Players are drawn to the superior code

Thursday 17 December 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
International Rugby > Australia

This week's talk of Johnathan Thurston potentially making a switch from rugby league to union has stirred up some of the old rivalries between fans of the two codes - and reminded everyone which is the superior game.

It came after English league prodigy Kyle Eastmond hinted that he could make the switch further down the line, presumably after he's made a bit more of a name for himself - maybe even won a trophy or two with St Helens - and can command a higher fee.

Of course, there's nothing new about league players seeing the light and heading over to the greater code, Jason Robinson being the classic example and probably the most successful.

He was cited as the benchmark by Eastmond's manager, Martin Offiah, who suggested that the 20-year-old might want to wait a few years before considering union.

"I think Chris Ashton [who joined Northampton from Wigan at 19] probably went too early, Andy Farrell probably went a bit too late and Jason Robinson did it at the right time and at the right age for a new challenge," said the former Great Britain star.

A look at Australia usually shows a fair few converts too, but it seems the international rugby scene is filled with more than usual at the moment. Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri and Brad Thorn all made the switch, the latter having played league for Australia but now representing the All Blacks.

Of course, union has become a lot more attractive since it turned professional, but if league's hottest properties keep converting the Four Nations is going to be even duller in the years to come that it has been of late - and that's really saying something.