Roby is less of a joke than the MOS credentials of an Aussie mercenary whose "world beating" form flat-lined for a third of the season in question and curiously failed to materialise against the majority of SL's best teams. Which is as close to the definition of a "Flat Track Bully" as you'll get.

Roby was outstanding throughout the season. And he didn't go missing when it counted.

It's not his fault the rest of SL couldn't keep up.

Roby was so good they changed the rules of the game to slow him down. And made it all terribly boring.

when gidley and senior were in their prime they were as good as each other. From what I've seen of gidley over here week to week on sky and in the big games I have to say he was very good for the last 2/3rds of the 08 Season, in 07 and 09 he was average at best also the little I have see of him this season average again. senior on the whole for me has been the better player in that time. Just to throw gleeson in there, he is more often than not crap since he left saints! obviously he has been transformed for the last dozen or so games under magic madge as has most the Wigan team as phuzzy pointed out to me on the pies board. carmont gleeson gidley? Might be better in some minds but are no way stand out from senior imo.

Gleeson was excellent when I saw him at Wire on many occasion, he's one of the few british players that can create chances (against a proper defence) out of very little. In terms of talent, I'd say he dwarfs Senior. In terms of application, Senior's an example every young player should take note of, which is why he's got the playing record he has.
Before he arrived on these shores, Gidley was an Aussie test centre. I'm afraid, depsite the efforts he's always put in for England and GB, I don't think Senior would have ever have managed that had his birth certificate been different.
I really respect Senior for the career he's carved out, but I've got to say, he's done well with what he's got. In terms of ability, I certainly don't put him up there with centres like Newlove, Connolly, Lyon & Iro, and would even be hesitant with the likes of Tuigamala and Hunte (who was [ioutstanding [/iin 96/97). In his time at Leeds, you've also had the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Brad Godden and Tony Carroll who were all pretty top performers IIRC.
However, you simply can't argue that a man who's got his record in top flight rugby isn't a top class proffessional.

If we can sign Shenton, I can see him developing into a better player than he is now, it would be a similar scenario to when we first signed Martin Gleeson.

James Roby?

The new system is worse than the old one. If a player is truly outstanding, but an absolute 2 @, and a player who didn't perform as well but is liked and respected like a Morley or a Hodgson, who will win? It's nothing more than a glorified popularity contest now and the honour of winning it has diminished dramatically IMO.

*spits wine all over monitor*

Now that made me chortle.

That's a pretty fair summary, however, what it shows is that our best centres are all well past their best, Gidley, Gleeson and Senior are all 3-5 years past their best, the new crop of centres, like Shenton and Atkins are simply not at the races yet, adn the other names in the hat, like Carmont, are simply journey men who never have and never will be class centres. Sad to say that some of Saints top centre performances over the last couple of years have come from the likes of Flannery and Gilmour, memories of Gidley's golden touches are fading fast, and the likes of Talau, Lyon, and Newlove are now consigned to the history files.

No, the players player that year went to Trent Barrett.

Yeah I would agree with most of that!

sorry mate there are quite a few inaccuracies in this post. Gidley was well past playing for oz and nsw when you signed him, tony Carroll wasn't great for Leeds, he played his best rugby after that when he become an Aussie. as far as the opinions, as good as those centres were for leeds I don't think they were as good a senior! I still believe gleeson since leaving saints apart from the odd game has been bobins. Not counting the dozen+ games this season.