Not the paciest looking set of backs I’ve seen, OT. Are you Steve Price? Swap Dufty for Hughes and you’ve convinced me. All we need is a 7 who can kick to touch at the corner at the end of every set of six.

Kasino looks exactly the sort by of chap we need.

Mikaele doesn’t look quite as inspiring but if we are being honest, all 3 are probably better than us lot.

Mega. Bloody. Excited

Bit nervous about Mikaele just because of how much it means, and how hit and (mostly) miss our NRL recruits have been.

If he's another dud then it would be incredibly deflating. But if he plays to his size and potential, then we could have our perfect prop for 7/8 years if he settles.

He's a bit of a gamble but he is also fitting the profile of what we should be looking for from the NRL. If he doesn't work out that's unfortunate but that's out of the clubs control. I'm happy with this signing, the best indicator for optimism is that I haven't seen any wests fans waving him off with a good riddance so they seem to have liked him well enough, there is no questioning whether he is up to it just a few saying his hands let him down a bit.

My god can you imagine this as the backline

I know many on here go on about our pack not being good enough - and usually the term 'size' is mentioned. But I doubt size is the real issue. I think what we need - any side needs - is a player/s with 'presence'.
I looked at the 'sizes' of some of our packs - 4 main props - in the SL era (ok - based on wiki, but interesting nevertheless).
Can you guess the players or years?
Answers below.

Pack A - a) 6'1", 17st b) 6'3", 17st13lbs c) 5'11", 16st6lbs d) 6'4", 16st10lbs
Pack B - a) 6'1", 17st b) 6'3", 17st c) 5'11", 16st6lbs d) 6'5" 17st7lbs
Pack C - a) 6'2", 16st7lbs b) 6'2", 17st13lbs c) 6'00", 15st10lbs d) 6'1" 16st3lbs
Pack D - a) 6'2", 17st11lb b) 6'3" 17st c) 6'5", 19st12lbs d) 6'5" 17st7lbs

Overall D is the biggest just looking at the stats but pack C is the best Wire pack I've seen in the SL era.
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
A - Coops, Hill, Philbin, Akuaola
B - Coops, Mulhern, Philbin, Bullock
C - Morley, Carvell, Wood, Harrison - oh I wish!
D - Dudson, Mulhern, Kasiano, Bullock (and there's James Harrison at 6'4", 16st7lb) - ok this may not be next years pack, but wont be far off).

That's true, which is why I thought Philbin could make a great prop. Didn't have the size but had the attitude. That's been lost somewhere.

Morley too is a good example of what you're saying. He wasn't a particularly tall or heavy prop but had a presence like no other.

Then you have Leilani Latu, bigger and heavier than Morely, but well, yeah . . .

A prop needs to have the right attitude which is usually a destructive mindset, controlled aggression, huge courage, and a disregard for self-preservation. The 'C' group you highlighted all had that, as did a few others in the club at the time. Size obviously helps, but without the attitude and presence, it's useless.

You may think I’m joking but I think he has changed his attitude since he had his teeth done…and/or he became a dad.

I think running his own start up business has affected him. He can't focus 100% on both rugby and business. Shame as he was promising in 2019/20 when he got his international call up.

Hughes like Philbin’s form has nosedived since 19/20. Can’t say we’ve actually missed him on the field this year, as I suppose he doesn’t really bring much the side? He makes a few tackles, plays 80 minutes covers a few positions.. I’m not really seeing anything else.

At least with a young player like Longstaff for example, you see him punch above his weight and put himself about abit.

With so many players off contract, it’s hard to judge who’s actually going to get a new deal!