I don't think there is a real need for a 'world class' halfback.

Looking at the last two genuine World Class halfbacks in the Super League, Johns and Barrett, then we're going back to Sally and Rob's points about players with the 'X-Factor'. With that, however, you sort of end up relying on one man performing miracles. With Johns and Barrett, ourselves and Wigan didn't nessercarily sweep the board, did we?

Now, if we look at successful sides over recent years, the teams such as Bradford, Saints, Leeds, even Hull FC, none of these had what you would term 'world class' halfbacks. Deacon has his critics, he's slow, he doesn't take the line on, etc, Long is constantly 'bagged' by all and sundry, and Saints and Bradford were successful without Pryce at 6, so that arguement doesn't nessercarily stand up.
What such halfbacks did bring to the fore, however, was something that they offered to the team that was perhaps different from what others did, and their attributes were used as part of a team ethic and gameplan.

I see a lot of potential in Pickersgill. I also see him as being good enough to come off the bench as he is now.

Great hitter and a decent runner. He also looks to offload in the tackle but just needs to pick his moments a little better.

Get Darren Lockyer.

Agreed. i'm sure he could handle 2 seasons of superleague, and would put bums on seats.

I couldn't handle another possible false dawn



Brilliant player though!

Its a pitty that Michael Witt isn`t really a flashy/creative stand off as he would certainly solve our goal kicking problems, i suppose if you could pair him up with a world class scrum half then it could work.

Nobody else on that available list really appeals, even Karmichael Hunt doesn`t seem to be kicking on from the sparkling rookie tag to the next level plus he has had his injury problems and off field discipline issues.

hey Rob have you been working at Newcastle Knights?

Did you hear they were going to give Byron Ford a contract for this year - but he got banned for 12 months for failing a drugs test!

Quote ="sally cinnamon"hey Rob have you been working at Newcastle Knights? Did you hear they were going to give Byron Ford a contract for this year - but he got banned for 12 months for failing a drugs test!'" Yeh i read about it, its a strange one .... Whatever next in the NRL after all the goings on of late, Lee Briers to be announced as fitness and defensive coach at Manly ? www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 57961.aspx

Quote ="sally cinnamon"hey Rob have you been working at Newcastle Knights? Did you hear they were going to give Byron Ford a contract for this year - but he got banned for 12 months for failing a drugs test!'" Yeh i read about it, its a strange one .... Whatever next in the NRL after all the goings on of late, Lee Briers to be announced as fitness and defensive coach at Manly ? www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 57961.aspx

I think we should stop looking at the NRL for player recruits.

It would be a massive mistake to stop looking at the NRL completely for player recruits. We just have to find the ones who fit instead of going for the stand out performers. For me the one man I would look at if available is Dallas Johnson from the Melbourne outfit, he is a machine and would definately shake up our ailing defence. From that list though i'd go with David Taylor the giant, plus Matt Orford and Glenn Hall from Manly.

Yes I agree; maybe stop looking altogether is the wrong comment from me! As you say we should look at the right players instead of the obvious players. Look back at when we signed the 'unknowns' Toa Kohe Love, Darren Burns and Nigel Vagana; that is the type of recruitment we need.

wait til next season


mind you we have got to endure the rest of this one!the future under tony smith will be bright,he's the right man to make the changes,he knows who he wants and he'll have the finances.

There's been a hell of a lot of comments on here in the last few months about the problems we've encountered in signing players from overseas and those that have already achieved success and [imight[/i not have the same hunger and ambition as up and coming players.

That all seems to have disappeared!
(Granted, there will always be exceptions.)

Here's the 'Off-Contract' list for the Super League clubs.
Hull KR have got a couple of experienced internationals up for grabs!

I suspect the NRL list will look a whole lot more inviting when you get to the bottom of this post!

Hull KR
Fitzhenry, J Netherton, Welham, Aizue, Fox, Gene, Lovegrove
Bradford
[uLynch[/u, [uSam Burgess[/u Jeffries, Halley, Solomona, Morrison, Cook, Sykes, Tadulala, Menzies, Newton
Castleford
Evans, Feather, Dixon, Higgins, K Netherton, Faumaina, Mike Wainwright (perfect escape goat)
Huddersfield
Kirmond, Griffin, Lolesi, Brown, Hemingway
Hull
Thorman, G Horne, Thackray, Tony, Cusack, Lee, Whiting, Byrne
Leeds
Gibson, Ablett, Senior, Leuluai, Smith, Donald, Worrall
Harlequins
[uPurdham,[/u McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Temata, Grayshon, Haggerty, Howell, Ward, Orr, Melling, Randall
St Helens
Cayless, Cunningham, Gilmour, Gidley, Long
Wakefield
Drew, Blanch, Sculthorpe, Rooney, Blaymire, Bibey, Obst, Martin
Wigan
Coley, Phelps, K Pryce, Mossop, Bailey, Smith

Burgess is under contract til 2011, signed an extension last season

From the NRL- Hunt, Orford. Both on 2 year deals.



From the SL- Purdham, LMS, Fox/Donald.

No.

Get Darren Lockyer.

Not sure.....Wouldn't it just be Alfie Langer again??....Genius playing a 1 man show being backed up by mediocrity??

Personally, on the overseas front I'd love to see our scouts doing their jobs again, and seeking out hungry, ambitious young players, a la Nigel Vagana, Brent Grose, who won't cost a fortune, and who have a point to prove to British AND Australian RL, unlike Matt King or Monaghan, who it seems have had their 'peak' down under.

If we have to have big name signings, I'd prefer we went for Britsh based players, like Saints did with Pryce, and Leeds did with Peacock.

ive got a feeling im gonna be shot but fui fui moi moi??

bang bang

Purdham, Fox, Lynch, Kylie Leuluai.

I'd be happy with them.

Maybe throw in Donald to replace Hicks.

Some of this is embarrassing.

Leave the Australians to drink themselves to death and let's concentrate on making some of our local lads the bedrock of our future.

I love Purdham.

Swear Filter ?

Roooooooooo-neh!
Roooooooooo-neh!
Roooooooooo-neh!