The ten ‘cruelest’ union defections to league

[laura]

The ten ‘cruelest’ union defections to league
By Frank O\'Keeffe
November 18th 2008

10. Brett Papworth.
9. Brian Smith
8. Dally Messenger
7. Andrew Leeds
6. John Brass
5. Rex Mossop
4. Trevor Allen
3. Tony D’Arcy
2. Michael O’Connor
1. Russell Fairfax

http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/11/18...rugby-history/

I found this opinion piece on The Roar, he goes on to give a lengthy explanantion of why he chose each player and who else he had considered. Anyway, my point in posting, who would you rate as the 10 cruelest defections to League or 10 best gains from League??

[shasta]

I'd put Ray Price above most of those players and probably also have Arthur Summons, Dick & Ken Thornett (brothers to Wallaby captain, John) there too. If for no other reason than that they all became, along with Dally Messenger, among the most famous Rugby League players ever to wear the Kangaroo Jersey.

[Burgs]

I believe the first was the "cruelest".
If a player of Daly Messenger's status had been able to be retained by Union it would have set a far better precedent for the code as to the value of amateur version.

Described as a very close cut decision, I think that puts even more importance on it than anything that goes after as they represent the movement of players, where Messenger represents the movement of minds.