Most of those players listed played top flight rugby either with Rovers or other clubs. Indeed as stated, Whetu was an international centre. I reckon they would be a bit upset to be told they hadnt "made it"!

Ali Mac I dont think would have made it in the top flight to be honest, his speed was awsome to watch but remembering the players he was playing against hardly surprising that he took so many long range tries. Put him in the SL as he was then I think he would be found out of position a fair amount.

Oh and Jon Aston didnt have an accident it was a tad bit more aggressive than that!!! But yes he never did come back as the same player but I'm sure he was just glad to be back!

Andy Thompson

Agree with you there Trace, great player. one of my favourites in his day.

a player who i thought was very good in his short time with us was former parramatta player aidrian "rainman" rayney he played 2nd row he looked very good left us to join cas on loan for the SL play offs dont think he settled over here

Was ordinary beyond belief, would never have got anywhere near a SL side.

I agree! Workhorse and never took a backward step, but not a quality player.

Richard Smith - quick with the ball and looked equally comfortable on the wing or at FB.

Byron Ford should have.
Bob Everitt maybe.

One player I always thought was a bit overrated was Chris Charles.

Wildmoose wrote:Throughout the wilderness years in the National Leagues we had a lot of good players come & go. Stan, Wilkin & Raleigh got their chance in Super League, but what of the others? With full-time training, better coaching & better players around them could any of them have developed into SL players? Some suggestions…

Garry Brown -did he play top flight rugby? I did nt think so
Richard Oliver -thought he only played for us in lower league
Alasdair McClarron - never played in top flight
John Okul -did in Oz, after injury the rest is history
Whetu Taewa -made it
Paul Mannson -most of career in lower leagues
Gary Chatfield-yes played for us in top flight, not for long
Neil Wardrobe
Alex Thompson - crap
Jon Aston -top flight with hull, us in the lower leagues
Paul Fletcher -legend
Rob Wilson -most of career in lower league
Adrian Rainey -cant remember him
Andy Smith never played top flight.

Going from my hazy memory. Maybe the Oracle RBA can prove me wrong?!!

It depends what 'made it' means. Rovers had a lot of players play for us for a short period of time, and just because it was a handful of games in the top division I would not say that was 'making it'.

Oh yeah, sorry, forgot he was with Fax.

Remember him going 70-80 metres at Wakefield about '98, class try.

IIRC Rainey already had a fair amount of experience in the NRL with Western Suburbs before signing for you. He was banned for steroid abuse (I think) after winning their young player of the year award, and came to England to try and jump-start his career when the ban was up.

how about mike Fletcher great goal kicker would he had made it

rainey got off to a bad start in his first home game he turned up in just t-shirt shorts and flip flops no boots or kit and not long after that his gf or wife smashed up the car rovers had got him