The middle 8 signings have begun.
Todd Carney is undoubtably a very talented player.

Blake Austin from Canberra Raiders for start of 2019 season.

I thought he was gonna go to Parra or somewhere, didn't think he'd come to SL.

Both start 2019 season.

George King to Wakefield from Warrington.

John Bateman to Canberra from Wigan.

Without Marwan’s marquee player rule Blake Austin wouldn’t be coming to Super League, I’m no fan of Marwan Koukash but it’s certainly helping us keep/attract some superstar players in Super League.

Name a overseas Marquee player who has played/seen out his contract. They come for a quick buck then get back on a plane down under.

Is it helping clubs run better though? Throwing a load of money at one player who may or may not be a hit. Same money cold be spent on several departments of a club to improve it overall and longer lasting than one or two seasons. With stuff like this we’re at the whim of an owner preparing to lose money which isn’t the smartest way forward.

Going off topic a little here but...

To be fair, we are one of the better ran clubs, and generally run a profit year on year (I’m guessing last years accounts aren’t too pretty though).

They have invested heavily off the field - stadium extension to the corners (Another 3 phases of stadium upgrades also planned when the time is right), new £500k training barn, brought in a new guy to run the academy / talent id section this season too.

We can afford it and with Moran and Middleton have financial security for many years to come you would expect.

So what's the deal with players like Austin and Lolohea coming over to SL? Are we really managing to offer more than an NRL club to these players depsite the huge salary cap disparity?
As far as I'm aware neither player has disgraced themselves or have been forced out by a scandal etc. Both are still relatively young, so aren't necessarily coming over here for early retirement money.

I'm not complaining that SL is managing to attract the calibre of these two, I'm just a bit baffled as to how we're pulling it off.

They have found out the fish and chips and beer is better hear then in Australia lol

In Lolohea's case, he's far too inconsistent to be a regular NRL player and is pretty lazy when it comes to training and fitness by all accounts. As for Austin, I would have thought he could comfortably get an NRL deal (maybe not on the money he wants, didn't he knock back $800k last year?) so it's a surprise signing for SL in my opinion

800k per year? Doubt it, that would be a bit high.

He’s backed himself and then played some poor rl, hasn’t helped him his hookers been injured, and clubs move on.

Clubs seem to be doing it a bit different with regards to recruitment, for instance there noway that Austin isn’t in the top 16 5/8ths in nrl but clubs like Gold Coast would rather give there youth a shot. And then of course you’ve got the amazingly poorly run Manly and Canterbury who have to spend the next 2 to 3 years sorting out there salary cap.

I thought so too, but according to Paul Kent he did. With that year being a halves market, he wanted to try get 1m apparently

True, but then you’ll get other clubs who aren’t as well run doing likewise to keep up with you.

That's right - he was on top form in 2016, Raiders offered $800k around same time Ben Hunt signed with St George for $1m, so Austin backed himself as being worth equal/more than Hunt, which his form at the time would have suggested... Problem is, his form then dropped and Raiders reduced their offer significantly. Since then, his form has got worse, in particular his defence. So now, there aren't many clubs who's be in for him, and the ones that probably could do with him are either in a salary cap mess (dogs, eagles) or already have contracted players that they also can't shift (Eels).

Marquee money in SL is probably the best financial option left for Austin. But he will go terrific over here, where his defensive frailties won't be so ruthlessly exposed.

Lolohea is very inconsistent, and simply being a dangerous runner doesn't cut it for a 6 in the NRL - again, I suspect he'll go really well over here, but will be rocks and diamonds.