Totally agree.

He was not given a chance at Leeds. His last 2 performances were full of promise and then McDermott left him out in the wilderness.

Your coach will get a lot more out of him than ours was able to because your coach knows what he's doing.

McDermott made it very clear in pre season interviews that he didn't know Cross or what he'd bring to the team as he was signed by Bluey before he quit. Reading betwen the lines I don't think McDermott ever wanted him at Leeds which would explain why when he was starting to perform he was left out in favour of the 'talent' that is Kirke & Bailey. As I say your coach has much more 'nouse' and IMO Cross could prove an astute signing for someone.

As someone has said theres plenty of history of Aussies not looking special in their first season.

Look at Matt King at Warrington. He was utter garbage and the Wire fans were hounding him and offering to pay for his ticket home and as pointed out on this thread I think some of you were not exactly over the moon with Pat Richards in his first season.

Good post.

Madge is a very intelligent coach who would only take a punt on a player if he knows he can add something positive to the team. If MM signs him then I will be confident we'll see the Cross of Knights not the Cross of Leeds.

I think with Coley, Lima, Mossop and Prescott you have four props performing very well week in week out (presuming they are fit) with Fielden to come back from injury also. To bring Cross in as a back up imo would be a waste of money, I can't seem him getting ahead of any of those 4 (5 when Fielden is back) so why not use the money on bringing more youngsters through and give Crosby a game. This is before you factor in Hock and O'Barrel (I'm sure I read he isn't a million miles away from returning), Cross would surely be here for a paycheck after showing he wasn't that fussed in his performances for Leeds, I would be dissappointed if we signed him. Saying that he could turn out to regain his previous great form, but I don't think it's a risk we need to or should take.

I think Madge would get the best out of him and he would play well for us, but IMO it would be unfair on one of Prescott, Mossop, Lima and Coley to miss out for him though, possibly two of those missing out when Fielden is fit also.

Although, How good is a front row of;

Fielden
Tommy
Cross
Hoffman
Hock
O'Loughlin

Hansen/Farrell
McIlorum
Lima/Coley
Mossop/Prescott

Finch, Deacs and Sam would be running rings around the opposition on the back of that!

Possibly you're right, our current props are improving well. However at times it has been noted how we lack aggression, something Cross can add. If Coley goes down injured we lack experience and grunt in the front row, especially when we in all seriousness can only speculate when Fielden will return, same can be said for O'Carroll.

Crosby is an improving talent, but there no point in rushing his development, possibly allow him more week in week out first grade in NL1 then on loan at another SL team, see how he develops rather than put him in the first team, this is a tactic used before i.e. Mossop at Hudds.

Cross could offer what we need, don't forget when a top player with years of experience comes to a club it isn't just about his on field performances, its also about what he can offer the club in terms of off field development for the younger lads.

Looks strong to me. If MM can get him near to his NRL standard then he'd be a great signing. Coley and Fielden are going to become more of a liability as they age, have more experience in the front room with compensate for any injuries etc.

Cross is older than Fielden.

But the rotation between the players is then between 3 and not two, don't forget Coley is set to retire at the end of the season. And we don't know when Fielden is to return.

Is cross cup tied?

Aggression can be lacking I agree and this is something I think Cross would add, but whether he could put in the performances required (unlike at Leeds) is completely unknown.

You're right in that Crosby needs SL experience and I think we should be looking at getting him out on loan ASAP, it worked wonders for Mossop.

As far as experience goes, in Fielden and Coley we've got two very experienced heads, and Jeff Lima has played a bit too! Prescott has been around for a few years now and really Mossop is the young head in the front row, I don't necessarily think we lack experience, more aggression at times, but tell that to the pack that played against Saints! I'd say the issue is more consistency with our current players rather than needing other players to come in. This may be helped when Fielden/O'Carrol return and if Hock puts his hand up to play prop, more pressure on the props to retain their shirt may produce more consistent performances. But as you say, although I wouldn't be cheering the signing, if Madge signs him then you'd have to say he's got something to offer.

yeh but by the looks of the rumours he would only be a stop gap til the end of the season. I'm sort of on the fence with this one, could provide decent cover providing his form improves but Mossop has made 17 apps this season, Prescott 16, and Lima and Coley both 15 so we've been pretty lucky on the injury front (I know this could easily change but if its just odd games here and there I would like to see one of the young guys get a chance, a policy that has worked excellently in the past couple of seasons). Fielden tweeted that it would be July/Aug before hes back so we can also expect him back before the playoffs and Gareth Hock returns this weekend, plus the (hopefully) possible return of O'Carroll from his long term injury...just seems an odd time to bring in a 32 year old front rower whos hardly been pulling up trees so far this season.

