In my opinion the performance of Cross in the UK is more a reflection on Leeds as a club and their backroom staff than it is on Cross as a player.

Time will tell i guess.

Look at Sinfield, Burrow, JJB, Webb, Smith all completely pants this year with probably only Buderus putting in anything like the form of when they were good.

Farrell and Tuson can't make the team at the moment, both good players who will probably find opportunities much harder to come by if Cross signed. Hock wouldn't need to cover prop (not sure if that's good or bad) and Mossop may end up moving into the back row if Cross played fairly well.

Hughes and Crosby are next in line and while I agree they aren't ready to be thrown in at the deep end I think they are ready to get four or five games in the first team to let them find their feet. With Cross in the side I think it's unlikely that either will get a chance again this season and Tuson and Farrell may find opportunities limited too.

That's where my argument about counting Hansen as an overseas player comes from. In the long run Farrell, Tuson, Hughes and Crosby could play for England if they were ever to become good enough. No matter how well Hansen plays it seems very unlikely that he would play for England (it would be a bit ridiculous if he did), so it won't have much benefit for the national team. Not that I'm saying there's anything wrong with Hansen being at Wigan, it's the addition of another overseas player that concerns me.

mossop for me has been our best prop by a mile this season so i dont know why he'd end up moving to the back row if cross came in and played well as you are saying.

as i said in a previous post i really dont see the problem with him coming in for THIS season. no-one is sure how long stu is out for and people been suggesting coley and prescott have been playing with injuries so for me it makes to bring someone like him for the rest of the year

If I were IL I would have made this decision based on Hock and whether or not he could play prop, IMO no matter how much he has been over exagerated on his size he still isn't big enough for me for prop so I would have second row in mind for Hock. A few posters on here can wax lyrical about our depth in the prop department and thats why we don't need him, in reality Fielden is written off, Coley and Prescot are carrying knocks, Mossop is tearing it up but cant do it alone and Lima is an impact prop. Crosby and Davies aren't ready yet and Hock is a second rower.

I couldn't care less if Cross was from Platt Waz he is coming in to add real depth to the prop department on a temp basis and as MM and Wane have proven they get the best out of props, all our props were average until they came on board now they are some of the best in the league. Look how they turned Prescot around, I thought he was garbage until last year and he has been our best prop this season IMO.

Before he went to Leeds he was like an Aussie version of Jamie Peacock and played for NSW not so long back, so he aint that bad although I would rather we spent some cash and signed Mason or Patrick instead.

When we are short in the prop dept Mcguire doesn't promote Davies, Crosby or Spencer, he goes with three. He did this in France, v Cas and we lost one and drew the other.
Perhaps the signing of Cross will mean that if we are short of props again then Cross will come straight in. As has been mentioned, it is rumoured Prescott and Coley are carrying knocks so maybe when his signing is cleared then he'll go straight in and one of those two will be rested.
If Cross's signing means that we will always have four props and don't go with three again then I will be very pleased.

So what if we have Cross in and Crosby doesnt get in? Should we have not signed Hoffman to accomadate Tuson? We need a replacement for Coley, if Cross performs well, give him a chance!

Deals of work permit problems.

Coley due to retire this year and Hoffman set to go back to Melbourne, if this signing goes ahead then I see it more of a signing for next season tbh.

I think it will be more a short term deal with a view to next year, contract weighted in the clubs favour.

Won't be disappointed if true.

so do we have any idea when this is supposed to happen, or is this just another one "nailed on" that will be proved to be a joke

If you think Hansen and Farrell can do a job for us at prop then you are badly mistaken. We have played awful with Hansen at prop. He is a SR through and through. Farrell? A prop... you must be having a laugh. He is small for a SR.

Cross has been average in super league but due to his rep in aus and how well he has played over there it must be down to the coaching ans the team he is playing in. The more I think about it, the more I think Madge, Wane and Bitcon could mould him into a player who could do a very good job for us.

However, if we have Fielden coming back then I don't see any reason to sign him. If Fielden is doubtful then I would look into it.

With cap space and a quota spot though, we would be stupid not to look at an ex Origin player who currently doesn't have a club. We could probably get him for penuts.

Finally, forgetting just this season, if Coley is leaving then I think he could be a good replacement.

There aint half some drivel in this thread

Hansen an overseas player? FFS, what next? Get rid of anyone who qualifies to play for Great Britain (if it still existed) because they arent English?

Wigan play to the rules of the comp (most of the time

), why all the complaining

well this seems to have fallen flat on its face,
all of a sudden the rumour has stopped?
or has he signed but we are waiting for a pig to fly so he can play?
or is he just not signing

As we've had no info on this either way from Wigan themselves, it could be yet more hysteria by Wigan fans.

Wigan won't announce the signing until they get a work permit. No work permit no signing.

This will take some sorting as I understand it although I would expect him to be training with the club unofficially sooner rather than later, with probably availability for selection in a couple of weeks.

With Prescotts injury last night I would like too see Cross here asap.

well another nailed on signing, kinda hasnt happened yet,
or we waiting for his grans signature as well as the passports, visa, etc

Has it not happened yet??? Or do you not believe anything until you get a personalised telegram - watch this space (and yes you can quote me for future reference)

Whilst I am not too concerned about our form at the moment as I think this is a period the coaches will have identified as a period where we can potentially take the intensity off I think it is essential that we bring in another Prop for rotation purposes.

Really?

Personally I wouldn't mind Cross coming in for a brief spell, but with O'Carroll & Fielden due back in a matter of weeks I wouldn't say another prop is essential. Another prop would just be a luxury when all our current props are fit IMO.

Coley
Lima
Prescott
Mossop
Fielden
O'Carroll
Hock (Second row but prop cover)
Cross?

More than enough to rotate already (admittedly when fit).

Of that list we only have four playing at present.

Cross isn't signed yet.
Fielden still injured and may still be out a while yet.
O'Carroll, same as Fielden.
Hock, not up to speed yet. Injured last night so when his next game will be, we don't know.

If we can get Cross signed then he can play immediately and then give us five props.

I would definantly take Cross with our current situation. Cap space is available. No brainer to sign a player of that Calibre IMO.