The are are more Props about than Half Backs. Of the 24 first choices halves in SL how many are actually any good right now?

Its just lazy recruitment from an inexperienced DOR who has no selling experience so wouldnt have a clue how to sell the club to a player who we had interest in.
Thats why companies employ sales and marketing personnel

And Asiata this season. If we offer bigger and better deals than other SL clubs they will come here irrespective of our standing. As someone pointed out (sorry can't remember who) Penrith's Jerome Luai one of the best players in the world has signed a 5 year contract at Wests who are regarded as a badly run club fighting it out for the wooden spoon. I'd say 99% of NRL players come over here for the money and the majority of those players will sign for the club who offers most.

Lam is an exception. His dad is the coach, he may have secured a better deal with Leigh and the contract dispute may have got messy.

Agree with this, I just haven’t seen it with Charles yet I know he’s young etc but I think Martin and Moy are much better equipped to make it long term.

I'm extremely concerned about the recruitment thus far and money aside I bet bet Asiata is wondering what the hell he's signed up for, playing in a team full of ageing journeymen and a few promising local youngsters, hardly an inspiring recipe.

We started off with the signing of Asiata and the thought of financial investment but that all just seems like a smokescreen now.

This p1ss poor recruitment will not inspire new passholders and will struggle to maintain the current level. I'm struggling to remain positive and can't see me spending the £400 or so on renewing, not with this level of signing.
I'm no longer prepared to help subsidise the club when we get absolutely nothing in return in terms of signings or performances.
Where does the line get drawn?

Have to say, I’m really considering renewing next year, just don’t see the point.

Your use of the phrase 'it seems like a smokescreen now' is interesting and bears out what I said yesterday about a concern that whatever was on the table investment wise could just have been withdrawn in the face of what a mess we are in. I hope we are wrong but I'd like some sort of statement on it from the club.

I really liked the Cartwright appointment on paper as he seems to tick most of the boxes of what we need at the club. My only worry was that sometimes Aussies with no experience of the league really underestimate the competition, I know he did a season as a player but that was 30 years ago. Maybe he’s just massively underestimating what’s needed? Sezer just isn’t a player that’s anything special in SL, in fact he’s one of those rare players that’s seemingly better suited to the NRL and how it’s structured. Having him tied to a two year deal at 33 taking a quota spot is just absolute madness. A lesser extent Cust too, I feel he could offer a bit more but on the evidence so far he’s not been anything special.

Maybe the coach has just been allowed to make a couple of poor calls? Maybe he’s been offered better players but stubbornly wants people who he’s worked with? That’s just a huge guess on my part, but I’m not convinced players refuse to join because we’ve had a couple of poor seasons. It’s not stopped Wakey recruiting decent players. We’ve either not got the money or maybe just still making poor recruitment decisions.

A factor with Luai will be he's won everything at Penrith, played SOO, been in a world cup final etc so not a lot more to achieve so may as well take the money. Also it's believed Penrith can only offer him a certain amount due to the salary cap, everyone's had a wage rise due to their success so the cap is doing is doing its job and redistributing players across the league.

But yes money is still the biggest factor though.

Agree. On a slightly separate note I wonder if Wests are paying part of his wages as Sezer had a contract option for next season.

Coaches like to have players they can trust around them. So maybe Cartwright thinks Cust and Sezer will be good for the dressing room.

One bright spot in this sea of gloom is Cartwright has the longest build up to taking the job I can remember (possibly since Kear knew he would take over from McRae) and also has a unique position of having his son in camp feeding back what's going on. Whereas Hodgson and Smith took the job late and were stuck with most of the signings their predecessors agreed to (absolute no excuses for some of the useless players those two signed though)

Once upon a time you dressed so fine

You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?

People’d call, say, “Beware doll, you’re bound to fall”

You thought they were all kiddin’ y

You used to laugh about

Everybody that was hangin’ out

Now you don’t talk so loud

Now you don’t seem so proud

About having to be scrounging for your next meal

"When I was down you just stood there grinning"

Don't blame you Bob. What goes around comes around.

To be fair after witnessing your recent live performances it reminds me watching Hull FC. Had some great moments a few years ago but are now an embarrassment.

Time to hang up your harmonica.

Have to say while Sezer is an improvement on what we have/had (which isn’t a difficult task) he would just be another signing of abject disappointment and disillusionment. Let’s be honest he’s not exactly ripped it up in SL & just see him being a signing of desperation. For me it would have made more sense to have offered Ben Reynolds a deal than Sezer.

Just fail to follow the logic of signing Sezer & Cust as neither are players to excite or whet the appetite of a very disgruntled fan base.

Other than Cartwright as Head Coach & Asiata the rest of the signings if we are to be brutally honest are average at best and again whilst an improvement it’s marginal.
Can anyone say hand on heart the recruitment so far is going to see us challenging any higher than 10th? I can’t.