The first thing he needs to do is get him fit, he is carrying too much timber. Personally, I don’t think he is a good signing. I expect him to start off like a house on fire and then return to his old ways. Time, as always, will be the judge.

Said exactly the same thing last night to my mate. 

Surely we can trust Burgess when recruiting forwards? 

Don't mind the TPJ signing. He's destructive with good hands and will give us some much needed size that we have been lacking. If we can keep hold of Vaughan I think 4 props of Vaughan, Harrison, Bryne and TPJ next year is pretty good. 

This.  He could be an excellent asset.  Yes, he looks out of shape currently when you see how he used to be.  Hopefully that can return.  as LTS says, his hands are excellent for a forward.  Just watch his passing from dummy in our last match against Cats.  Despite him being unfit he still played the full 80 at second row against us.  He made double the metres of Stone and also Fitz, with less errors and only a smidge less tackles.  

Byrne looks like a defensive prop as I've seen him make good tackles but never really go on any rampaging runs.


Hopefully Sam gets TPJ back in shape and we have an excellent forward on our hands.

Keeping Vaughan is the key.  If TPJ is being viewed as a replacement its a backwards step I think.  

Yep, i think that why Matty Peet has been starting him for Wigan as he's defensively solid and like you said, he aint going to bust through tackles and run 40m

One of the things i personally think he's struggled with at Wigan has been the ability to  make an impact when he's started off the bench. When we had Thompson and Havard starting last season, Bryne at times seemed a bit anonymous when he came on, but thats me being really harsh as he wasnt the only one. Now when he's started we have seen a different player in terms of intensity IMO

Yeah, as said above, if we can manage to keep Vaughan, and add TPJ in to the mix then i genuinely think we're gonna be a problem next year. IF we get a good replacement for Williams (not Dodd).
Byrne i still think adds a lot in attack, he puts it in and runs full speed, i'd be very happy with him starting with Vaughan.
Hopefully Fitz can find some form again as i think he's been pretty quiet for awhile, Sam Stone i like, he's quietly going about his business and doing a hard graft, he's got good hands as well, his offload whilst being tackled allowed Williams to keep moving for Thewlis to score. If he hadn't offloaded it in very difficult conditions with players on him that attack would have stopped dead.
I wouldn't mind keeping him next year, but would like to see more from him in attack, same with Fitz he's been off the boil for a long time, and he's a grub, i won't miss him when he's gone to be honest.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/sam-burgess-paul-vaughans-future-1275382

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/sam-burgess-paul-vaughans-future-1275382

Sodding password issues - but now sorted I think...


Tevita Pangai Jnr... not impressed.


Losing Vaughan - even more unimpressed. He's our best prop and good enough for a 2 year deal. (Brett Hodgson didn't turn out too bad and he moved because Hudds wouldn't give him 2 years....)


The problem is that there are very few decent props out in the market and the attraction of 'the Burgess factor' isn't what it was.