He's hardly coming in as a top quality signing though is he?

He's undoubtedly coming in as cover because we're short of halves and the Bird signing fell through. If everyone's fit, I highly doubt he'll be in the 17.

Whether he's top quality or not though, just having someone who's average in the squad means that other players in that position have some competition. We've seen over recent seasons (with last year being the exception) what having no competition for places can do.

no more excuses, either sign a player of significant quality or dont sign anyone.

sums up our recent recruiting policy. Signing a player that can cover in case mediocre players get injured. Can somebody explain why we have an academy. Is it simply to bring on players for other clubs?

Such as?

Who is available that we can sign?


It's not as simple as "buy the best player". They have to be available, they have to want to come and the club have to be able to afford their wages (as well as fit them under salary caps).


Why do some people seem to think it's such an easy process? If it was as easy as some make out, why don't we just sign Darren Lockyer?

Perhaps the halves in the academy are crap too?

I think that the argument was not that we just by a great player, it was buy a great player if they are available otherwise don't land the club with ANOTHER journetman.

Thought we kept being told that we have a great set of youngsters.

But we quite clearly need some cover. An average player as cover that creates some competition is better than nothing at all.

As has been said, if it's only until the end of the season to provide some extra cover, how is that a bad thing?

Fair enough if we end up signing him for more than that, questions maybe need asking.

And how many times do you hear that about one of the academy halves?

We've heard plenty about various young players, but none of them are halfbacks.

Maybe Horton isn't ready for the first team yet? Has anyone seen him play recently? I saw him pre season at Dews I think and he didn't stand out there.

Maybe he didn't stand out because of lack of experience. GIve him a go in the first team. At the moment nobody is expecting great things of anyone. If he can pass to a Bulls player and catch when passed to he would be a step up from what we have at the moment.

I accept the argument that you have to look at the players that are available, I just think that signing Rinaldi would perpetuate the recruitment problems that we've suffered from in recent years. We keep signing these players who stand out one game in three and are a liability in the other two.

I'd prefer to see a long term strategy where we build the team round 4 or 5 high class players and complement them with cheaper players who are solid, reliable and consistent. And hopefully a few genuine prospects from the academy.