Now confirmed that he was told he wasn’t getting a deal for next year so it was decided “to cut ties early”. Oh, and his missus was pregnant. More genius recruitment.

Now confirmed that he was told he wasn’t getting a deal for next year so it was decided “to cut ties early”. Oh, and his missus was pregnant. More genius recruitment.

Not sure kisskam or Powell could foresee him fracturing his ankle and then knocking his missus up. Be thankful we signed him on a one season deal and saw sense in cutting it short. Recruitment for next season already seems on a different level.

Today's internet winner.
And we sign him. What a bunch of plant pots. The equivalent of going into Asda in the evening, and buying your stuff off the [iwhoops[/i shelf
Almost as bad as one of Tony Smith's latter day "punts", Wheeler, Bailey etc.

Yep. Classic “Wire post 2016” recruitment. Next year does look better on paper for sure, but I’m so worn down and cynical at the moment that I’ll just renew the season ticket and see what happens.

I'm deeply offended by this statement. I'm a connoisseur of the[i whoops[/i shelf and I certainly don't consider myself to be 'bottom half of the league table'...

So 17 games not enough to get an idea about a player.

You really are a slow learner.

Funny really because Kelepi Tanginoa only played 30 games whilst David Fifita only managed 19 and they have done ok. Fifita in particular was the most sought after prop in SL when his contract came up in 2019.

Stop talking rot, there is no such thing as 'The absolute dictionary definition of a NSW cup reserve grade player'. Also he was 24 when you signed him.

In Dallas’ defence he played 17 NRL games so how many of them did you see to have an opinion that you thought he was a good player? I think I caught one of his games and didn’t realise until we signed him. I only remember as he scored and the commentators seemed pretty surprised. He is reserve grade NRL material.

I’ve watched lots of NRL over the years and I had barely heard of him. 17 first team games by the age of 24 is demonstrably “reserve grade material”, there surely can’t be any arguement. He’s averaged about 3 NRL games a year…..legend

I don’t believe that more NRL games means that you will be quality. I think you can unearth some gems.

When we signed Nigel Vagana he’d only played 1 match of ARL (as it was called back then). He actually turned out to be too good and Auckland got him back.

Toa Kohe-Love had played no NRL.
Danny Nutley had played 10 and he turned out to be great.
Jérôme Guisset had played 4 NRL games.

Then you look at Tony Tatupu 27 games, Anthony Swann 63, Paul Marquet 231, Matt Rodwell 178, Michael Sullivan 63, Roy Asotasi 217, Leilani Latu 58 and they were awful.

I put it to you that Billy was not a “gem”.

Never got enough games or time here to say either way. Behind a dominant pack he might have been superb but we'll never know now. I wish him all the best for the future

I don’t think Mags was a big gamble. He came here cheap as backup with the chance to shine and force his way in as a talented ball-handling loose.

It didn’t work out, but I feel less cheated than after Austin and Roberts broke my heart and my wallet.

Surely the ultimate example for this was Brian Bevan who played about 7 games for the Roosters.

These days though its much harder to find these relative unknowns and get a work permit for them to play here. The NRL is much better now at hoovering up the top talent especially from New Zealand. That era when we got Toa, Nigel Vagana and Wakefield found Henry Paul, was a time when the NRL wasn't as tuned into picking up NZ players.

Most of the NRL players we sign in recent years are guys who are out of contract in the NRL and struggling to get a deal on the terms they want so they look to try and get something in the UK and we're the kind of willing mugs who oblige.