I actually don't think it was a bad decision, just needed some decent wing play.

He will do a great job for us.

Even if he had had a great game, been faultless in defense, topped the tackle count, scored the winning try and won man-of-the-match, the trolls would still have been on here picking faults and saying how he was a 'bad' signing.
I prefer to wait and see what he does when he get's over here.


Changing topic - Billy Slater - what a great player !

I was fortunate to spend time working in Melbourne several times over recent years and was able to see Billy in live action for M Storm during 2007 / 2008.
Truly an outstanding talent.

I think people are going OTT on his performance today. The only real mistake that stood out was the kick he dropped early that lead to a try.

He was no worse than most the kiwis. It's just all the doom and gloom people looking a bagging him because he's signed for saints.

I thought the 15 for the kiwis had a great game.

I suppose, in that the winger should have come in. But I think they were playing too close to the line for that pass to be a sound one. However, that (possibly poor) decision plus one dropped ball hardly constitutes a poor player at any level, does it? I don't know what people are talking about.

I'm looking forward to seeing him in the red vee. That pace and that sidestep - yes please!

Sorry if this was posted earlier but Justin Hodges was a big threat for Aussies today. Every time Shenton had played against him , that threat has been non existant. We gave u a diamond...polish him
!!

I actually didn't think he did that bad, he made a couple of mistakes but he also showed some class. You can't judge a player on one performance.

Hadn't even noticed tbh.

I agree with the positive sentiments on here. He was awful going up for that early bomb but, as has already been suggested, he wasn't perfect which links to the question, who is when playing against Australia? His movement to escape out of the in goal was nothing short of sensational almost Demetriou-esque.

He is fast, agile and definitely has good awareness and having had initial reservations about him playing in the halves I don't now. He could play 6 or 1 and give us something extra with the ball.

I do my best to watch every game every week! Obviously I miss bits but its repeated that much I get to see enough to know he has been very average this season. But I still think he will turn out to be a good signing for you guys. Bug the poster is right he has been off the boil for quite a bit.

I do tend to watch alot of the NRL games too and being completely honest, this season, he doesn't stand out like one of those unbelievable talents that make you lose sleep at the thought of seeing him in the redvee. That said, knowing the strength of the competition, I'm sure it will be a different kettle of fish in SL.

As people have said, his experience will be invaluable to the young guys and he will have a new enthusiasm for the game which will see him step up a gear.

Going slightly O/T if you wanted to see unbelievable freakish talent at FB, Josh Dugan played in the City v Country match yesterday and outplayed Hayne. He's made a handful of appearances for Canberra and may make the NSW team after that performance. Uate (winger from Newcastle) played too and carried on his club form. Look out for him on May 25, Fijian born, built like a brick SH and fast as F - you want to see him return kicks! Michael Jennings too was simply sensational.

Let's face it. If he was an unbelievable talent, he wouldn'tbe coming over on the current climate. The best value players are those who aren't at their peak but have the potential to improve to levels we have seen before and know they are capable of. I have mo problems with saints following this strategy .

Exactly, noone will be getting top tier NRL players in their prime over here unless its exceptional circumstances ala Lyon

2007 was a rubbish year for Paul Wellens. But last season he was outstanding. Players' form can vary, including by the season. I have no idea whether what people are saying on here about Hohaia is accurate because I haven't watched NRL matches this season but assuming what is being said IS accurate, form comes and goes but class is always there and he showed some class in the Anzac test, and in a position he said he was 'made' to play in rather than one where he feels he is strongest (6).

Based on what I saw yesterday I'm very happy Hohaia is joining us.

That might change if the Aussies abandoned the policy of banishing all who play elsewhere from rep honours. And in turn that is probably why they don't abandon it!

its more to do with the salary cap and exchange rate, the top players are creeping towards £400k down under, which is roughly a quarter of the cap here, a team would be mad to spend that on one player

Hohaia certainly seems to be a player who divides opinion.
[urlhttp://forum.nzwarriorsonline.com/showthread.php?t=13226[/url

You've uprooted a 3 year old thread.

Really?

You really are a grade one idiot. And you say you're not a troll?

you're losing you're touch old chap, should we uproot an old thread from when pat richards arrived at wigan and your fans were bagging him?

Go on. Please! And then post it on the Wigan board.

unlike the free speech we allow (to a point Rogue and others!) here, some boards are considerably more "right wing" and would ban me in seconds lol!

Cherry and White is like the Soviet Union - you tow the line or you disappear




Can they actually ban other mods?

theres only one way to find out!

but more importantly, i'm not going to spend my day searching for any old article i can find that puts a wigan player in a bad light, i have better things to do with my time

I can remember the threads , Richards was useless (which he was as a centre), then there was the O'Loughlin out threads too (quite popular IIRC). Funny how things change.


If you wanna test the ban situation just pop on there and create a thread about them cheating their way out of relegation

In fact I seem to recall some saying he was the worst import Wigan ever had!