You don't sign players to "send a message". You sign them to improve the team. If someone fits that bill, and if the budget can be made available (not a sure thing given how much money the club loses, this is going to be £150/£200k/whatever over the planned spend) then yes definitely go out and get them.

I think you do need to send a message sometimes - to fans, sponsors, and at this point in time, Brad Arthur. What signal does it send him if he's asked to 'make do' without one of the marquee players he personally went after? It certainly doesn't tell him that the cub is backing him to the utmost. I do agree entirely that a replacement should strengthen the side - we're talking about replacing one of our highest earners. Any replacement has to be the sort of player that can make an impact. AC - I've no idea who we should go for. Someone mentioned Ravalawa. He'd be the closest straight swap, albeit a bit of a downgrade on Sivo from what I've seen. But would he come for one season? Would we want him to do that? Perhaps a better bet would be to look round the Qld or NSW Cup and see if there's a big winger that would be interested if it gave them exposure at a higher level. Or maybe not a winger at all. Either way its a big challenge to get anyone at this stage of the season. Perhaps the best thing of all to do is wait and see if someone falls out of favour in the NRL who might be willing to come over for a chunk of one season?