We do not even know for sure that we were even in for him he has played under Holbrook before so probably was tapped up shortly after Holbrook given the job.

Am I sad he has not signed for us a little, but we've seen the current trend of the nrl stars with off the field issues and should have learnt our lesson.

I find it ironic at how the stains fans reacted to hock and now the joy at signing someone who should face a 12 week ban. It may not due to a loophole in the where and who tested him. Good to have him in the league but I not distraught he is not playing for us next year

Hopefully a bullet dodged

Don't shoot the messenger....
4 serve balls them. Everyone shot off the spot at goal.
They don't all go in...but they were all penalties.
In other words, we were in for all off them.

With only 2 marquee spots and none available...it would have took a small rusk on final appearances to guarantee a bigger pay out to Barba than that he'll get from Saints.

What???? Absolute king of obfuscation.

Ambiguous

Just glad Ratch is staying for sure though

Maybe it was the Ratchford staying factor that put him off coming

I find the way robbie duckie was so aggressive towards me when he was adamant warrington had signed him really weird. Think you need some help mate or stay off the drugs

Agressive? What you on about? I merely tickled you.

Either way, it was weird behaviour.

Weird?....Anyways....the closer Barba is to Parr...the less weird his behaviour would look.

Hats off to Saints.

With regards to ambition they walk the walk as well as talk it.

Seems that we were one of 2 teams making serious play for Barba. So Saints had something more to offer, whether it was more money or a connection with their new coach and therefore won out.
I suspect Saints were more desperate than we were. Their support has been extremely disappointed in the team, their style and (up until recently) their coach for much longer than the Wire support. The Boards concern was undoubtedly that gates were suffering and therefore were prepared to offer more than us on what is basically a throw of the dice.
What are the odds on a player who has left in disgrace settling in? The only one I can think of was Joel Monaghan and he had the support of his brother AND his problem was not drug related. Look how long it often takes players who chose to leave the NRL to settle in.
Don't get me wrong I would have enjoyed the excitement of seeing Barba in the P n B but I won't be losing sleep over his non signing (just yet).

we have two Marquee spots used.....



two marquee players and we are 8th

What about Jamie Lyon ? I think looking your only looking at Wire signings

He hardly left in Disgrace....a bit unprofessional maybe, he just didnt want to play for Brian Smith and was a bit petulant about it.

But by all accounts he wasn't the only player who didnt like Smiths coaching methods and wanted out.....

I think you'll find that the only marquee player we've had to date is Chris Sandow.

We have two marquee spots.
One is Clark and the other is otherwise reserved....ANO

Totally wrong.

His girlfriend at the time (who is now his wife) suffered a miscarriage. Parramatta gave him a little time off but then asked him to play the first game on the season. He played and had a real shocker. He walked away from the sport straight after that game because he deemed family more important. He left the biggest salary to ever be given to a player of that age in Rugby league.

Lyon stuck it out despite being a real home bird. The only thing he would eat over here was marmite butties.

Listening to a recent interview from Barba and his management I feel Barba is finished with the NRL. The pressure is too much for him and his achieved everything he wanted to do. His now moved his 4 young kids from Oz to France and now to England in the space of a short time. I have a feeling he will see out his contract. Sandow was a little different he had no family support over here.

Read my post again. I said players who had left in disgrace I don't think JL left in disgrace. So looking at the whole of SL can you tell me of a player who left in disgrace that has been a success?

PS I limit it to SL to keep it recent, and to avoid having to explain the Les Boyd phenomenon!

In a strange way I hope he does stick it out and make a success over here as it may persuade NRL players who are not past their sell by date/damaged goods, to consider SL as an option.

Anthony Gelling left in disgrace. He settled in well and is successful.

So let me get this straight. According to Rubber Donedeal, we have a marquee signing in Clarke.

Our other marquee player then was to be both nailed on Ben Bara, and the again already signed shock new centre/half ??

No you haven't got straight.

Other than me saying "done deal" which was not quite so true...it obvious nothing got signed and was more talks. Rumour came my way it to be further advanced than reality.
However, that still doesn't mean it was made up and I'm a serial liar.

Are many of you so blinkered to think we didn't have serious talks with Barba??

Barba was never going to be a marquee....who would swap Clark for Barba?....come on! Who is more valuable? let's see how dumb some of you really are!