It was more that the supply of good players from Aus dried up, due to increased salary cap over there and less attractive exchange rates making it much harder for English clubs to sign players.

You could probably do a similar analysis of Saints, Wigan over a similar time period and see some rather underwhelming signings in the last few years compared to the blue chip signings from before. Steve Price is signing from the same market and guys like Lama Tasi, Matt Davis, Jake Mamo are also high risk players who seem similar to the type that TS was signing in his later years. Even the bigger name signings we are making now, like Roberts and Austin, are players coming over with question marks rather than guys with proven consistent track records at the top like Monaghan, King and Hodgson.

The interesting comparison in terms of recruitment from 2013 onwards is Cas - who were in a much worse position than us, bottom of the league and bust (hence having to sell Clark to us) and yet they recruited well from the same market we were shopping in to make themselves a very good side. So it can be done.

Still, we should remember that in the past three seasons we have made four finals and one one league leaders' shield, which in the context of Warrington RLFC history means we are probably coming in to 2019 on the back of one of the best three-year spells in our history....

Would he choose the Giants over us? https://www.zerotackle.com/two-english- ... dop-39199/

Would he choose the Giants over us? https://www.zerotackle.com/two-english- ... dop-39199/

Quote ="karetaker"Would he choose the Giants over us? https://www.zerotackle.com/two-english- ... dop-39199/'" I don't believe anything zerotackle invents. Anyways....your right 'why would he?' He wouldn't if he wants success. However....if your in the business of trying to sell season tickets and get trade paper column inches...wouldn't you want to have your name batted about signing top players.

Quote ="karetaker"Would he choose the Giants over us? https://www.zerotackle.com/two-english- ... dop-39199/'" I don't believe anything zerotackle invents. Anyways....your right 'why would he?' He wouldn't if he wants success. However....if your in the business of trying to sell season tickets and get trade paper column inches...wouldn't you want to have your name batted about signing top players.

Quote ="rubber duckie"I don't believe anything zerotackle invents. Anyways....your right 'why would he?' He wouldn't if he wants success. However....if your in the business of trying to sell season tickets and get trade paper column inches...wouldn't you want to have your name batted about signing top players.'" They got it right about Ben Barba https://www.zerotackle.com/st-helens-si ... 019-27553/

Quote ="rubber duckie"I don't believe anything zerotackle invents. Anyways....your right 'why would he?' He wouldn't if he wants success. However....if your in the business of trying to sell season tickets and get trade paper column inches...wouldn't you want to have your name batted about signing top players.'" They got it right about Ben Barba https://www.zerotackle.com/st-helens-si ... 019-27553/

Once it had been announced already

This

"Cashed up Huddersfield" raised my eyebrows.
Anything is possible until a club announcement is made, and not forgetting that Barba was strongly linked with the Wire before moving elsewhere.

Cashed up Huddersfield? How the HELL are Huddersfield "cashed up"?
Has their finance director started robbing banks?
Has a high ranking club official's wife" sold her body" on the Town Hall steps?
It's not as if McGillivray has been flogged for mega bucks
Their attendances look like the friends of Margaret Thatcher have turned up in a Welsh mining village.

The only way Hudds are cashed up, is by that fella who found his £76 million Euro lottery ticket behind his sun visor, being particularly philanthropic

Mate he really took the perverbial. Embarrassed SJM at Newcastle no end.

.....and one should hope that a lesson will have been learned.

They have a very rich owner, who I’m sure pumps far more in to Huddersfield than SJM does to us. If Huddersfield (Davy) wanted to they could easily better any sensible offer we wanted to make to Widdop.

Can't argue with you pal.
He pumps money like confetti into Huddersfield subsidising so much with zero chance of a return, unlike our owners who are able to take back some investment.
Ken Davy is a good owner and a good man.

How was SJM embarrassed ?

He learned that Rubber Duckie was considerably richer than him, who then insisted on getting the drinks in.

:-0

Now confirmed Drinkwater to HKR. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46701865

Now confirmed Drinkwater to HKR. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46701865

Talks to be a Wire progressed and keen with Widdop. No contract yet so it could go pear shaped but 100% won't be going Giants.
He comes to Wire or he stays at St George which tbh is doubtful now ST G have signed Corey Norman.

You usually get it right LW, so hopefully hear it from the club soon.

Agreement handshake.
Terms of contract to be made.
Clark paid marquee money in advance of next year, loophole.

https://mobile.twitter.com/9_Moley So what to make of that,it’s why I never take much notice of so called done deal’s till it’s official.

https://mobile.twitter.com/9_Moley So what to make of that,it’s why I never take much notice of so called done deal’s till it’s official.

Very specific wording by Widdop's dad.
Take the ducks word or not he is going to be a Wire. Clark is one very wealthy guy this season with a windfall in the 2nd marquee spot with a huge chunk of next seasons money bagged up with this season's.

No such thing as a done deal, until a contract has been signed. Even then, it can all turn pear shaped, as in the case of the late David Myers.

Or Gareth Carvell...

Or we could be relegated - and he may not then come over, or we couldn't afford him as per David Peachey at Widnes.
A tad gloomy for 1st January, but a possibility after all.

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-the-mo ... af150f38a3

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-the-mo ... af150f38a3