Maybe the fear is greater than the reality. And to say that as soon as another Edwards or Connolly or Hanley or Lydon comes along, he also will go to Union could well be fantasy - because there's no sign of any such player yet.

But what's not fantasy is that three of Wigan RL's brightest young prospects are currently being taken for expensive dinners in Cheshire by Sale, and having golden carrots dangled in front of them.

I can understand why that wouldn't worry a Saints fan.

Now come on.......

You know as well as I do that your average Stains fan puts the good of the game above any parochial tendencies.....

I have no reason to doubt what you say about the kids being taken out for dinner and woo'd by Sale, but to suggest that this is purely a Wigan problem is far fetched. I have no doubt that the youngsters of Saints and Leeds, Warrington, Cas have all been approached, or at least have been monitored. However, no Wigan youngsters have left for Sale, and if they do, the game will go on. If Saints lose Eastmond, and Roby and Graham in a Sale raid, it will obviously affect the club. But they would be replaced, another youngster will step up to the plate, and we would move on. I have watched the game for long enough to know that it faces challenges on an annual basis, but so long as there are supporters like us, then I have no doubt that it will still be around long after I am pushing up the daisies.

He gets about a bit these days he is the Ref for Sundays World Club Challenge