THE exodus of NRL players to the English Super League is only going to get worse.

That's the stunning revelation from The Sun-Herald poll of 100 players, with 72per cent admitting they would consider leaving the NRL at some stage to join the more than 80 Australians already in Super League.

"Why wouldn't you go?" one player said. "The NRL stops us from earning what we're worth. We've got short careers. I'll be on the first plane if the chance comes."

The extensive poll of up-and-comers, veterans, Origin and Test stars also highlighted how many league players would be willing to jump to rugby if the price were right.

Only 17per cent of players had been approached to switch codes, but 52per cent admitted they would go if they were offered good money.

It seems the only thing stopping rugby from signing more league players is its reluctance to approach them.

The salary cap was nominated as the biggest issue in the game, with 42per cent of the vote.

"You have a player who wants to stay at a club, the club wants to keep him, the fans want him to stay, but he has to go somewhere else," one player said. "That can't be right."

Informed of the poll results, NRL boss David Gallop said he was not surprised by the findings about Super League.

"The critical part of the question is the words 'at some stage'," he said.

"Equally, many players don't want to give up the chance to make their name in the best competition. With the attraction of Origin and Test footy, remaining in the NRL is a bigger factor than ever."

On the rugby and salary cap findings, Gallop said: "Rugby isn't a new factor but with only 17per cent being approached, it's not a consideration for most players.

"As for the salary cap, the cap has risen this year and the opportunity for sponsors to pay players under the rules has been added to the system. You only need to look at how competitive the Titans are to see the benefits of the cap. Players should never forget the alternative, which is clubs going broke and players being left unpaid."

There was overwhelming support for the NRL's two-strikes drugs policy and the vast majority of players believed the standard of the competition was better than it was two years ago.

Ninety per cent of players claimed to have never taken a dive to get a penalty but 19 per cent believed it was acceptable to do so.

Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston officially took the mantle of the best player in the game, following the retirement of Andrew Johns, beating his Queensland Origin captain Darren Lockyer by a comfortable 17 per cent.

Petero Civoniceva, not considered worthy of a contract extension at Brisbane, was voted the toughest player in the game.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Roosters forwards were voted the softest pack in the NRL. Newcastle's Brian Smith just beat Cronulla's Ricky Stuart in the vote of the coach for whom players would never want to play, and although St George Illawarra's Simon Woolford was pipped by Parramatta halfback Brett Finch as the biggest whinger, there was no stopping him in the most annoying niggler category.

EXCLUSIVE PLAYER POLL:

Do you play to join the Super League some time in your career?
Yes: 72%
No: 18%
Don't know: 10%

Who is the biggest whinger?
Brett Finch: 22%
Simon Woolford: 14
Paul Gallen: 6
Willie Mason: 4
Braith Anasta: 4
Michael Monaghan: 4
Jason Smith: 3
Mark Riddell: 3
Danny Buderus: 2
Bryce Gibbs: 2
Travis Burns: 1
Justin Hodges: 1
Luke Priddis: 1
Michael Ennis: 1
Brett Kimmorley: 1
Nathan Cayless: 1
Matt Orford: 1

Who is the most annoying niggler?
Simon Woolford: 14
Mark Riddell: 8
Justin Hodges: 7
Paul Gallen: 7
Travis Burns: 6
Corey Hughes: 5
Willie Mason: 4
Bryce Gibbs: 4
Michael Monaghan: 2
Aaron Payne: 2
Johnathan Thurston: 2
Greg Bird: 2
Anthony Watmough: 2
Tim Smith: 2
Luke Priddis: 2

Have you ever been approached by rugby union?
Yes: 17%
No: 83%

Would money be the deciding factor in switching codes?
Yes: 52%
No: 48%

Which team has the softest pack?
Roosters: 16
Dragons: 12
Titans: 11
Tigers: 10
Eels: 7
Panthers: 4
Knights: 4
Raiders: 4
Bulldogs: 3
Cowboys: 1
No comment: 28

Is the standard of the NRL better or worse than when the Tigers won the grand final in 2005?
Better: 72
Worse: 18
Equal: 10

Do you have confidence in the RLPA?
Yes: 68
No: 27
Uncertain: 5

Have you ever dived to get a penalty?
Yes: 10
No: 90

Is it OK to stay down to get a penalty?
Yes: 19
No: 81

Who is the best player in the NRL?
Johnathan Thurston: 46
Darren Lockyer: 29
Sonny Bill Williams: 8
Cameron Smith: 6
Matt Bowen: 3
Scott Prince: 2
Greg Inglis: 1
Anthony Laffranchi: 1
Karmichael Hunt: 1
Steve Price: 1
Mark Gasnier: 1
Brett Kimmorley: 1

Who is the toughest player in the NRL?
Petero Civoniceva: 27
Dallas Johnson: 13
Danny Buderus: 12
Nathan Hindmarsh: 5
Tonie Carroll: 5
Carl Webb: 4
Alan Tongue: 4
Paul Gallen: 4
Ruben Wiki: 3
Mark O'Meley: 3
Roy Asotasi: 3
Darren Lockyer: 2
Craig Fitzgibbon: 1
Ben Creagh: 1
Luke Stuart: 1
Luke Bailey: 1
Nathan Friend: 1
Andrew Ryan: 1
Brett Kimmorley: 1
Dane Carlaw: 1
Brett Hodgson: 1
Luke O'Donnell: 1
Jason King: 1
Steve Price: 1
Anthony Watmough: 1
Willie Mason: 1
N/A: 1

What is the biggest issue in the game?
Salary cap: 42
Mid-season transfers: 19
Referees: 9
Super League: 9
Alcohol: 3
Money: 3
Off-field behaviour: 2
Scheduling: 2
Diving: 2
Video ref: 2
Drugs: 1
Grapple tackle: 1
On-field entertainment: 1
Play of the ball: 1
Media: 1
Shepherd: 1
Player loyalty: 1

Do you support the NRL's twostrikes policy for drug use?
Yes: 90%
No: 10%

Was Richie Williams's sledging of Braith Anasta bad for the game?
Yes: 36%
No: 64%

Who is the coach you'd never play for?
Brian Smith: 28
Ricky Stuart: 21
Graham Murray: 10
Matt Elliott: 7
Nathan Brown: 2
Chris Anderson: 2
Wayne Bennett: 2
Ivan Cleary: 1
Tim Sheens: 1
Des Hasler: 1
Steve Folkes: 1
No comment: 24

The survey
One hundred players from all NRL clubs were randomly selected to answer 15 questions. At least five players from each club were polled. The
poll was compiled by Adrian Proszenko, Will Swanton, Greg Prichard, Brad Walter, Jacquelin Magnay, Glenn Jackson and Andrew Webster.