You would think they had been in talks for a while and didn't just agree to sign him this week.

Either way, I doubt he is on £250k ish (marquee 150k plus 73k) so we should have some wiggle room.

I'm confused why you are panicking about this. You have both French and Hardaker who cannot both play FB. Its clear that's where Zaks heart is and what better incentive for him to behave himself than offer him the No 1 spot and play French in the halves, after all that's why you signed him......

Clarke is apparently on his way out but we've re-signed Tommy and brought 2 NRL players in. I think that's all 7 quota spots filled.

Isa
Tommy
Mago
Ellis
Miski
Field
French

Well, that's just urinated on my pomme frites then, hasn't it?

What home grown half back could we potentially be looking at?

4 that have been mentioned either with links or wishful thinking are:

Gale- cracking on, will be on big bucks and still has a year to run on his contract at Leeds, Hetherington also says he’s staying.
Trueman- I believe he is going Warrington next year? Is still under contract this year so would command a fee.
Abdull- Not long ago signed a new long term deal so again would command a few
Mellor- Extended his deal with Leigh for next year

Is there any in the championship we might take a punt on? We really look short of any viable options and have mismanaged our overseas quota. The only other option I can think of is Hampshire but he’s never really played stand off his whole senior career.

French has played hardly any games at stand off, and wasn't that convincing when he did play there to be honest. I think we just signed him as a talented player and thought we would decide what to do with him once we got him. That's what they said at the time anyway and seems to be how it has panned out.

Maybe coke-head Cam Munster will be available?

Next step down under will be a bonus for taking it. Didn’t I read recently the young fullback at NZ Warriors got a two week ban?

Barba got caught twice and did about a month on the sidelines. It’s an absolute embarrassment to the game over there. Guys like Hock and Hardaker were born in the wrong country.

Yeah, it's crazy, isn't it?

You'll be referring to 'whizz-kid' Reece Walsh!



The NZW are bleating, cos he got a two-match ban, and Munster and co only got one-match bans! Unbelievable.

The craziest part of it is there is a decent portion of Aussie fans who seem to defend it. I've seen loads of comments about it just being the lads on a wind down enjoying themselves, it's part of the common culture in oz for men around there age. Absolutely mind blowing!

It's a big problem in that age group over here in the UK aswell, but i'm glad we see it as worthy of a harsh punishment since it is illegal, rather then insanely slack ones like 1-2 match bans. Players are getting longer bans for accidental high shots!

its out of season so shouldnt cop a ban really

Really? Snorting a dangerous substance as a role model and being quite brazen about it too and he shouldn’t cop a ban? If it was up to me they’d have lifetime bans from the sport. There is no excuse for putting that up your nose. No excuse for a supposed role model to do so either and be so brazen about it. Cocaine fuels debt, fuels depression and, I have had personal experience here, fuels suicide due to dealers coming after you for money. Not mentioning what it actually funds higher up the chain.

Give them lifetime bans. I guarantee it’ll stop immediately.

A bit mystified why Lenagan has said that that the club will only be making one more signing when the squad is so low in numbers, quality and size and so many rumours of players leaving the club?

A banned drug is a banned drug regardless of when you take it.

I wouldn’t say it is low on numbers.

The rest is anyone’s guess.

I think we have added a bit more depth to the squad so we are not relying on square pegs in round holes again next year.

I think we just don’t trust our own recruitment process anymore?

Why would you when pretty much all of our signings in the past 6 years have been absolute duds?

Absolute over exaggeration imo.

Go on then I'll bite. How much worse have they been compared to other clubs?

What have other clubs got to do with it? And why does that excuse our own poor recruitment?

But anyway.

Would Lussick improve our team? Yes
Leeds have signed Sezer. Miles better than a 36 year old Leuluai
Even Mamo I would’ve taken over Thornley/Isa/Miski

And that’s just for next year.

yep thats always been the rule in the NRL

not in the NRL, hence why Barber wasnt crucified for failing tests in the NRL

And that's the issue. They seemingly don't use WADA like most other sports.

I don't buy into the whole "off season" thing, like I say a banned drug is a banned drug.

they do, look at Jennings and Xerri, both failed tests in season and coped bans

Banned by the nrl or by wada?

EDIT - Just read the WADA website and cocaine is only banned in competition.

Ridiculous!

crazy eh