Rugby Union v Rugby League: Smith could be the latest to join the Super League exodus...

Super League / Ralph Ellis / 19 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

The whispers are growing louder that Leeds Rhinos' ace could be heading to Wasps.

Time was when Rugby Union chiefs worried that their top players would be tempted to take the money and switch to Rugby League. Not any more. Wind the clock on 30 years from those old amateur days and now it's the top union sides who are beginning to dominate the landscape.

Despite the best efforts of the people who run Super League to keep up, the top money is starting to be paid by the big Guinness Premiership clubs - and that's before you even begin to talk about what's on offer to the best players in France. Move into the international class and the rewards are serious, with the glamour to attract serious advertising contracts and endorsements.

So this morning comes news that will worry the 13-man version of the game further. Lee Smith, the bright young star of Leeds Rhinos and a player considered to be the future of the sport, is being linked with a move across the codes.

Smith, just 22 and born and brought up in Leeds, is believed to be tempted by the chance to sign for Wasps in the summer when his contract with Rhinos runs out. Rugby League legend Shaun Edwards is the link in attracting him, and it will be a powerful pull to play alongside Danny Cipriani as the London club try to beef up their side for next season.

Smith's agent is being suitably canny about his quotes on the subject in today's Daily Mirror, saying only: "It's too early to discuss where Lee might be next season."

But I find that hard to believe - if he's any good as an agent he'll have been doing nothing but discuss his man's next move for the last year or so, and certainly ever since the young full back/winger was the huge star of last year's Challenge Cup final!

Smith will have another chance to show potential new clubs his value tomorrow night when Leeds meet St Helens in Super League's equivalent of Manchester United playing Chelsea. Saints can go level on points at the top with champions Leeds if they can win at Knowsley Road.

St Helens' England forward Jon Wilkin has revealed a bizarre dressing room ritual. The players share a box full of pants and socks in the changing room! "A few of us like to see if there are any nice pairs with a good waistline. If you get a mate's favourite pair you make sure you get seen in them," he says.

As a ritual that is simply - well, pants! But it is proof of the odd ways team spirit can be generated and St Helens are [1.92] favourites to take revenge from their Grand Final defeat by Rhinos at the end of last season. So far this season Leeds have looked a strong second half side, and the [5.4] on offer for them to win after Saints lead at half time looks tempting.

Five things you might not know about Jon Wilkin...

1. He was born in 1983 on Humberside and first played for Hull Kingston Rovers - but grew up a St Helens fan and his first trip to Wembley was to see Saints beat Bradford in 1997

2. He won the first PPF community service award to recognise the charity work he does

3. He broke his nose early in the 2006 Challenge Cup final but played on to help St Helens complete another leg of their treble

4. His St Helens room mate is Matt Gidley who apparently sleeps like a baby giving Jon no pressure to make idle chit chat

5. He's preparing for life when his playing career eventually ends by taking a degree in journalism.