Aye, take a look at the best of Ellis clips online. Awesome player in attack and defence. More than good enough to replace Manu.

Rather than a highlights package, I have watched every single game Ellis has played for Wests this season. There is nothing "awesome" about his attack, and he is nowhere near the player Manu is with ball in hand. I like Ellis, and think he's a great signing, but most of you are heavily deluded as Hull fans are with most players we sign. He is a workhorse who will top the tackle count. We are losing 2 impact forwards, and haven't replaced either yet in my opinion.

Spot on

Having watched gareth in his early career that is exactly was Gaz is a top grafter no bells and whistles but a leader none the less.

Can someone explain to me what is meant by 'having impact' or being an 'impact forward' (preferably without using the word 'impact' in the explanation)?

Many thanks.

So Ellis is just a grafter and nothing more? I guess you've missed the great angles he runs at speed, top offloads and brilliant step he has? Not to mention his leg drive power after the tackle attempt has been made?

If you think Ellis is just a grafter then you're deluded. He's top class.

Agree. Utter tripe he's just a grafter! You don't win player off the year awards yrs running for that! Ellis was out a period this year but when come back was in a under performing injury hit team, so this yr wasn't a good measure! Up against Manu I give him every most areas. Better off load better angle running creating space for the team not just strength to bust the tackle and rely on support., play of the ball be 5seconds better in most cases, Manu good to watch but after fighting with defenders for ages rest of defence set . Our hookers will love playing off him. Defence wise Ellis has to be constantly as in nearly every tackle one of the hardest hitters in world. Gentle when we got him said if was Australian he'd be in first few names down in oz team and origin teams! Wanted Manu but wasn't massively concerned! Would have liked Manu as well but say we're up having Ellis not down!

With Chris Tuson going in the opposite direction

One of the differences between Manu an Ellis is we often just 'give the ball' to Manu and expect him to do his magic. He hardly ever receives the ball at pace and at the line, not often. Were as Ellis will hit the ball with pace and power at the line. Ellis is a line breaker, Manu not so much (well he is but in his own way, after throwing players off him).
Calling fans delluded for thinking Ellis is nothing more than a grafter is laughable and ironic.

I don't think rovers will be as bad as many expect next season. The players they've lost haven't played that many games or haven't been in great form this year so any additions are likely to improve them.

Unfortunately

I dont think Ellis would have won the awards he has if he was just a grafter

That is exactly why Lynch won it this year for us.

However I think Ellis is an exceptional consistent player, consistent being the key word

Kearney Fitz and Swain are considered legends, and have won awards and trophies.

They were grafters

Again Lynch did exactly that this year, Lynch is not a particular line breaker nor gets out a lot of off-loads, pure workhorse though who makes good yards and tackles well.

Lynch, Swain and Kearney were/are more then just grafters. They're role models, leaders, and played consistently to earn their accolades.

Ellis is a beast, who has an awesome offload and being a constant threat. Far more then [ujust[/u a grafter.

I agree there's a real difference between a player who grafts but also has a lot more to offer and a player who works hard at little more than the basics. It's the difference between the likes of Kearney/Lynch/Ellis and Radford/Dowes/McNicholas. That's not to denigrate the latter category or at all imply that they aren't needed just as much.

Spot on.

In Ellis we have captured one of the top 10 players on the planet simple as that and anyone who believes otherwise needs to bang their head

Lynch consistently did massive minutes, and was according to opta 3rd best prop in league, and gets a fair share of off loads and they well down this year compared to yrs gone by. also throughout his career has a great try record for a 'workhorse' prop. But to suggest Ellis is in the mould of lynch when even lynch is more than just a work horse is wrong in my opinion!

Excellent point well made.

Signing Eastmond would be a worse risk than the signings of Head, Dykes and Long.

Couldn't disagree with this more! Kearney was big mean tough but had great hands and a real leader, and to call swain a grafter is silly, decent kicker, especially out of dummy half, a true leader by example and one of the sharpest operators out of dummy half you'll see!

You not keeping up with the union? He's played four games now and he's the new Jason Robinson now!

Scored a try beating bout 7defenders! Stocks well up again now. Won't be coming here!

Where did I state Ellis was in the same mould as Lynch ?

If you check I responded to the suggestion that grafters do not win player of the year awards, I did not suggest Ellis was just a grafter. Lynch did not get his fair share of off loads this year, he hardly offloads but like I suggested he is a workhorse who makes good metres & tackles well, also note I am not discussing years gone by I am discussing his performance in a black & white shirt, and for the record I have nothing but admiration for players like Lynch, he is solid.

I'm banging my head.

Top 10 back rowers or top 10 players.

Slater, Tomkins, Inglis, Thurston, Roby, Barba, Sam Burgess, Brett Morris, Benji, Shaun Johnson, Thaiday, Hock, Cameron Smith, to name a few better than Ellis.