Indeed. TrinTrin clearly didn't see him play.

There are always exceptions to every rule but I bet we had more who like O’Brien (may have got that wrong) than the Ray Price’s of this world.

LMS will be 37/38 this season and still gets another contract . It’s not the age but the size of the heart that matters in this sport

Yawn

Paul O’Bien was a quality centre… just didn’t settle into life in the UK .. but the world was very different in the 1970s

Ray price was 36 when he joined us and had been retired for two years. Proctor is 34 and a current (almost) NRL regular. There is no comparison actually, Price was a far far bigger risk.

So what about big Ali?

Paul Sykes?

Liam Finn?

And all the others I can’t remember off the top of my head.

I mean we have this discussion every time a player who isn’t in nappies turns up but people like you and Trin Trin never learn. It would be funny if it wernt so tragic.

You make a bet on someone you don't even know. Classic.

My system will not allow me to quote but in reply to PT I was not betting on any single signing just the fact that for every Ray Price we signed there will be another who failed. The one I was thinking of was a prop from the NRL who came over but with busted knees who I think played only a few games and then retired and no not Tronc.

Clinton o Brian I think .

Definitely Clinton o Brien, came to us from Newcastle knights, to be fair to the guy he came to us with knee issues and there it was always acknowledged by both the club and the guy that it might not work - effectively a paid trial - after 4 games he put his hand up and said he couldn’t perform.

Was a shame but don’t think it cost much to the club

Exactly. Clinton O'Brian wasn't exactly a failure
We tried. It didn't work. But he didn't stay so no harm.
As you said "I bet there's more" I assume you have others in mind ?

If I remember correctly apparat from the injuries O’Brian was also hit by the homesickness bug.

In the last 15 years with zoom and social media etc the world has shrunk even more. Yet even now coming to the North of England in the middle of winter is still a shock and I totally get that having experienced it.

Why it affects Aussies more than people of Somoan or Tongan decent I don’t know, but it does. You’d actually think it would be the other way around though I suspect it’s there support networks that help them through the transition.

I have full sympathy and it happens both ways, the majority of English players in the NRL return home at some point.

So it’s not just age or injuries, it’s deeper than that, you basically either like it here or you don’t. If you do you will probably do well even at 34.