From today's LoveRL:
Kostjacyn UK-bound?
North Queensland hooker Rory Kostjacyn is considering a stint in Super League starting next year. The 28-year old rake, who debuted with Melbourne in 2010, has been with the Cowboys since 2013. With a number of North Queensland teammates set to stay in Townsville, such as James Tamou, Antonio Winterstein and Lachlan Coote, Kostjacyn may be forced out. He has mostly been appearing off the bench, with Jake Granville preferred as the starting number 9. With an Irish passport, Kostjacyn would not take up a visa spot in Super League.

Should/would we be interested in him to replace Falloon?
He seems to fulfil the GH criterion of not taking up a visa spot at least.

Pronounced "Cost-ah-Jin" ?

"Cost-Jack-In"

Eastern European parents?

Costjason is I believe the pronunciation

Rory - Irish mother/grandparents on mother's side?

Cheers.

It's a weird one innit? Loads of Aussies have weird names don't they. Falloon for christ sake.

He's a good player. Even though he only plays 30 minutes a week for NQ he's been an underated part of their success. Only leaving because they can't fit all their star's contracts under their cap and he's disposable because they think Granville - who's the best young hooker in Oz and will replace Smith for Qld/Aus within a couple of years - can start playing 80.

I'd be happy if we signed him (if we're not getting Clark...)

At this point in time it wouldn't take much to be an upgrade on Falloon. Hell, i would take McShane back right now in an exchange. Says a lot about his performances that people are not bothered about him being out of the 17 and for Burrow to play 9 from the start(although Rob has been very good recently).

We need an 80 minute hooker and do away with the pre match tactic of utilising two. That should be the first requirement of our next move. The next priority to that is that he must be able to defend in the middle, and be damn good at it.

I agree with you, but where does that leave Burrow? his days in the halves are done.

First step is surely to do what is right for the team rather than individuals?

I think signing Kostjaycn would give us the option of still having Burrow off the bench as Kostjaycn is comfortable doing a stint at 13 and a lot of tackles.

Of course that is depending on Burrow continuing to show his recent up turn in form. It's also worth bearing in mind if we follow the NRLS interchange reduction the bench hooker could become a thing of the past anyway.

Another one for the misspelling brigade to get wrong 100% of the time which appears to be the case already



Still, Brian McClennan was Leeds coach for 3 seasons and hardly anyone ever spelt his name correctly so next to no chance with this one.

The could of's, would of's and should of's brigade need not bother.

TIA

That's a disappointing response, no mention of second rate Aussies coming over here? Is mis-spelling his name the best you can come up with?

if gary does the deal and brings this kid over to the rhinos then its a big thumbs up from me

What kind of response were you hoping for?

Nothing much interesting or exciting has taken place in Super League for over a decade. That's how long the Super League concept has been in decline, year on year.

What were the last signings that anyone could get excited about? Lauitiiti in 2004 from a Leeds supporting POV. Jamie Lyon to St Helens in 2005. Sweet FA since. And even in those two examples of quality signings, they only became available due to personal issues back home and lack of options.

It was only a few weeks ago I highlighted the austerity surrounding the salary cap and the complete lack of a transfer market between top Super League clubs. Nothing since Peacock and Fielden buggered off from Bradford over a decade ago to join Leeds and Wigan respectively.

Rory Kostjasyn (like all other Super League signings over the past decade) registers next to nothing of interest, excitement or alteration in facial expression. News of such a signing would be in the "Oh..." category prior to being very quickly forgotten. Even a shrug would be an overreaction.

I was pretty chuffed with Bedsy and Eastwood when they were announced.

also Webb and Toopi although he was a let down but came with a big reputation.

from my POV the serious decline started around the turn of the decade. We haven't had a star turn from the NRL join the club during Mcdermotts Tenure.Cuthbertson has probably been the best but his reputation over there was far from superstar level and and i don't recall news of his signing being greeted with many 'wow' reactions.

There were plenty on this forum who weren't best pleased with either of those two signings.

Mentioning nobody in particular of course.

I said we should have signed him in the thread from last year speculating who our next 9 might be!

I still think we should be after him. Real solid defender which should be the first tick in the box for any new signings as our D is fooking woeful!

Ever thought of pi$$ing off then if you dislike it so much?

Another relative plodder but at least comes from a club with a better culture than the Titans. I'd expect a few NRL sides would be interested though.