True, but he was right last week about Mitch Garbutt?

Exactly what Aussies would have said about Ali before he came over then.

Really? He was the best 2nd rower in the NRL when we signed him.

I must be misremembering then. Thought he had the reputation of being outrageously talented but off-form and flaky.

He did. Given up with the game, and hence released by Wariors.

I believe the actual quote was along the lines of "There are more important things in life than winning games of footy".

Which, of course, is absolutely right. He'd fallen out with the Warriors management by that point, but in the season prior to that had been one of the best back-rowers in the NRL competition.

He was voted 2nd row of the year in the NRL in 2002.

NEWCASTLE have offered hodgkinson a 3 year deal which we wants. whilst gold coast have only offered 2 year deal and ive been lead to believe he is happy to go to newcastle

Does that mean Tyrone signs for us?

And Williams was the best attacking 2nd row in the NRL a couple of years ago (and is still quite young), hence the comparison. All a bit moot as its very unlikely he'll be coming given the salary he's supposed to be on.

Cobblers. Ali in 2002 was clearly the best second row in the competition. Williams has never been anywhere near that level. Even at his best he makes one or two big runs in a game with an offload, and is anonymous for the rest of the game. He frustrates every set of fans he plays for because everyone can see he has the raw materials to be awesome and shows it in flashes. He goes entire games without being noticed, which for a guy his size is ridiculous.

And Roberts is still cr*p.

was just updating what hodgekinson had been offered by other teams and didn't state where roberts would do. hodgekinson's agent had spoken to a few super league clubs but since his form in origin and league has improved other nrl clubs are interested.

Hodkinson is still getting subbed by the Dogs. He's similar to Luke Walsh but a better defender. If you've got a big pack he's ideal. If you haven't I'm not sure he'd be anything other than anonymous, although he would at least provide structure.

I thought Hodkinson wanted to stay in NRL, could he move to SL?

Whilst he's being picked for Origin I'd say there's zero chance of him leaving the NRL. Even if the Dogs let him go, there will be a number of NRL sides willing to pick him up.

Rumour is Rhinos are after a quality playmaker from NRL, whose available?

Dunno. Nobody of any quality that's for sure. There's a real shortage of class halfbacks in the NRL ATM - hence the massive fights over Foran and DCE. The salary of a halfback with any talent will currently be astronomical.

I have absolutely no idea why there's continual talk that Leeds would be looking for another halfback for next year. Sutcliffe, McGuire, Burrow plus Lilley seems more than enough in a squad of 25. Besides which IMO Sutcliffe has earned the right to be given shot at replacing Sinfield. If it doesn't work out, sign someone for 2017.

Looks like Foran has opted to honour his Parra contract after all, so that should bring the half-back merry-go-round down a couple of gears.

Fully agree Brisbane.Hopefully Garbutt turns out to be a useful squad member meaning, imo, that we need one more quality prop and next seasons squad would be looking pretty good.Hopefully that is where GH is focusing his attentions.

So a prop would make the squad complete?

We have no quality goal kicker, we have nobody who is even half decent at field kicks, and we have nobody who can control the team around the park.

I just wonder if people realise just what Sinfield has been doing these last 15 years. And yes I know Biff Tannen it wasn't you who said we didn't need a half.

Now if Lilley was the one who had been pushed and had games under his belt so we could see if he was up to it, it might be a different proposition, as he can field kick and he is a quality goal kicker, and he can organise. But Lilley hasn't been pushed to see if he is up to it.

Gotcha, i was agreeing with Brisbane that we don't need to go for a big money half, why do we when we have Sutcliffe and Mcguire who have proven to be a more than competent partnership and Burrow as cover?

The squad wouldn't be perfect even with an Elite Front rower added. but would look well balanced and have plenty of quality in all areas imo. I agree the goal kicking is a bit of a concern but we have been fortunate to have one of the best Goal kicker of all time the last decade and they don't grow on trees.I certainly wouldn't look to buy just any player for his goal kicking alone.

Lest we forget that Sutcliffe has suffered a very serious injury, and there's no guarantee he'll fully recover, and Lilley is only 18/19 so, to me, signing at least one half back is the sensible option.

Although I worry about losing a quality goal kicker, I actually have a greater worry about the field kicking. Without Sinfield kicking we look completely and utterly lost. You look at our half backs and none of them can kick downfield with distance under the cosh. That is a greater need to have than anything else.

The point was if you can get a half back who is a good goal kicker, a good field kicker, and can organise then Christ we have a lot of ticks there. And there is players out there who can do those things (although not the best) at not big money.

Because leeds need someone to control the game. Neither McGuire nor Burrow have that ability and Sutcliffe hasn't demonstrated that ability either.

Who do you think fits this bill - Dureau would be one