It's an interesting one. Parra would be paying him the equivalent of 350k next year, but I doubt he'd command that sort of wage in the NRL beyond that. If he fancied coming (it's a big if) we might be able to get Parra to chip in something for the 1st year and come to our own arrangement after that. It would be a big marquee wage whatever, but isn't that what marquee spots are about? It's alright saying we can pick up the next Kylie, but it was 17 years ago when we signed him. The wage disparity between SL snd the NRL has grown vastly since then, so a player of that kind of profile is going to be expensive no matter what. I personally think that if a pack leading prop like RCG is on the market we have to do everything we can to try and land him. I'I'd be very suprised if we haven't had a crack at him.

It might make sense if he fancies joining Arthur at Perth in 2027 - do a couple of years in SL first. A chance to win things (which he won't at any likely NRL clubs), and a lower intensity competition may prolong his career.

Alternatively there will be bigger versions of Lisone around the competition that Arthur will be aware of. Get it right and the name/experience doesn't matter (although I'd rather not go for anyone too far over 30).

I guess a lot will depend on if its just the one player in the pack or two. If its just one we have to go all in. I know we got Brodie/Ackers this year which created real excitement, but it feels like we need something similar to spark everybody up again.

Tristan Powell from Melbourne is coming to SL, apparently

Powell could be a good option. We need another prop who can play good minutes and his stats are very good ifeeder competition for the Nrl. Only 23 so a couple of years in superleague looking to develop and get an Nrl contract in the future. He shouldn't be marquee so leaves room for another top quality addition.

Powell has played just one NRL game I think? I would hope we could do a lot better even for backup. Someone like that is not seriously going to move the dial for our pack as a whole. He may be a diamond in the rough but if he was seen as having real potential another NRL team would sign him up. We urgently need a pack leader, not another project.

I don't mind us going a bit downmarket for a second or even third pack addition if we can squeeze them in. But that ought to be someone like Eseh - young and British - rather than a quota player.

Getting our prop recruitment right is especially important if we are targeting an NRL back, because if we only have two overseas spots we have to get them spot on. Even if we have three through someone else leaving, its not as though we can waste another year or more on another dud quota player.

Someone has mentioned on our board you have signed Ligi Sao.

Can't see it. Think Arthur will want decent players for a start. Also doesn't have the minutes in him that Arthur wants. Arthur will want someone like Jack Hetherington from Newcastle

RCG not coming. Arthur has said he’s sorted something in NRL

Never expected him tbh, way out of reach

Also ruled out any of the recently released Parra players

Interesting that the noises regarding recruitment are that we possibly looking at 2 new players for next year. Hoping to announce one in the next couple of weeks.
This could mean that the 2nd potential target being worked on is a contracted player whose team are still involved in the play off picture either in Superleague or the NRL. For off contract there would seem to be no reason to delay as we know who's being released and presumably how much cap space is available and which players are off contract are available.

Didn’t we want to announce one before season end?

Matt Lodge from Manly has also been offered to SL clubs

Is he still paying off his legal debts?

Lodge had a bad ACL injury a while ago. He's only 29, which surprised me, but he hasn't been a force for some time - a bit Keith Galloway style for me, overtaken by younger, more dynamic props.

The video of him in the incident in NY was horrific. He may be a reformed character but signing him wouldn't sit well to me. I'd also question whether he'd get a visa, although the charges were downgraded on the basis he pay compensation to the victims (not sure he really did).