they'll want him in the England team for the World Cup next year rather than waiting 'til 2019.
Joined: Apr 09 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: City of Sails
While he will be at Bath to start in union - coached by Mike Ford and playing outside Kyle Eastmond so plenty of RL links.
But going back to the comments on the great divide above, yes Red Hall have not given a lead to the game in the UK but it is the lack of the high profile international matches in RL that make a huge difference to it's profile and marketability.
While Yawnion are lauding Sam as the best thing since sliced bread they will be some in the establishment praying hes a failure as if to prove RL is a second class sport compared to kick and clap. RL is second class to Yawnion but only in the way it is governed from Red Hall. The players are fitter and far more skilfull than their counterparts. On another note during the 60`s as a schoolboy our PE teacher would not let us play for the school at RU because some of us had attended a youth training day at the re-formed Northern!!
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