Has it actually come out that Murphy has signed for them? it seem'd like there was contact but there's been nothing concrete? not saying that he wouldn't go if the offer was there but the press 'leaks' only seems like there was contact.

Nothing signed but there has been confirmation of interest.

I don't think there is any club in the NRL that lures young and inexperienced Super League players. Dom Young is probably the exception. Farnworth came through the ranks at Brisbane, so he doesn't count. Everyone else tends to be experienced.

My comment was about the Roosters using youths a lot, as you suggested that they don't lure young and experienced players full stop. The SL bit was an "especially" bit, meaning that the earlier comments about young and inexperienced was a freestanding remark. The Rooster is clearly a side that does bring through many young and inexperienced players. The ones that are there are established, but only because they started young at the Roosters.

As for other SL Roosters examples, Adrian Morley was only 23 when he signed for the Roosters, which is quite young for a forward. Jordan Tansey was only 22 when he signed for the Roosters.

Put simply, if Lewis is going to the NRL, the Roosters is a good club to go to in respect of his youth. The reason why it might not be the right team is due to the quality ahead of him, and maybe a different club would be better if he would be guaranteed a slot. Like at the Dolphins or the Titans. In that respect, Dom Young did the right thing, by being a shining light at a poor club.

Some really good points raised in all of you posts Slugger
It's great to be able to have a debate about RL and without any malice
Respect pal, I could have a beer with you all day long

Joe burgess was 21 when signed for the roosters.

Looks like the Chin was right afterall
Lewis has struggled to make the grade in the NRL and chose the wrong club.
Perhaps if he'd gone elsewhere he'd have got a chance of playing some games in first grade?
I think that all of the SL clubs would be interested in him though as he's a very talented player without a doubt

Why is he on his way back?

It depends what his objective was.
He could have gone to a lesser club and squeezed some games in but going to a worse club isn't necessarily good for your development.
He's probably developed his game a lot more being where he is without the first team spot light.
He was always going to have to develop physically anyway.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

What I don't really get is, what do they get out of it? I know they are incredibly well off compared to Super league clubs, I know over there that's pretty much the case for all NRL clubs, they are organisations aren't they, in the way our clubs can never be. If he feels he has developed if and when he does come back, that's great, but he's so inexperienced at the top level over here?! He had one season basically in the 1st team, and did very well obviously, I could understand it if he did that 3 or 4 years running, then why an NRL club would want him. I don't know if TJ was ever offered anything down under, but he did it over a longer period of time, in mostly struggling teams, apart from a couple of seasons, but maybe his injury record put NRL teams off?

Because they saw potential. They don't always want someone trained in SL. They want raw talent they can develop themselves.

You may well be correct, but if he does come back, sooner rather than later, then if it's their choice to send him back, they haven't given him much of a chance have they?!

I haven't seen anything to say they want to get rid of him.

He played in today’s NSW cup game. He has made 4 appearances and scored 1 try so far. Info from Roosters app

Happy he’s getting some game time. I do hope we will see him at Trinity again sometime.