Indeed - neither did Barry Macdermotts.

Good point, and one that's sadly often overlooked. It isn't easy starting out in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from what you know. It isn't easy switching from winter rugby in a mild climate to summer rugby at -°7C, when you hardly know your team mates or the style of game that's played. As a young bloke in that situation, the least you could expect is a little understanding and support. People should get off his back and let him grow into our game, FFS. I reckon he'll come good.

It strikes me that some of these lads, including coaches, come over here without realising how tough and intense weekly SL games are; maybe they get taken in by some of the superiority complex that afflicts the Aussies when it comes to RL or maybe it's just a bit of naivety? Either way, he's come from playing the majority of his RL in the lower grades on t'other side of the world and has been chucked into a pivotal position in one of the struggling teams - all that whilst trying to adjust to life in sunny Wakey, which will be worlds away from what he's used to.

It's telling that old-stagers like Southern, Patten and their ilk can slot in to the rugby pretty easily, meaning they only have the lifestyle to adjust to; they're pretty comfortable getting knocked to bits on the field every week, as they've been doing it tough in the NRL for years.

I still think we need to recruit a kicker and give John a few starts off the bench, for confidence reasons, but what we certainly don't need to do is allow a few morons to give him the impression that the fans are not appreciating what he's trying to do; if his confidence is shakey, that's the last thing he needs.

I'll keep a close eye on whether or not the next English youngster gets the same leeway given to Isaac John, should be interesting.

And there lies the problem with British rugby league why do clubs like Wakefield continue to do this year in year out one day he may develop into a half decent player but he should be doing it in Oz. He is no better than the halfbacks we already had Moore/Wildie and Moore had a better kicking game

As for Smith he flopped at Wigan and he flopped back home I have seen nothing from him apart from the last 15 minutes at the worst team to ever play in SL
For me overseas players should only be signed if they are better than the British players they keep out in both cases they are not.

It's not just the clubs is it. Did you not want Wood dropped because you thought Ellis "deserved a chance". This despite the fact that Wood has probably been the new signing to make the most impact so far and is IMHO considerably better than Moore or Wildie at this moment.. I agree with the sentiment but it also requires a great deal of patience by fans as well and sadly in my experience the vast majority are beyond fickle.

I wanted to see Wood at 7 with Ellis ans Alton at hooker, The one thing I am not is fickle god if I was I would have called it a day long ago

For me Wood has been the outstanding signing so far. He takes the line on far more than Smith, perhaps he is better coming off the bench, I don't know.
I do know this though, there's no point in signing a player like Ellis if you don't play him. That said, I accept that nobody in the team is playing that bad yet as to be dropped to make way for him. Should an injury come along however that requires him to step up to the first team then I would expect the coach to afford him the same patience in establishing himself in the first team as with John and Smith.
The goalkicking duties should be taken away from John and given to Cockayne until a kicker is signed.I seem to remember it being mentioned somewhere that Collis came as a goalkicker?

I agree with the sentiment of your post, but there are a few notable dissimilarities in the situation.
Mainly the adjustment of being in a different country, thousands of miles away from your family and friends and then the differences between the style of game he was playing compared to SL and the week in week out intensity.
Its not exactly a level playing field, either way really.
RA will know, I'm sure, wether or not he needs time in the reserves or perhaps that may have more of a negative impact. Perhaps coming off the bench could be an option, but i think he will stick with things how they are.
BTW I'm not against this approach for young english players either, just pointing out that there are differences.

I know, but fans can make or break a player and often the make the wrong one IMHO. Woods has been the stand out for me so far yet I have the impression that for whatever reason he will always be considered a make up the numbers player - no reputation.

We need to stick with this team and not mess with it. For me performances are more important than results. That's the saving grace of franchise - you can be very mediocre (as someone said) one season, but next season with a few tweaks and a season under the belt be real contenders. Look at the NRL it happens all the time. A team has 3-4 good years then declines, rebuilds and if all goes well comes back 3-4 years later. This will IMO eventually happen in SL if Coaches, fans and clubs keep faith and stick to the plan.

This is a good point, look at how all the Cas fans were bemoaning Matterson playing a load of youngsters a few years back and getting whipped each week.
Now they are rightly proud of the fact that they have numerous local youngsters in and around the first team.
Long term gain!!!

Having the patience to stick with young players is the key. At Bradford many of us, myself included would've written of Craig Kopczak years ago but he's come good now.

I think back when Leeds were bringing through Sinfield, Burrow etc in 2000-2002. They got some real stuffings yet the club had a long term vision and stuck with it rather than making knee jerk decisions and getting nowhere.

Of course it's easier if you're a club with money so you can recruit and retain the best kids and more importantly hang onto them later.

Maybe thats the key point, only those that have actually "done it" should (be allowed to) come over here to play. Seasoned, proven professionals who are tried and tested at the best level - rather than young kids, waifs, strays, chancers or any other tom dick or harry from the queensland cup or whatever other junior/lower tier competition.

I know there are always going to be exceptions to the rule and players who have never made the grade down under will have very, very good careers in SL but for the good of the game the rules need tightening up and more importantly the clubs need to stop looking for loopholes to get round the system. Maybe if we showed as much patience with our own youngsters we might have less reliance on 3rd rate imports, bring them over every season trying desperately to unearth a Henry Paul among all the dross.

don't really think he has played bad in the games i have watched

Two separate issues for me; I'm not against young, promising players getting a shot over here - we might unearth a gem and for me, there's more excitement in that than seeing an old-stager come to plod out a few more paydays, which sometimes happens.

That said, I do think the quota loopholes need sorting out - if they were, both the type of player you've described and the type I've described would be less likely to get a job, as clubs would be more prudent with their quota spots.

As it goes, I don't think Isaac is either.

Don't say that
too loud or it will be the new Half time entertainment, nothing could be any worse than the rubbish they serve up @ the moment.

YES. Combinations and patterns need time to develop. John and Smith should be given an extended run as long if possible imo. Hopefully next year we will be at a stage where we only bring in and release one or 2 players. Wholesale changes are not good for continuity and if you are having to make them it's often the case you are a long way off being the team you want to be

According to that font of all factual knowledge website named after a prop we tried to sign on numerous occasions, he has kicked 15 goals in 107 games. Not exactly prolific.

oh OK! forget that then.