In my team we have players like Webster, Fisher, Fitzhenry, etc that I am sure we could find young English lads who could play just as well. Signing overseas NRL hardened players is just quick fixes and whilst I have no problems with the players that are a step up there are plenty at every team that are just filling space that English players could be developing in.

At our team we have Roberts and Riddell who we signed for the season just gone. I don;t actually believe that Colbon could not of done as good a job as Roberts on a lower wage and McIlorum as good a job as Riddell as the main hooker. I am sure most teams could pick out a few like that.

Think every team has there average Aussie players. At FC we have Cusack. However we have brought quality over in Berrigan, O'Meley and Fitzgibbon.

Another option could be that you can have 3 overseas players, but they have to have had international experience.

Although that may solves some problems, a rule like that is impossible to have.

Unless you are an expansion club , or a new to SL club , or a French club , or you are a near the bottom club

And that is not forgetting euro passport players

Meant to add we should cut quota to 4 per side & get close all loopholes.
late nt

Yeah, one or two quality players would help pull in the crowds, but we need our own home grown players to actually get game time.

I can't believe I can bring myself to say this but I agree with Damo. However his way of saying it could use some work.

The problem with this board is that there's a large percentage of people who post here who seem to be under the impression that if we get rid of the imports in SL then we'll be unstoppable world beaters.

This is clearly nonesense.

Where are these mystical world beating English players that aren't able to get into SL sides? Please, someone NAME one.

England does not have the player pool that Austrailia does. Wales and France certainly don't. So we have to shore up those gaps with overseas players, but that needs to go hand in hand with bringing youth development forward. Until you've a decent grassroots policy then cutting back on overseas players will lead to just to one thing; A reduction in the overall quality of Super League. Which means the players we've got will be playing in a weaker competion and we fall further behind the Aussies.

Aye lets sign more over the hill one trick ponies..saw enough last night to think we have a big future at international level plenty of young players who will grow in status or we can bin them off and sign lockyer in 3 years time just to kick the ball on the last tackle

You also have to ask the question "what does it benefit a Super Legaue team to produce a young player for international team?"

at the moment, there's no real incentive for Super League clubs to produce players beyond the need to meet the squad criteria. something which is only a gentlemen's agreement.

the driving force behind SL clubs is one of trying to be successful in the league or cup. if anything I'd bet money that most SL coaches see the international games as little more than an inconvenice at the end of the season when they could be resting their players following a full season and as a potential threat to their job should a team's star player be seriously hurt while on international duty.

So until there's an actual benefit to SL clubs combined with a strong grassroots system that's actually producing a large enough talent base, a reduction in overseas players is foolish and does nothing but weaking the English game

We as fans - and the clubs themselves - need to stop the double-talk and decide once and for all - do we really want a competitive England side based out of SL? No ifs and buts, no fretting about how it may affect our side this year or even the next five - just answer the question.

If the answer is YES, we want England to be truly competitive and be full of players playing in SL, then you have a huge task. It would take a long time (maybe ten years if we're realistic) if everyone in the sport pulled together. But it would involve everyone focusing on junior development, clubs stopping bringing over cruddy Aussies to fill 'gaps' with the focus on quality not quantity etc etc - the list is long and in some cases quite painful for individual clubs. In fact I'd go so far as to say that to actually do it, some current SL sides would have to go and be replaced by clubs that are better run.

If the answer is we want a successful England but we are unwilling to sacrifice short-term goals for clubs, then there is - IMO - no SL-based answer. The only soltuion then would be for more players to go to Aus.

Bottom line is we can't have our cake and eat it. We should either get off the backs of the English side, and applaud them doing their best against better players and enjoy watching our clubs, regardless of how poor the competition is, or collectively do something about it.

There really is no point applauding as a club fan the signing of the likes of Brett Delaney, or defending the likes of George Carmont keeping some juniors out 'whilst they develop', then bitching about the quality of England. One glimpse at the options available for right centre (including Gleeson) for this series should tell you all you need to know about why we are way behind Australia.

Spot on the money (quite literally)!

I agree , stopping top imports coming through isn't the answer. Our players won't improve till we have a top quality league, we won't get that by throwing youngsters in for sake of it.