It was a joke, he is a poster, who is a Newcastle Knights fan, very knowledgeable about the NRL and the knights, slightly naive about SL, as he thinks just about every NRL player even reserves would be successful in SL.

On topic, Rovers generally seem to do very well with imports, particularly half back, they must ahve some very good contacts in the NRL.

Agree you do. Wish we had Kelly. But even so you still struggle in theleague and have the last few years .you seem to spend up on the salary cap although to be fair nobody kknows . We get absol slated yet could Finnish higher.

We struggle because we don't have strength in depth, although this is getting better with some good displays from Ollett, Green and salter recently. In years past, the loss of such a player as Campo would have ended our season, but we have got just as good a pairing (albeit a different playing style) in Blair and Kelly. I like the addition of the lad from Leeds, if we can get a few young British players in and reduce the reliance on overseas players in key (expensive) positions, we should see upward movement over the next few years. Stability s also a key factor, we cannot keep having mass changes to the squad, if we can keep Campo, Kelly, Blair and the other top players for a few seasons without flogging then to a top 4 club, we will be ok.

I think our luck with NRL players is Phill Lowe? he is still well regarded from his time down under & has a a lot of good contacts among the sides there, plus our ex players network.

Yeah I think our network is likely Phil Lowe, plus combinations of ex players/coaches. We have had varying degrees of success with people brought over from the NRL in the SL era, of the NRL signings I remember...

Success - Kelly, Dobson, Green, Burns, Campese, Galea, Newton, Vella, Weyman, Paea, Sio, Lovegrove (for the money most probably success)
Passable - Paterson, Costigan, Fitzhenry, Jake Webster, McDonnell
Fail - Mika, Tuimavave, Crossman, Mason, Clinton, Keating

Jury out - Blair, Mantellato, Allgood, Tilse - all have shown promise so far

My 'jury' on Blair is definately not still out, he is a quality player

I disagree with Rover and Out and agree with Rover 49. Blair one of the signings of the season for me and I am chuffed to nuts that he is coming back again next year. Definite success.

If we had another 12 players on the park at any time alongside him with half his defensive capability, we would be in the top 4.

I think Blair has been good and it wasn't a sleight on his ability - Just as I think Allgood and Mantellato have been good too, whilst Tilsey has been steady.

My thinking was more if they left the club tomorrow would I consider them to have had a successful stint - I honestly feel Campo, Kelly and Sio can claim that from this year to date, I wasn't so sure on the ones I had the jury out on.

Bit harsh on Mantelato, think he's been really good and imagine he's not on a lot of cash. We seem to have the best pair of wingers we've has in years.

True and as Welham seems to have regained his form, its such a shame that Goulding had to retire. That would have been a very good back line.

For me blair and mantellato have been stand outs this season.

In pure value for money terms, Mantellato has possibly been the best of the lot.

Tommy has been one of our best buys this season .......After seeing his performances for Italy within the last world cup I said that he should be playing within the Super League, and how ecstatic was I when we revealed that he had signed for us after years of us enduring that the wing position was almost assigned as a non position and comparable to giving the fat kid a game within the amateurs ......We love Tommy!

I think most of the guys who have done well for you have been guys who are youngish fringe players from the NRL, rather than old guys who once were stars. Dobson and Mantellato are great examples. Both guys with plenty of skill and plenty to offer, but couldn't quite lock down an NRL spot. Both probably signed with you for next to nothing just to make a name for themselves.

The NSW cup and the Qld cup are full of guys like those.

Old guys like Mason and Costigan would want big money, and are probably only about the same chance of being good as a young guy like Kelly or Sio who is in and out of firstgrade.

If I were a player manager I'd try to organise a team of NSW and Qld cup players to tour the UK in the per season - basically looking for contracts. The best 20 or so players in the NSW cup every year would be quality firstgraders in ESL. Many of them still have the dream of making NRL, but many would be happy to play firstgrade and make money in the ESL.

I like what you say Roopy but it will never happen and if it did people would say what about the home grown player never mind Aussies

If this nsw cup team played against england, we may have a concept...

Who's "Tommy"?

He sure plays a mean pinball

I think it's the Italian for Josh

Sorry, it's that old ridiculous nickname culture again borne after a few beers .....Josh Mantellato becomes Josh Mantomato, and Mantomato becomes tomato .....hence Tommy .....That's what some sections of the East stand affectionately call him .....We love Tommy!

Ah, ok........

I clearly don't stand anywhere near the Italian section of the East Stand. It's very clever though.

I stand in the East stand and this is the first time I've heard this.
I think its crap.

Geez ....Lighten up .....We're only having a laugh!

He seems to have a million nicknames
The funniest one is Lolly legs, which comes from a drunken Wests Tigers fan who used to be at every lower grade Wests Tigers game and loved to get as close as he could to the kicker and taught him. Someone got it on film when he was giving it to Josh and it was shown on the footy show.
If you look up lolly legs Mantellato on youtube you can see the clip.

Lolly legs is a chant used in Australian rules football to put kickers off supposedly.

When it comes to Mantellato's nicknames I seem to be forever playing ketchup.











I'll get my coat.