Minichiello has been a really good buy for 'Ull.

Quote ="PurpleCheeseWarrior"but if we want to keep challenging for trophies every year then Lenagan needs to get his wallet out.'" I agree with this. We cannot keep diluting the squad year on year with youth and expect to be challenging for trophies. At the Salford game I was asked "when was our last big overseas signing", obviously we had the 'Melbourne Three' which came over here as a package due to the salary cap saga. But other than that? Last big name signing? Trent Barrett? or Richards possibly? Anyway, it's years ago 4th May 2006 to be precise. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 971418.stm

Quote ="PurpleCheeseWarrior"but if we want to keep challenging for trophies every year then Lenagan needs to get his wallet out.'" I agree with this. We cannot keep diluting the squad year on year with youth and expect to be challenging for trophies. At the Salford game I was asked "when was our last big overseas signing", obviously we had the 'Melbourne Three' which came over here as a package due to the salary cap saga. But other than that? Last big name signing? Trent Barrett? or Richards possibly? Anyway, it's years ago 4th May 2006 to be precise. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 971418.stm

The days of signing the likes of Barrett are gone (or at least they've been placed on hold for a sustained period of time). There isn't enough money in the game to get players to turn their backs of rep games down under. You can get guys like Gidley (at the end of his career) or Sandow (not in rep teams and was having issues) but you won't get those types of players.

I say that but that doesn't mean we should give up totally on recruiting from the NRL if the player is the right one. They don't have to be a rep superstar to be a good player. We've signed guys with good potential to improve in our system who've got great attitudes from over here ala Tony Clubb so why not from the NRL. To my mind we need a big aggressive prop, a winger and a utility back and with the right scouting they could pick up one or two of those from the NRL, without much fuss and for decent money.

Big names help put bums on seats but playing entertaining, winning rugby does that just as well.

Seems he has missed more games than he has played. injury plagued

I understand that due to the fact he has been at the club for more than 10 years only 50% of SOL's salary counts towards the Salary Cap.