There's no doubting the blokes talent but in not sure how good a signing he is for you. The Salford games I've seen this year although not many you look to be lacking in the forwards , particularly hooker and probably another prop and a SR.

From the outside it looks as though the Dr has gone all out for his star signing rather than recruiting in the positions the team needs.

Great to see the 'player drain' going the other way for a change! Let's hope we see a few more NRL stars coming here. If Bowen stays on for another year we'll have 2 outstanding NRL fullbacks playing in Superleague. I thought the days of this sort of signing were over. Glad to say I was wrong. Well done the Dr!

Do you not think that maybe the Dr gets a list of targets from the Coaching staff? Or do you think he goes out and buys random players for the coach to squeeze into a team?

As for the players we need? We need pace in our backline. We need another quality winger/centre and probably a replacement for Gleeson come the end of the year. Forwards are far from our problem positions, with the exception of Hooker, which Tomkins has filled.

I would hope the coaching staff are heavily involved in signings however Noble carefully avoided such questions when he left Salford implying that was not the case.

It is well documented MK was desperate for a big name signing which he certainly has got.

You know your team better than I do, I'm of the opinion that your back line looks pretty good. The games I have seen you have been dominated in the forwards which is where I would have been looking to strengthen.

On that I'd like to see Caton-Brown signed as when I've watched him on SKY there seems to be something about him, if we are going for Dixon you'd think it might be a decent combination as CB looks to have the attributes to be a quality centre and we all know the pace that Dixon has.

Yes. Yes we do.

I suspect recruitment of incoming players is similar in most clubs - coach- Football director outlines positions that need filling - executives through agents & contacts then compile a list of acheivable targets that fit the bill , they then get the best one they can out of that list that fits the bill & the finances.
Regarding Kevin Locke , yep i'd chalk that one down to the Chairman , obviously.
No different from Brian Snape getting Coulman - Dixon- Watkins in the 60's He promised a ' Marquee Signing ' he's delivered ( in most people eyes) a bonafide example.
I can't imagine Harris demanding ' I'll only coach you if you get me a current international NRL fullback - Winger' , I also can't imagine Harris saying ' No Locke isn't needed , I'm quite happy with Mullaney & Platt...

You're dead right about the similarity to Brian Snape,although he'd probably watched the game for longer.
A year ago Koukash wouldn't have known a Locke from a yale.
I guess he's told who might be available ,bounces it off a few people,including the coach,and then takes a view.
Previously ,I suspect Noble told him who was available.
It's a hell of a lot easier to now build on ,and improve,what we have than it was to go from a standing start which is why some of these guys were wisely put on one year contracts,eg Meli and Lee,I think

Tommy Lee signing proves how much influence noble had over your signings.

Shock,horror !
That had to be the way it was done to begin with,obviously,as I'm not sure what the option would have been otherwise.
Once he'd selected Noble,it was a joint project.
He then decided he fancied a change and ............

Does anyone know if Flannaghan is over yet?

If he has got involved on a short term basis I'd bet her had a say in this. Bet he'd have tried for Cronnula if he didn't sell dodgy milk shakes.

Someone on here said the RFL/SL contributed £250,000 I'd love to know if that were true and if it is what we give back in return, I'd hope that it was for the increased exposure and potential extra advertising revenue.

Best signing from the NRL for possibly 20+ years, last time I can recall anyone of this stature coming this way was Jamie Lyon and we know the influence he had on Saints.

Locke will hold the key I'm sure.

Actually 300,000 ... I think they were tongue in cheek referring to the additional TV moneys the RFL-SL distributed to SL clubs after securing the 200M deal with Sky TV in February.

Possibly ? Brett Finch - Matt King - Brett Hodgson - Trent Barrett - Pat Richards - Joel Monaghan - Andrew Johns - Matt Gidley - Stacey Jones - , been some pretty decent imports over the past 10 years, Lance Hohaia came over with a big rep. but failed to live up to expectation , Greg Eastwood for Leeds failed to settle ..

How many of these international players were in their mid 20's when they come over though? SL has had some big names but they generally always have their best years behind them.

Jamie Lyon I think was an exception to the rule.

It's a f*cking good signing. First time i can remember a top quality, international, coming over in his prime for god knows how long.

You guys must be excited about watching this guy next season?