It used to be an ongoing War of the Roses, but the new pros on the block are beginning to gain the ascendancy over the 13-a-side game. Brian Noble has got Wigan back on track, but is Rugby League becoming the poor relation - or, indeed, can it survive at all as professionalism in Rugby Union continues to grow? Players are leaving League and switching to its rival code in their droves. Wigan's Jason Robinson and Andy Farrell did it several years ago. Now Bradford Bulls' big, powerful, strong-running winger Lesley Vainikolo is on his way to the posh chaps' game. He plays his last game for Bradford against Hull this Sunday and can expect a rousing send-off. It's such a shame to see players like Vainikolo go because Super League have a nice little quality pack going at the moment with St Helens, Bradford, Leeds and Wigan battling it out at the top and Warrington and Hull trailing not too far behind them. League always used to be a far more attractive game to watch. The players were fitter, far more skilful and stronger, too. Not so nowadays. With the advent of professionalism and full-time Rugby Union players, the lads at Leicester, Bath and Newcastle are just as fit - and they are getting there in the skills stakes as well. But the danger is that Rugby League may not be making the desired progress and we may see a return to what was basically a battle between Yorkshire and Lancashire. Gone are the days when Rugby Union was a boring game played by slow, lumbering players and punctuated with those awful, time-consuming rucks, mauls and scrums. Now it's far more easy on the eye - and exciting, too! Rugby League is shooting itself in the foot, though, by cutting out the flair. Players are seemingly content to see out their six tackles, progress as far down the field as possible and flick it out to the wings for the speed men to finish the job. What's happened to all the nippy half-backs? OK, there's still Sean Long and one or two others doing the business, but nowhere near as many as before and League and Union are in danger of a role reversal with not only the players swapping sides, but the skill, talent and flair going with it, too. The two go together in most cases, so the future doesn't look too bright for Rugby League. The amateur game, under the BARLA banner, continues to prosper, but countless attempts to take League into the universities and the continual efforts to take it to other parts of the country don't appear to have worked. I'm sure that Super League can survive. But remember, boys. Keep it lively. Once the punters get bored it won't be long before they are marching to the Union tune.
