I think most wanted him to stay. There were a few vocal refuseniks who wanted him gone because we'd won nowt despite his 5 year plan and he spent too much time on Sky.

the difference with the side then was the backup players like Lupton had some creativity, same with some of the underrated starting players like Mcmenemy who could kick (on the last tackle etc) if necessary. Now our squad just has workhorses.

as for Mcrae, I'll admit at the time I wondered if he'd taken us as far as he could, but I'd have him back right now, at least the rugby was entertaining to watch and he is a likable person when talking to the media.

completely agree with that assumption...i also thought mcrae had taken us as far as he could, but i would take them days back right now...when we signed people like best and ritchie barnett( the good one) best was a young up and coming winger wanting to earn a deal in the nrl, so he had every reason to play to his maximum, he never missed a game in 2 years!!! and as for burnett, he was one of the best backs in the comp when we signed him, dont get me wrong mcrae still signed afew plodders ie sean ryan etc but our signings now seem awful compared to back then...
but looking at our squad now, the players mcrae had whilst at the club ie: horne,raynor,yeaman,king etc, i ask myself do any of these players have anything to prove to anyone?? they certainly will never be dropped no-matter how bad we play...maybe its time to get rid of afew players who seem not to be putting in a proper shift for fc....

Besty won best winger in the NRL last season

And yet when he came to FC he was a relative unknown.

I'd like to point out I was quoting 'A unknown superstar'. I know full well that Calders isn't fit to clean Besty's boots!

I never said he was. But look at Calders during his time at Leeds, he scored loads of tries and in the 2004 team I'm sure he wouldn't of been for off again.