Quote: bren2k "It remains a RL Fans phenomenon that as soon as a player is rumoured to be signing for a rival club, supporters will line up to say how crap he is; ramp that up even more when the clubs involved are local rivals, with a heightened degree of enmity. The real story is that Finn is a steady player who improved immeasurably under Powell at Cas; he may no longer fit what they want to achieve, or they may have better, but he certainly isn't crap - and he would be a good fit for us, given our desperate need for someone to steer us around the park and finish off a set with something more than a grubber to nothing or a hail mary cut-out pass.'" Finn's only real strength other than being a reasonable defender is his ability to end a set of 6 with a good kick with height or with distance to touch. He will very occasionally put in a deft pass near the line but nowhere near as often as Smith who was excellent at this when he could be bothered. He's especially adept at the grubber into rather than over the opposition line - something that works well for less able but more willing teams. Also has a better try scoring ratio than Smith and is a great goal kicker especially at Fev see stats https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Finn_(rugby_league) Basically he won't make us look great but he'll definitely help us look better when we are having a bad game. No one on here I hope is suggesting Finn will be the player to make us a competitive top 8 team, he won't. he's workmanlike and reliable but never was or will be a world beater. But he will fill a gap and offers bags of experience whilst the squad is hopefully rebuilt, what more can you ask for. Welcome back aboard Liam.

Quote: bren2k "It remains a RL Fans phenomenon that as soon as a player is rumoured to be signing for a rival club, supporters will line up to say how crap he is; ramp that up even more when the clubs involved are local rivals, with a heightened degree of enmity. The real story is that Finn is a steady player who improved immeasurably under Powell at Cas; he may no longer fit what they want to achieve, or they may have better, but he certainly isn't crap - and he would be a good fit for us, given our desperate need for someone to steer us around the park and finish off a set with something more than a grubber to nothing or a hail mary cut-out pass.'" Finn's only real strength other than being a reasonable defender is his ability to end a set of 6 with a good kick with height or with distance to touch. He will very occasionally put in a deft pass near the line but nowhere near as often as Smith who was excellent at this when he could be bothered. He's especially adept at the grubber into rather than over the opposition line - something that works well for less able but more willing teams. Also has a better try scoring ratio than Smith and is a great goal kicker especially at Fev see stats https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Finn_(rugby_league) Basically he won't make us look great but he'll definitely help us look better when we are having a bad game. No one on here I hope is suggesting Finn will be the player to make us a competitive top 8 team, he won't. he's workmanlike and reliable but never was or will be a world beater. But he will fill a gap and offers bags of experience whilst the squad is hopefully rebuilt, what more can you ask for. Welcome back aboard Liam.

He is what we need at this moment in time a steady eddie sort of player wont set the world alight but will do a job lets not forget after what happened last season we are on the rebuild it cycle at this moment in time.

He'll do a good job for you, he's exactly the sort of player you need. Solid, reliable. Not the fastest player in the league but he's got the brains to steer you around the pitch. I wouldn't have been upset if we had offered him another contract.

Much better for you than Tim Smith, I'll say that much. Better to have a grafter.

I think we have a good pack of forwards that were undone by our own lack of a 6th tackle play rather than their fitness or ineptness.
Smith's pass was great but so often he and Miller would end a set just giving the ball up cheaply and the forwards would be back under pressure.

We now have someone with a decent chance of an attacking kick where we can either start the opposition on their line, or actually compete for the ball in the air or get a repeat set. With him in the team I think the whole team will suddenly look fitter and more energetic.
Add to that the goal kicking and leadership qualities and I think he suits us perfectly at the moment.

We can sign someone else to be the elusive runner (and to be honest Miller already has that skill). Finn just needs to keep the team ticking.

You're spot on there Poppers.

For whatever reason last years team simply stopped functioning, why we will never really know I doubt they do. It gave an excuse for the doom mongers and know alls to trot out there standard patter regarding quality, fitness and toughness - you know comments about girls blouses, that kind of thing. All good fun but a million miles from the truth.

With a few notable exceptions there wasn't much wrong with last years squad - don't recall the know all's slagging it off after the first two games.

Truth is that take away the few real superstars in the game and the difference between good and bad SL players can be measured in fractions. Good coaching, good attitude, good training and tactics and the removal of some dead wood can quickly push the fractions in your favour.

It's my belief that Webster simply wasn't able to do it and lost the team - I suspect because he simply didn't have that element in his persona that exudes positivity - leadership in other words. Comes in many forms but one thing is always the same and that's the ability to get others to buy into your philosophy. Thing with BS over poor old Webbo is that he had it in the past and seemingly still does - it will hopefully make a much bigger difference to this team than any signing will. Sometimes you just need to fix what you've got and BS is clearly already partly down that road.

Bloody I-Pads

This. Welcome Liam!

can he play hooker? I am still hearing we are going after a bigish name aussie half back.

am hoping to cause this signing whist ok isn't going to get us anywhere but where we were as season.

You should get that hearing checked. Or perhaps it's difficult to hear yourself at all when you're talking out of your hoop...

Where are you hearing it. You've littered the forum with names but don't back it up - so again where are you hearing it from?

If he is a back up player i'm happy with Finn as a signing, as a first choice half this would be average at best

Why? He was 1st choice back for us for 1 1/2 years - he took us to Wembley... etc! I don't know what more you want? He's not flashy but he's exactly what teams need.

He took you to Wembley..... Single handed?

He has a great kicking game and is a good organizer but the reason I wouldn't want him as first choice half back is he is too slow and cant take the line on , We need an all rounder

If you rate him that much you should start a petition to keep him at cas

I will happily sign it for you