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Quote: DaveO "Straw man argument because you are deliberately ignoring the top class overseas players we have had over the years such as West, Botica, Bell, Dallas and Richards. All top class players who were with the club several seasons and arguably well in the mix for the best in their position. Where did they come from?

I bet if we had beaten Wire to Austin's signature you would not be on here slagging the club off because it was "a risk". I doubt anyone would have even thought it. From now on though I expect to see you leading the charge to do so if we ever sign such a player again
When you say I ignored overseas signings, which bit of "Now before people start throwing gene miles/bell/Barrett/renouf or henry paul out there.
The games/cards have changed, not necessarily for the better imo but it has." Did you miss?

And explain to me how we could afford some of these "world class" overseas signings?
How much would these top class players of today cost in today's money and would we be able to compete?
Where's £650k per year for a shaun johnson coming from?

As for Austin etc. Then as you know it's a whole bigger argument.
Explain how wire have benefitted from having sandow or Roberts for the past 3 years etc.
Explain at what cost both financially and from a production line it's benifitted wire? How have their youth come through in those positions?
We're those signings risk free and what problems did it bring them off the field,?

If we do get the signature of a 300k plus overseas signing in the near future I'll assess that signing based on the facts at that point, nowhere in this thread will you find me in total agreement or disagreement of the sammut signing, I will reserve judgement (unlike so.e who seem to make a snap decision that everything an owner or coach does is wrong).

People seem to ignore that we signed Tommy leulia beginning 2017, he's given us a WCC and a super league title predominantly playing as our 7.
Once again a signing that everyone conveniently forgets when slagging the club off.

My response was more to do with the "Sign a marquee player and it will solve all our crowd and financial issues" argument.
How did FPN work out for us?
It won't and as rogues illustrated it hasn't at other club's, and it didn't for us early 2000s, the glory years of super league a lot of People will say.(Then again I know how you long for the Dave Whelan years back ).

My flippant response was letting people in for free would have same effect.
Putting an extra 500/1000 fans temporarily into seats has to be assessed as to what cost that would come at.
I'm pretty sure when these players become available the people responsible at the club have a look at the situation and assess every minute detail as to the benifit/risk, currently a lot of things stack up against these signings.
You never know, if No deal Brexit happens and the pound flourishes back to 3 1/2 Aus dollars to the pound we may be able to compete again, I won't hold my breath though.