So would I Mr O Exile, especially after reading about Asotasi and his leadership qualities, something that will definately be our loss/Salford's gain with Morley moving on. For me what this also highlights is the great success that Chris Hill has been, he's looked the part from Day 1. So much so that it will allow any new recruits especially younger ones to bed in.

(BTW confession time, I misread your moniker when I started on the forum and was completely underwhelmed/baffled by anyone claiming to be an exile in Orford)

indeed...exiled in Orford is quite a different proposition to Oxford....NOT that I am having a pop at Orford before anyone starts.

Well, I will probably get my testicles cut off for saying it, but I am not convinced he would make the yardage at prop. I am envisaging England as replacement for Coops, Asotasi for Morley, which would leave Harrison replacing Carvell. Would he make as much ground as Carvell ? If we manage to keep Riley (yes please ), then he will be making a big step up and learning the ropes, so I don't think we can see him as a replacement for any of the leavers. I know Hill managed it, but he was both older, more experienced and an exception. All just IMO.

I thought glenn riley had signed for new Zealand warriors

I've never heard of him, but then again I didn't know who Andrew Johns was.
If they don't play for or against the P & B I pay them no heed.

I have heard of both Billy Slater & Cooper Cronk thou.

Walter - Has Riley not signed for new Zealand warriors then?

I thought it was a done deal.

be great if it turns out to be a load of tosh.

I heard a rumour today the Glenn Riley had signed a new contract, hope this is true as he looks like a real prospect.

Just had a look on a well known video site. Whilst I know even Saddened could look good on there, there are some great hits and quality tackle bursts. I'm as excited as when we signed Matt King.

Rubbish.

It was reported by a couple of websites down under that NZW had signed a young prop and "it is thought to be" Glenn Riley. There was never any official confirmation.

Whilst we are talking contracts for next year, one name seems to be missing - a certain Sir Lee Briers! I'd be begging him to stay on for as long as he can keep going! As long as its medically safe of course, with his neck injury. Getting used to him no longer being a player will be very strange after all these years!

I've watched every Souths game this season because I wanted to follow the progress of the Burgess brothers. In all honesty, Roy has looked average and doesn't really stand out on the pitch that much.
However, that might just be because of how dominant George and Sam Burgess are during matches, Roy may well seem average by comparison. Jeff Lima also plays in the same side, and he also looks decidedly average.
Lima did quite well over here so it will be interesting to see how Roy goes next season.

Could it be possible that you guys made an offer to Anthony Tupou, got knocked back and went after Roy as a backup? Who knows.

We needed a forward though, so even if he's average he is better than none.

Clutching at straws a little there.

Hmm, hard as it will be to say goodbye to Lee the time's approaching fast. With the improvement of Myler in recent years into a more complete half back, Stef coming on leaps and bounds and GoB waiting in the wings it'll either be this season or next that Sir Lee hangs up the boots. May well depend on if we win anything this year but we don't want to miss out on bringing GoB on just to keep Lee out on the paddock. Astonishing to think that just two seasons ago we'd have been totally sunk without Lee, now we've played most of a season without him and are still looking good.

There hasnt been one game where I've watched Lee Briers and thought. "He's past it". He doesn't need any pace, as he's never really had any. His game is all based around his ability to out-smart the opposition. He's similar for me in football terms to David Beckham - no pace, but never lost his ability to be smarter than his opposite number with his quality play. IMO he can play on easily for another 2/3 years.

On the signing of Roy I think its a really positive move, a more than capable replacement for Morley. Looking forward to watching him play

I'm actually very excited about this signing... The intensity in his game may have dropped off over the last few season.. But a new challenge and a move to a new country could be just what's needed to re-ignite the fire inside.

It wasn't that long ago he was being talked about as one of, if not the best prop in the world and captain of the All Blacks.

Lets be honest, its not like we have signed Ben Cross here.

That's next weeks announcement out of the bag then

double signing with Josh perry

" Hello, is that Mr Moran ?, I believe you are still looking for a couple of good signings for next year. Well my name is Josh Per... hello,hello, are you still there ?" Funny, we seem to have been cut off.

Will he even count as a quota space?

isnt there some weird rule around Samoans... or am i imagining it?

If you wan't the technical answer;

Cotonou country passport holders are, as a consequence of the European Court of Justice’s 2003 ‘Kolpak’ ruling, given free movement to work within the European Union (and therefore the UK).
- The Kolpak judgment declared that citizens of countries that have signed agreements with the European Union, have the same right to freedom of work and movement within the EU as EU citizens (subject to any visa restrictions)
- Thus any restrictions placed on their right to work (such as quotas setting maximum numbers of such foreign players in sports teams) are not compatible with EU law.

So if he holds a Samoan passport, he falls under the Cotonou agreement, and hence does not fall under the quota rules. So you are correct.

We got there in the end..

you would think the Captain of Samoa has a Samoan passport.

wouldn't you?