Lets hope this Jacks turns out to be a shining star - think we're due some luck on our "punts"

Have to say I had to look him up and I still cannot find much footage of him other than playing for Canada in a 9's comp.

There is an interview with him about how he's proud to be representing Canada here... [urlhttp://www.qrl.com.au/news/2015/11/13/world_cup_dreams.html[/url

For me the response to the question asked on 30 seconds is a classic.... "My grandad who I get the heritage through isn't alive at the moment"???

Lets hope that changes and he become alive again as it is just "at the moment" apparently!!!

Looks like we have a bright spark there!!!

May just be a good bit of business this by Bradford. He's on trial,so if it doesn't work out we have plenty of time to get the right player in.

Reading some comments about him from those who have seen him play, they think it could be a good signing for us. He's a natural 7 who can fill in at hooker which is what we were crying out for! Not a centre/LF/hooker who can player 7.

From reading his interview he sees his main strengths as his kicking game (which we needed) and his organisation. So sounds promising.does anyone know if he can kick goals too?

He could turn out to be another Siejka/Herbert but difference is we've not given him a 2 year deal.

Looking forward to seeing how he goes. And if it doesn't work out, we have until July to get the right man!

Couldn't have put it better

We've been looking for a decent 7 since we let O'Brien go back on his deal with us, can't help feel disappointed that we still haven't properly rectified this weakness. I love the optimism but Ferres hasn't exactly impressed with his recruitment of Aussie unknowns so far.

The biggest positive is we haven't handed out another 2 year deal but if he isn't good enough or his visa isn't granted then I fully expect to see Addy back at 7 whilst we hope that a better option becomes available.

Or were we that desperate to sign a scrum half that the fans are just happy that we've signed somebody?

Considering we already have Thomas, Addy and Purtell to cover the position. I'm inclined to believe that we're hoping Ferres strikes gold on this one.

To me, the good thing about this signing is that I can't imagine Jimmy signing him without talking to Brian Mac as he chose him for the test side. Mac must have given him a decent report on the lad. This gives me some confidence that we have had a good second opinion about him. Can you imagine Mac telling Jimmy to sign him if he thought he was poor?
I think what we need at the moment is a decent organiser not necessarily a world star. I think Deacs was one of our best halves but the kicking helped him make a big name for himself. I thought his general scrum half play was good but not great but that was what we needed as we had Robbie to be the twinkle toes of the team - a little like Gaskell. So if he turns out to be a hard working organiser he might just do a good job for us.

Brian Mac didnt choose him for the test side unless he was picking opposition team too. Brian Mac coached USA, Jacks played for Canada



That said I'd guess we'll have asked BC his opinion of him having seen him play live.

Well the Kyle Wood rumour can pretty much go away now. He's been given squad number 15 by Huddersfield, so they clearly think he's going nowhere.


(Admittedly Ferres has been given 11 despite being transfer listed, but the point remains)

Luckily the guy is here to play rugby, not appear on Eggheads.

We'll soon be able to see for ourselves, apparently

Guess in your view you don't need any intelligence to be able to read games, understand tactics and communicate with the rest of the team then?

to be honest, there are many sports stars, very skilled, highly regarded and effective sportspeople, across many different sports, who come across as not the sharpest knife in the box.

Intelligence? innate skill? 'Differently' skilled? I don't pretend to know the answer and I truthfully don't have a clue, but there's clearly a difference between most scientist and doctor etc types and a lot of sports people, musicians or artists.

I agree. If he can steer the team around the field and is a good communicator within the team, I don't care whether he makes the odd slip when being interviewed. Good luck to the lad.

If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid

Well it never did Jamie Peacock any harm did it?

Admittedly he became more articulate later in his career but during his Bradford days he sounded like a seal chewing on a penguin during his interviews.

Our own coach and club legend Mr J Lowes was hardly a mastermind contender either.

Therefore, no, I do not see it as being a high priority in RL to be able to quote the works of Kafka.

Isn't that a type of kebab?

Yeah I don't do culture.

Yeah, of course you do, everyone does culture, it is, after all, infinitely varied and the world is full of different cultures and sub-cultures, even within one society.

I do like kebabs though.

Some kebabs are best avoided. According to my man on the inside at Porton Down that goes for some cultures as well.

I see Jacks is going to arrive a full two weeks before the season starts due to him having to obtain a visa! Can't help but think an organizing s/h needs more time to get upto speed in a new competition, new country etc!!

With the new format as it is he has first 22 games to get up to speed for middle 8s.

To be fair, it's not just 2 weeks. He was here before Christmas too.

For no more than 2 weeks i would suggest