Or maybe they were taking the Mick out of you as there was already two pages of posts under the Roberts thread about Austin by the time you broke the news to us?

Lol

Honest Mozzas Bookies here. Place your bet, on

Odds on him turning up injured and having no pre-season
Odds on him listing surfing as a hobby then wondering where the beaches are
Odds on someone saying he'll be fine when the pitches firm up
Odds on someone saying it takes a while to settle in, beyond round 20

I'm not even entertaining bets on him being onto his agent the first time he sees the Wakefield away dressing room and telling him to get the airport taxi running.

In all fairness though ,Morrissey, the Roberts clan could still be traumatised from encountering the Beast from the East.

That's no way to talk about Big Sarah from Orford

Does Blake Austin have a family? Might actually work in our favour if he has no baggage, so to speak. Did I imagine it, or did someone say he’s got English parents and has been to the UK before?

Grandmother I think. Could be Ethel.

I think it was more likely $335k a year, about £187,500. So if we guarantee him £800k over 4 years that would seem about right. Not sure he’s worth it but he’s young enough and there aren’t many halfbacks available of his quality... not the sort of classic ‘little general’ scrum half I was hoping for to guide us round the park though... maybe we can get a Gale or Drinkwater style player alongside Austin.

That’s if it’s even true - still a rumour for me until it’s announced.

I think I met her when my mum took me to get my primary school pants in Stockton Heath forge. Great lady, and if her grandson can stitch this squad together, no matter how unfashionable it may look, then we should be okay...

He could be our Maestro, and a good Ambassador. We certainly don’t want another Princess...

he was rumoured to have knocked back a $2.4 million four year deal from Canberra ($600k a year)

$2.4 million aussie dollars is £1.3 million quid.

£1.3 million quid divided by 4 is £335,000 per year.


the average NRL salary is $370k aus dollars so earning $600k for him was a good wage. The top names however all earn $1million a year.

he's a quality player though and i'm more than happy to see us pay £300k plus.....

Yup, we are lucky enough to be the one club who can afford to match the Aussies on the money front, shame we can’t offer the lifestyle but players shouldn’t be naive enough to not see that. I get the feeling he’s coming here under different circumstances to Roberts though, which was a last minute thing for Roberts’ family to suddenly have to deal with.

Let’s hope he can make a difference, and let’s find him a decent half-back partner to guide us around the pitch.

Blake Austin spoke a few years ago about how hard it was to move to Canberra due to the distance from his family.

It's a great signing, not only for Wire, but for Super League as well. Wire should do what Saints have done with Barba, insist any immediate family come over (Early) and get settled in and pre-book three or four trips to the Canaries whenever there is a blank weekend in the calendar so they don't get too cold/depressed.

I say, Saddened ,will Saints sign me ? I am always available for 3 or 4 trips to Lanzarote.

Any problems and we could send him to montego bay at maxi-mum speed.

Confirmed on twitter