New poll reveals crisis in the Super League

And more than a third say they have struggled so badly with depression that it has affected their career.

The shock results are revealed in the first-ever poll of players, carried out by Rugby League World and 1eague3.

Jon Wilkin, who is the chairman of players’ association 1eague3, believes they are revelations that the game needs to wise up to quickly.

The St Helens and England forward said: “I found some of the results really surprising. They certainly weren’t what some of my preconceived ideas were.”

The game is in danger of being robbed of its stars because of big bucks offers from the NRL and rugby union. Both rival organisations can pay their players far more than Super League clubs, with several Brits already in Australia.

Wilkin added: “To have 75 per cent say that they have an interest in leaving the competition is very significant.

“There seems to be a lot of positive momentum towards leaving the game in this country and that’s something that we need to address.”

More than half of all Super League players took part in the poll, with the issue of depression being tackled for the first time. A staggering 34 per cent said they had dealt with depression, to the extent that it has impacted on their performances.

New poll reveals crisis in the Super League