"good footy"

Glad it’s his missus who wants to move the family over. Happy wife, happy life. Unless your wife is Rosemary West.

2016 SL dream team member Gidley? Or a different one?

Without wanting to sound as though I am blowing smoke up where the sun don't shine, I really think Austin could be one of the best signings for a few years.
Seen him play a lot and he is class.
As long as you do not expect him to be a leader in defence, he will be a great signing for you.

Lee Briers was never a leader in defence & he did alright for us, so I'll be happy with that!

Was watching you tube stuff last night (fatal i know!), and he's got a hell of a step on him.

Anyone who can win the Dally M 5/8th of the year is ok by me.

Roll on 2019!

PS - sorry if this post comes across as positive and may upset some people......

Only seen the footage of him with the side step and the running game.

Does he have a passing game?

Never mind his passing game, what's his goalkicking like?

If he's not a kicker, I hope he is good at scoring tries under the sticks.

Didn't Wayne Bennett want to select him for England at one point?

I think he'll be a star in SL. He's a class above Roberts in terms of what he's done in the NRL. On his day he's the best running stand off in the NRL bar none. He's not a great organiser, can hog the ball and his defence can be targeted, but if he's on he will win matches on his own. Whilst I would have liked Leeds to have signed him, its great for SL to sign someone like Austin, who's one of the most recognisable NRL players there is. Given his daft goatee-hair combo he could and should be a PR dream as well.

I thought Roberts would go well for you, but Austin is genuinely a step above him at his best.

Re England, I think he's eligible but it was McNamara who was looking for England-qualified NRL players. McNamara did make a point of saying that he wouldn't chase anyone, it was up to them to make the move. Personally if he plays well for Wire I'd love it if he put his hand up for England, we're desperate for a second halfback.

Gday lads, long time Wire supporter from Australia here. Austin will be a huge pick up for you guys, like BrisbaneRhino said he's not the best game manager/ball player, but he plays with high energy and has a great running game. Sounds like he has his head in the game as well (unlike Roberts). Potential man of steel winner IMO

Who would you recommend as a scrum half from Aus would balance out Austin's inclusion with his lack in some attributes?

BTW
Surprised you said "you guys" for being a Wire too!
:-0

I was at the game and 18 pts were scored in the last 6 mins with Austin scoring the first of their 3 tries . Remarkable performance by Austin and for Canberra to win the game. Stuart will probably use him as an impact sub in the future. He is on the bench this week.

First saw Warrington play in Hull in 48/49 when the team had Bevan, Francis, Helme and Bath to name just a few! Saw them win the first CC I attended a couple of years later. Although a Hull FC fan I have always followed the fortunes of Warrinton as my next favourite team.

Cheers Freddie, reading your Wire list just sent a shiver down my spine although that team and following was my dad's generation.

All the best pal

We only get the odd Super League game shown in Aus so it's hard to be a devoted fan, hence the 'you guys'

have always kept an interest though since Andrew Johns's stint many moons ago.

Corey Norman seems to be on the outer with the Parramatta Eels, on his day is brilliant, he'd be a great pick up. Benji Marshall is another guy at the end of his career still playing great footy who could go on another year or two

Ah 10 mins walk from the suncorp!! that brings back some memories from last year.
Thanks for the info, cant wait to see him over here!

I saw the performance..it was impressive BUT I worry he is an impact player....against a tired defence he can exploit with his size and step...I just hope that he can carry a team through a whole match...with direction and creativity...because thats what we need. We shall see.

Josh Drinkwater at scrum half would be amazing, unless Brown goes and we finally play patton at Scrum half?

49 minutes for Blake this week. He filled in at centre after Jarrod Croker went off injured.

9 runs
3 passes
105 metres (33 normal run, 60 hitup, 12 kick return)
1 try (great effort, the ball from a kick was nearly over the dead ball line, but he didn't give up and got a hand to it)

....but not too get too carried away as he came on fit against tired players once again.

Good signing IMO. Looked great last season for Canberra. Be great to watch in SL.

So what are our thoughts about Austin coming over in 2019? He seems to be the great hope, but so was Roberts this time last year: the marquee signing who was going to lift us to another level. So maybe we need to be realistic and reserve judgement rather than building him up too much? I had a look at a Canberra Raiders forum, they are are few of his "season review" threads archived which make for interesting reading: 2015: https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30136 2016: https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31426 2017: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32272 2018: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33029 Doesn't sound like the greatest endorsement. One thing that worries me is there seemed to be a pattern that repeated at all three of his NRL clubs - he was sensational when he arrived, then gradually tailed off. He also sounds a bit Barba-esque in defence. Certainly should be an exciting player, for good and bad, but whether he is someone who will take us to another level remains to be seen.

So what are our thoughts about Austin coming over in 2019? He seems to be the great hope, but so was Roberts this time last year: the marquee signing who was going to lift us to another level. So maybe we need to be realistic and reserve judgement rather than building him up too much? I had a look at a Canberra Raiders forum, they are are few of his "season review" threads archived which make for interesting reading: 2015: https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30136 2016: https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31426 2017: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32272 2018: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33029 Doesn't sound like the greatest endorsement. One thing that worries me is there seemed to be a pattern that repeated at all three of his NRL clubs - he was sensational when he arrived, then gradually tailed off. He also sounds a bit Barba-esque in defence. Certainly should be an exciting player, for good and bad, but whether he is someone who will take us to another level remains to be seen.

Quote ="sally cinnamon"So what are our thoughts about Austin coming over in 2019? He seems to be the great hope, but so was Roberts this time last year: the marquee signing who was going to lift us to another level. So maybe we need to be realistic and reserve judgement rather than building him up too much? I had a look at a Canberra Raiders forum, they are are few of his "season review" threads archived which make for interesting reading: 2015: https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30136 2016: https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31426 2017: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32272 2018: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33029 Doesn't sound like the greatest endorsement. One thing that worries me is there seemed to be a pattern that repeated at all three of his NRL clubs - he was sensational when he arrived, then gradually tailed off. He also sounds a bit Barba-esque in defence. Certainly should be an exciting player, for good and bad, but whether he is someone who will take us to another level remains to be seen.'" Still needs a decent half to play with....Brown and Patton are not the answer!

Quote ="sally cinnamon"So what are our thoughts about Austin coming over in 2019? He seems to be the great hope, but so was Roberts this time last year: the marquee signing who was going to lift us to another level. So maybe we need to be realistic and reserve judgement rather than building him up too much? I had a look at a Canberra Raiders forum, they are are few of his "season review" threads archived which make for interesting reading: 2015: https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30136 2016: https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31426 2017: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32272 2018: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33029 Doesn't sound like the greatest endorsement. One thing that worries me is there seemed to be a pattern that repeated at all three of his NRL clubs - he was sensational when he arrived, then gradually tailed off. He also sounds a bit Barba-esque in defence. Certainly should be an exciting player, for good and bad, but whether he is someone who will take us to another level remains to be seen.'" Still needs a decent half to play with....Brown and Patton are not the answer!

I'm expecting him to be a lazy, overweight shirker who spends all season at acting half back or putting aimless kicks in and spends his days off complainig the weather is too cold/hot/snowy/windy/european and the surfing is rubbish.

At least this way I might avoid the disappointment of expecting Allan Langer and getting Alan Carr.

Unfortunately we forget that even tho they're on marquee wages here, it's nothing special compared to potential nrl salary were paying a premium just to get em over here that's where the money is going not on ability.

We then hope that they're as good or better than their peers in super league. It's a gamble.

One question, Blake Austin on a long term or someone like Smith cronk slater on a one year?

You forgot gum chewing

Schoolboy error