No brainer for me, im certainly with the minority on this one, get him signed!

Ben Cross has been a top class performer in his entire NRL career. To judge him on 6 games for the Rhinos is a nonsense. The fact he has struggled at Leeds speaks volumes about Leeds as a club and their set up, rather than being a reflection on Cross.

If we have the cap space, I feel it would be a no risk signing that at worst would give our developing Props in the 20's a real top class experienced performer to learn off, but potentially would give our first team some much needed aggression and intensity. We have seen over the last few years how the intensity sometimes drops off and teams come back at us, a player like Cross would certainly aid in keeping the intensity levels high for the full 80.

I do not buy into this......it would not be fair on so and so......for me this is a nonsense. Madge picks on form not reputation if you are playing well and have earned a shirt you get one, there is no room for sentiment. Cross improves our squad and could very well improve our first team. Total no risk.

Madge will know all about him he has been a top performer all his career and in our environment I personally have no doubt he can return to that and would do so very quickly.

As others have stated we have Fielden coming back off a major injury with no guarantees, a battle hardened Cross gives us a security blanket.

A pack like our with the potential addition on Cross, Hock and Fielden at worst increases competition for places, which is always a good thing and could potentially could see an already impressive pack become a really frightening prospect for just about any pack in the world to go up against.

I trust Madge on this one, but a player like Cross with nothing to lose and everything to prove for all the reasons above could, be an inspired signing.

Excellent post Jonh.

Sums up my feelings about Cross, Leeds and Madge. I feel perhaps many fans experience of Cross is of his Leeds days only. If they saw his performances in the NRL they may have a different take on the potential signing.

Give him a short term deal it will most likely get the best out of him, not impressed with what i saw of at leeds though, although leeds have been average anyway so not the best measure

+1

Unfortunately the fact we're interested in Cross suggests that Fielden's recovery is not going to plan. If I'm wrong, great then it's more competition for places in the front row and gives us the option of rotating the props. Plenty of players will be carrying knocks as we get past the halfway point in the season and the option of resting a front rower could turn out to be useful.

U20s?

On GMR the other week Steve Simms said, just after it was announced Burgess and Cross were available, that he doubted Salford would look at Cross because they would have to get a new work permit for him which would take 5 to 6 weeks.

If that is correct I cannot see the worth in any club signing him for this season (not that he’s worth signing for next season either).

I agree. There are rumours that Fielden's recovery may be a longer job than was expected. In addiition, Coley has proved this season that he's no spring chicken.

If Wigan have the cap and quota space, I see no reason at all why we can't make this SHORT-TERM signing. I certainly don't buy into this "we should use the money to bring the youngsters through" idea. We're probably not talking a huge amount of money in this case (not for half a season), and anyway, we're already bringing the youngsters through. The Wigan first team is full of home-grown youngsters. But as others have said, injuries will strike again this year and, just for the sake of argument, a front-row rotation of Lima, Mossop, Prescott and Crosby would struggle in the play-offs.

I've wanted to sign Cross for the last few years but his performances for Leeds thought we'd dodged a bullet.

Like other posters have said it will increase competition for places in the front row, which can only be a good thing, I would sign him so we don't have to rush front rowers back from injury, I would sign him till the end of the season and make a decision towards the end of the season regarding another contract.

we have to many forwards, wouldnt touch him

Spot on.

If you can fit them under the cap and quota, you can never have too many forwards.

Spot on Jonh

yeah you can, it will stunt the development of our young forwards, for a 6 month past is aussie i cant see any benifits here,
not with hock and stu coming back, and with eamon possibly back next season, that with the pack we have now, i cant see why we would touch him,
apart from that if hes not good enough to get in the leeds team, why is it good enough for us?

please god no