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.

Charles is 18. Give the kid a chance

You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls ya, ya can't refuse
When ya ain't got nothin', you got nothin' to lose
You're invisible now, ya got no secrets to conceal

You’re becoming a quite sensible poster this past week.
Well done.

Bobness , think you need to cut back on the cider

So much for the recruitment isnt finished yet brigade
With a team next season of over the hill plodders i would say the club is heading for a reality check when they see the pick up of passes for next season

You really have to wonder if this investor who we know has links to Leeds deliberately put his son in law in charge of recruitment, to pull in all the bang average players he can find then pull out of the deal knowing the fans will react by not renewing passes leaving Adam to ponder whether to soldier on or write off most of the loans so the club becomes more interesting to an investor.
Cunning plan or not?

Whatever the thinking is I’m going to walk away from the club because of this recruitment for me it’s worse than 2024. If we are really in such financial trouble (as it appears we are) I’d rather they chanced their arm to get out of it. Signing unknowns with ‘supposed’ potential was a disaster in 24, but now we have a DOR who played the game and an Aussie coach with huge experience and contacts. I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about the Stewart and Rimbu moves but there was that little bit of excitement there and potential to be an exciting watch with those type of players. We’ve now committed ourselves to no hopers, and for 2 and 3 years at that. Even if the financial situation somehow changes for we’ll be hampered by the contracts we’ve already given out. We can also finally close the chapter on recruitment ‘so far’ as it’s done now. There’s nothing left on the domestic market and we don’t have quota places to make a difference if something comes up in Aus.