While no- one is suggesting rugby league is on its death-bed, there is genuine concern that Rupert Murdoch will sink less money into the game when Super League's contract with Sky is reviewed in two years. The clubs receive £650,000 a year and it is anticipated in some quarters that the figure could drop to £400,000.
Whelan added: 'Rugby league seem intent on bringing the standards down; we don't want that and we are going to fight like hell against it.
'We are not going to let this club sink to the level of the bottom rugby league clubs and the Northern Ford Premiership.
'It is much better if we go and play against the likes of Leicester and Saracens.'
Whelan said two of his leading players - one thought to be full back Kris Radlinski - had been offered union contracts in the past two weeks. He said: 'We have loyal players, but they are professionals. It's their living and you can't blame them for going.
'If they know that we are lookingat rugby union, which we are seriously, and they can see a chance whereby they could pull on a shirt for England, who knows?'
Whelan added that while there had been no official invitation to join the Zurich Premiership, his club was preparing to push the issue. He said: 'We may be forced into that by rugby league administrators. If we have to go to rugby union we won't shirk it.
'I think they would love us to join them. You get Wigan, Bradford and St Helens in rugby union and the England team would be absolutely awesome.'
St Helens reacted to Whelan's comments with dismay last night. Chief executive Malcolm Kay said: 'If Super League lost Wigan it would be a huge loss, but rugby league is bigger than one club. I am disappointed and surprised by Wigan's comments.'
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