Quote: BrisbaneRhino "I'm really coming from the point of view that no SL side should sign any Aussie/Kiwi unless they are real quality, if at all possible. An overseas rosta of Webb, Donald, Delaney, Leuluai, Buderus, Lauti'iti and possibly Eastwood is far, far too many IMO and frankly depressing. We have after all managed to win the GF three times with never with more than five overseas players - last year only three.
If Delaney turns out to be solid but not spectacular, will people care that Coady, Ratu, Watkins or whoever are being kept out of the team by him? TBH it smacks of the sort of signing that a coach may like as it gives him an easy selection option.
As I say, I'll support him and Leeds, but it's just depressing.'"
completely agree, players like Webb, Lauiti'iti, Eastwood and Buderus would add to any league, all four are world class players (imo), it is, as you say, depressing that we cannot bring through a british player the quality of Donald or Lueluai, who are, im sorry to say, pretty average antipodeans who have come over here and been among the best.
I would however disagree that it isnt down to the SC, i think it is, i think the SC encourages this type of signing, or certainly this format of SC.
if we had no SC, then leeds could have spend more to keep smith (and he deserves it, the lad is a fantastic prospect, to expect him not to earn as much as he can in his short career is crazy) or they could have spent more bringing in a hodges, inglis,
or if we had ans SC that actively encouraged british players, then we could have stuck with Coady, Watkins and Ratu, because everyone else would be doing the same
as it is, we probably didnt really have a choice other than to go for a player like this, throwing one of those three in against experienced pros (how many young centres are currently playing SL, very few) would have meant leeds were playing with one hand behind their back, and the money simply isnt available to sign a better standard
for some reason we always seem to be offering clubs a way out, we should be saying, produce your own or pay the price, but we dont because people seem obsessed with equalling out the game, regardless of the fact it is damaging it
these are the reasons why the best two centres in this comp are a past it Aussie in Gidley and a past it Brit in Senior,
we should be either forced to be playing, Watkins or Coady or Ratu or we should be allowed to bring in the best,