He looks like Austin 2020-2021 for me. Occasionally quite good, but nothing like the explosive individual player he was for the first half of 2019.

However, he's probably costing you peanuts compared to the £250k a season we were paying him, so in terms of value-for-money you're probably quids in.

Yeah, good point. Probably a lot less pressure on him.
I was impressed when Kevin Brown said he was the most skilful player he’d ever come across. Can see why, but is clearly still hot and cold……

What did he do today?.. Couple of darting runs aided by a nice sidestep, some nice towering up-and-unders, which the opposition struggled to deal with, or has he added a third string to his sply populated bow?



Hate to sound cynical, but Austin, apart from that opening couple of months in 2019, was a letdown for us and a general waste of some big salary.

As pointed out, if Leeds are getting him 'on the cheap', then all's good if you are content with a monthly (if you're lucky) show of quality, but if you want a consistent, marquee salaried match winner, then I'm steering well clear.

It’s harsh but true, he became a 1 trick pony that other teams soon figured out. Not the worse half ever but was not worth the money he was being paid, fair play to him getting that pay day.

Massive dummy followed by step, high spiral bomb. Nothing much else.

Once teams worked that out and realised he was inept defensively the writing was on the wall for his Wire departure.

To answer your two questions:

1. He'll always have great games, but they'll be few and far between. I don't think he'll ever have a sustained run of form again as he did in the first half of 2019.

2. As other posters have said. He has a brilliant step and a sky-high bomb. Once teams worked that out, he was nullified pretty easily.

In his defence, he had a few injuries and was playing behind an underpowered pack. But still, he didn't end up being worth the money, and (money not being a factor) I wouldn't swap him for Drinkwater, let alone Williams.

He was used as a super sub at Canberra.
And tbh I think that is how he should be used.
Not good enough for a starting gig but his condition from playing in the NRL meant he arrived at Wire fit and hungry with a fire to show the NRL what they will be missing…
It meant he was unbeatable in our competition, until he got injured.
He became unfit, carrying a bit of a belly that he never lost afterwards, loosing his much of his most effective gift, lightening pace off a sidestep and upper body strength to power through,m.
He had skill, the likes of what I’ve never seen since Jonathan Davis and Phil Blake.
We asked him to do the job of controlling the game, but he just couldn’t do it….he was a finisher, not a play creator.

He had an excellent all round game v Cats. ... I haven't seen him play as well as that ever. Good luck to him. At Wire he started like a bomb but struggled due to injury, over-worked & lack of an in form half-back partner. Nice to see him enjoying himself.

I remember him early doors v Hull away having a blinder and he looked like heir apparent to Briers, then a couple of injuries and he was never the same again.

He was superb 2nd half v Cats but they lost Tyrone May who was giving them big problems at stand off and they bizarrely imploded when Leeds went to 12 men.

I won't hold my breath for an Austin renaissance, and neither should Leeds.

Good luck to him. I’m happy with our half backs.
I’m surprised that he and Sezer are good mates from way back as they look like strangers on the pitch!

never would have put money on their being a blake austin thread this year

I agree but to be fair it was started by a Leeds fan and there's always plenty of interest in "Old Boys"

I honestly think he’s one of the most talented players I’ve seen at Leeds, but agree again is just one off games….

Not sure if you're aware but he won his parents a car when he was a junior by scoring a miraculous wonder try, not dissimilar from some that he scored in the early days for Warrington. His parents sold the car to buy a proper house away from the projects and start a new life. I'm sure that try is on YouTube somewhere.

He's probably too old now, but when he was at peak fitness and didn't feel any responsibility for running the show, he could spark into life with some real x-factor stuff. That really doesn't seem suited to Rohan Smith though, and it only really works if the opposition aren't drilled to close him down as soon as he gets the ball. I just can't see him getting back to that form TBH. Likeable character in the community though.

He's no george Williams in the skill factor

Wow, great story and easy to see that will have happened….

Sorry but miles more skill full than Williams. Not as good at other aspects though of course……

Don't take drugs kids.

Aye, that hopeful up and under or the dummy/sidestep trick really are the peak of skills for what half backs can offer...

He does have a very wide range of lamentable passes to be fair

Them rocket passes to no one at point blank range.

I assumed that Shabino was referring purely to Austin’s footwork? Which occasionally is very good and more fancy than Williams. Other than that, well…

Michael Flatley has some fantastic footwork, but I wouldn't say that makes him more skilful than Williams, rugby-wise?

Maybe he was referring to Austin's collection of trainers?