Good post. Judging players on a game or two can mislead. I certainly thought we'd got another Jarrod hickey after fifitas debut! Tangata has actually looked the part. It may prove misleading too but what more can he do? He's worth a go for me

Tangata stepped up well and for me showed he offers more than England and Hirst, albeit England seems to have been crocked most the season. Worth a contract, only question is can the quota spot be used better elsewhere.

I agree and were short of props so worth a year to see how he goes.

That's the crux, for various reasons SL is no longer the drawcard it once was for more established NRL players. Even Saints and Leeds are feeding off the scraps to a degree. They all got giddy about Hurrell but he like a few others were to a degree yesterday's men, still decent but not the very best by any stretch. For clubs like us, we can't afford to pay premium money and what's left is frankly reserve grade ie PP, Randell and even Toupou. In fact, I'm struggling to think when we last signed a current NRL player.

Luckily all of the above worked out apart from one and he proves my point. Tangata is an utterly well-known quantity and would have been playing SL for Widnes had they not imploded. Should he join us he has everything to play for, we are his big chance, the motivation is there, without doubt, gold dust IMO.

For the money, he'd cost and the fact that we know he's settled makes him a win-win for a budget like ours. Even if he ends up 5th choice prop that can only be a good sign for us and how strong we are, he's definitely top-notch as back up when you consider Hirst and a totally knackered England fulfilled that role last season.

Hope we sign him tbh.

I thought Fifita had a decent game on his debut although he got sin binned I recall? Then he had an absolute stormer against Hudds in the challenge cup the week after. But yes I agree with the overall point, I actually remember thinking we had a good player in Hickey when he made his debut at away at Salford and he was skitiling players for fun when he come of the bench, such a shame that he could not control his diet as there was a good player there.

Do you really think SL has ever really been a drawcard for established NRL players? We have had the odd player come over in there prime i.e. Jamie Lyon but the majority are either at the twilight of there career, not quite good enough or have got into some sort of bother in Aus, there are also some cases where players come over here that probably are good enough for the NRL but come over early in there career when they are not established NRL players and actually make a good career for themselves.

I think the level of overseas import is at the level it has been for the last 10/15 years across the league, but I think as a club we have actually improved the level of import over the last 5 years - The likes of Arona, Tanginoa etc we would have been chuffed with years ago and now that is more or less the level that we expect from the quota players.

I think Lyon only ended up here because he was playing bush footy after walking out of a contract with an NRL side (can’t remember which) and they wouldn’t release his registration.

I can’t remember the last genuine transfer of a top level Aussie in their prime.

Depends how far you want to go back but yes compared to now, Lyons as you mention, Dallas and even Tronc with us to name but three were actual current form NRL players, now there are virtually none. Even as recently as 2015 Scott Anderson had been in two GF's and Dean Collis was an established NRL player, don't reckon you'd get them now. What people seem to forget is that as SL contracts the NRL expands. Bush footy as it's called has expanded rapidly in recent years and those clubs now pay wages that make SL look uncompetitive which was not the case ten years ago. Added to that the cap has barely risen, the exchange rate is crap etc etc.

That's how I see it.

Dean Collis was playing for Cronulla`s feeder team when he signed for us, even behind Ben Pomeroy in the pecking order, I will give you Anderson, but he was a squad player in that Broncos squad.

Arona played more or less a full season in the Cronulla first team when he signed for us, Tupou was in and out of the Canberra first team the year he signed for us - He had made 15 appearances that season when he joined us at the back end of 2015.

I would say if anything, our quality of imports has improved, not gone backwards.

It was cronulla I believe
He was a country kid and he didn’t adapt to life in the city

Well we will have to beg to differ, though obviously I'm right

Personally, I wouldn’t offer BJB a new deal. I seem to recall when he signed his current contract it was reported as a bumper deal.

As he is getting older and has lost some of his pace, I don’t think we can justify having a decent sum of the budget tied up on him

Has been a very good signing for us though and given us some good value previously

I agree there Tricky, or at the at best offer only a 1 year deal without breaking the bank.

I think the time has come for Kershaw to start ahead, of Bish, unless one of the signings is going to be a winger

Really want Kershaw to push on but he doesn’t bring electric pace like we've become used to. Would be interesting to see how he fairs speed wise in the current group

I think Kershaw is more useful than Bishop in terms of how we use our three quarters. They are basically extra forwards bringing the ball out early in the set.

As much as I hate to say it I agree, I don't think he's been anything above half decent for the past 2 years and is a bit off the player he was imo.

Sadly neither does Bish these days. Actually think Kershaw is pretty quick in a straight line, certainly against Leeds.

Lee is not only quick but very strong as well. What all good wingers in the present day game possess.

Agree, he certainly doesn't lack pace and 9 times out of 10 if he gets a clean break you would expect him to finish it, we have been spoilt for some ridiculous pace in TJ, MCB and BJB (Now lost a yard or two) recently, I dont think he is quite in that league but by no means does that mean he is not fast enough for SL.

Also agree BLM, he seems to have that style of running where he bumps and wriggles out of attempted tackles, seems like a nightmare to wrap up.

I don't get this BJB lost a yard or two of pace thing. No one has caught him this season when he has broken away, it's just he hasn't been able to bust the usual two players stood right in front of him.

Who's going to miss out in the three quarters?
If we go with the same back line, then the Atkins signing makes no sense.

It is just my opinion.

If Broughy and BJB can work on some of those lofty kicks that Liam Finn managed we might have more attacking options.

He definitely has lost some pace..

I disagree