There's another vid of Achurch on youtube.. where he makes his debut for Penrith.. the commentary team of Warren and Sterling like the look of him very much indeed!! Say he's a very good prospect

again.. another good effort

It's more to do with the exchange rate rather than the salary cap. A decade ago, SL clubs could purchase an NRL player by matching or improving on the offer he had down under. Therefore when there were 3 dollars to the pound, an Aussie on A$300K a year could be persuaded to join a SL club for £150K as it represented A$450K. Today, any Aussie player looking for the equivalent of A$450K would require a SL club to offer a salary of over £300K!


I'm still waiting for someone to utter the comments... big unit, no nonsense, Glanville/Furner type signing, will do a solid job, etc, but that's a bit difficult given that hardly anyone has ever heard of him.

I'm hopeful that he'll go better than Cross and Hauraki.

I'm disappointed with the signing. Basically Mitch Achurch is a reserve grade player who has played a handful of games for a team that are favourites for the NRL wooden spoon! He's a big unit but has had major shoulder injuries in the past. I assume that GH must have been recommended to sign him for his possible potential. If you remember both Gary and Brian McD said we would only sign players who could add quality and experience to the team. On the face of it Achhurch could fail on both counts. GH said he was after changing the squad so I hope this signing works but as part of a bigger overall.

I don't think you've quite grasped the current reality WRT overseas signings. The opportunities no longer exist to sign top class imports so I'm afraid the days of the sleeve signing the likes of Bell, Cross, Hauraki, Barnhill, Mathiou, Millard and Donald are a thing of the past. Expect to be disappointed with overseas signing announcements for a very long time.

I understand the reality of any signings with the impact of the cap, exchange rate etc. I'm only repeating what our leaders said! Of the names you mentioned only Donald was good but others unnamed have been excellent ie Ali, Buderus etc. I would have thought Achurch will be paid at a minimum level and will not trouble the salary cap.

I think this could be a good signing.

Being very blunt I'd get rid of Hauraki, Kirke & Clarkson and then we'd have a solid set of back row options whilst also being able to give youth a chance due to the squad not being 'overstocked' on back rowers.

I'd go with a starting back row of Delaney, Achurch and Ward with JJB on the bench thus reducing his game time.

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Have to wait and see who/if anybody leaves at the end of the season to see if it made sense to bring in a new signing. At least the age is right, we have him from 24 until he's 28 potentially and our signings directly from the NRL have generally been better ever since 2004* when we got Bai and Ali compared to the early 2000 likes of Mullins, Ben Walker, Barnhill.

* Notable exceptions in Mark O'Neill and Ben Cross, who to be fair was a McClennen signing (and a Buderus mate recommendation) that i don't think McDermott was too bothered about having.

It's all good fun speculating what the lad can and cannot do,let's give the lad our
support and see what happens.
As lots of people have commented the days of splashing out on a top Aussie player have gone,due to salary cap etc etc. And a host of other reasons all well
documented on these threads.

never heard of the lad before this but at least its in a position we are in need of an injection of life and if it leads to the back of hauraki then its a decent move in my eyes.hope they are now looking for a good go forward prop now which should complete next seasons squad with ablett likely to make move to permenant centre.

Well certainly looks good from his highlight video, but it's important to remember its just that. Not going to show any of the rubbish.

He is exacally the sort of signing we will see from AUS. We won't get the big names coming over except for the ones who have messed up filmed themselves with dogs etc

Will reserve judgement till I have actually seen him play but not too dissapointed and the thought that this probably means the back of hauraki can only be a good thing!