I'm sure I read on here after he signed but before he came that he had a history of setting off like a house on fire when he first appears but then his effectiveness tales off. Or I may have imagined it, who knows what is real anymore?

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Regarding Mathers' tweet, it's probably likely he's voicing the general opinion of many within the club & the game as a whole, that, as a marquee signing, Austin has been a bit of an anti-climax.. Its not that he's been a disaster, but he's not really providing value for his inflated money - what we get from him is probably no different from what you would have got from simply having Ratchford, or any half decent half back, there instead.

If you took a neutral & asked them to name our marquee signings based on the last 12 month's performances, would anybody really pick Austin?.. Widdop maybe, but definitely not Austin. If anything, Daryl Clark stands out as our marquee player & I'd suggest if we pay anyone a top player's salary, then it's him. I can see why he's off to the NRL if we don't, he warrants a reward for his efforts and talent.

I think we might be forgetting something.
Austin definitely definitely was a star ... until he got injured at Catalan. I think he was leading the Man Of Steel Points and definitely favourite to win it. I remember watching a clip of his tries in the that first season ... brilliant. Go back and search for those tries ... if you cannot remember.
After the first couple of months he was a superb signing, a marquee player of quality and Price was not being pilloried for his half-back's form or for how he was being coached.
That was two years ago and he just hasn't got back that zip.

That was the opinion on the Canberra fans' message boards when he announced he was leaving them. I don't have a problem with Blake (when he's picked) as a running threat partnering an in-form Widdop, but I do feel it risks unbalancing the camp due to his vastly inflated salary compared to those who offer a consistent contribution (even if not quite as silky as an in-form Austin).

This is probably why Daryl will be off and who can blame him?

He looks over and sees Austin have about 5 good games at the start of every season and then go missing for the rest of it whilst on marquee money meanwhile Clark slogs his guts out every game running his blood to water and has probably been our most consistent player for the last 3/4 years yet isn't appreciated in a money sense in the same way by the club.

The club need to be moving heaven and earth to make Clark a marquee player for next year to keep him here.

Absolutely, speaking with a pal just today about Austin, 2 years ago you were off your seats when ‘Austo’ had the ball in his hand 30 out from the opposition try line.
Not anymore. He said over a season ago that his game had changed since arriving as a controlling role... Wish it hadn’t tbh.

Anyways...as much as ‘Austo’ did need dropping, and the win proves the fact, I was informed that ‘Austo’ passport was indeed at fault.
Either way, if ‘Austo’ had our club interest at heart, he would admit that you can’t change too much a winning team, and accept nothing other than a bench spot...
IF ‘Austo’ starts vs KR, that almost proves by self admission that it was a passport issue rather than form.

I think it needs to be said that it is perfectly possible for D Clark to be on a wage equal to Austin's without being a marquee player. The Marquee is a way of expanding the salary cap nothing more.

It would be great to keep him. But we really won't be able to compete with the money in OZ if he fancies cashing in on his skills. I think we will be paying Clark very well now.

I’ve said it before that Clark is on Marquee money and could have been used on the cap if required. Just that we may never had needed.

According to those 'in the know' (not me), only Austin and Widdop are the real 'BIG earners'. If true, that's got to be a bit difficult to handle for Clark even if he's on a decent wedge. He really is the definition of marquee - a game breaker, crowd pleaser and consistently world class. Knowing that Powell can work wonders with junior players and those with less raw talent, I'd be happy to have Clark and Widdop in our marquee berths next year and build around them. I did enjoy Austin at his best though.

Its possible he's on an equal money to the lowest earning of Austin or Widdop - I'd say it's more likely that he's not, especially with Inglis about, who won't be on peanuts himself.

The basics of this is, if our marquee players (2 highest earners) are going to be the 2 who bring the most to our side & whose absence is most felt when not there, then I'd reckon Clark definitely has to be one and Austin doesn't - it's that simple.

By the way, at which point did we start calling him Austo?? ....

Can’t give you an argument since the back end of 2019 until today about Clark v Austin.
Going back to Clark, I was talking about his current earnings being of a marquee’able amount if ever required, not as a comparison with anyone else.

He won’t be. Not with Widdop here as we being another marquee.