You sound even more pessimistic than i do

And obviously an England international by 24!

If he were any good at union he'd have been picked up by a premiership or 1st division club I'd have thought

you beat me to this message!!!!! iwas just wondering the same!

Different structure as to how it works in union.

Lets face it decent british props are thin on the ground, he certainly has the size and can obviously run with the ball having gained various representative honours in the u18's. If he doesn't work out so be it but we need to start looking for our next bunch of props because good ones are going to become like proverbial rocking horse manure.

You think a top quality junior wouldn't have been picked up by the age of 19? There are kids playing premiership rugby at 19

If they are in the right place though Jake.

It happens a lot more than in any other sport. You're right that there are a lot of kids aged 19 playing premiership, but the usual age for debut is around 22.

If they're good enough they'll be in the right place.

The good ones are always in the youth set up somewhere though. Even rule was at newcastle wasn't he?

It could be that when he was watched he had a bad game, strange things can happen. May also be that he is more suited to RL than RU. Having not seen him in action i cannot say either way but he is obviously showing something for us to sign him up, and most likely on recomendations from Radford/Vaikona and whoever else.

Maybe, can see this kid being the next tommy lee

looks the part , have seen many over the years, size is only part of a forward ,union is a totally different game and has a lot to learn if he is to have a chance a this level !

Why can't some people give the kid a chance before deciding he isn't going to be any good?
So he is 19 and hasn't made it at a Premiership RU club, oh no lets bin him now shall we?

Suppose he might of been told he'll never make it "big" in union so decided to have a crack at league! Fair play to him if that's the case, i don't see what him or the club have to lose on this one.

I know lets just give the kid a chance

Exactly, look how Agar's last "project" worked out.

Quite.

It's difficult to see a downside to this, and rather sad that some people have tried to find one anyway.

Yeah, Moa has come good hasn't he.

Yes but those very same people find a negative in a positive

I can see a downside in most things HFC at the minute but i cannot see how this signing can be a bad thing. Like i said if he works out great, if he doesn't then so be it.

I wouldn't disagree but people are always bigging up youngsters before they've even seen them play

I think your club should be congratulated for "thinking outside the box" a little in terms of their recruitment and the kid himself should be given every encouragement in what is going to be a huge challenge. Good luck to him.

I've seen him play in just about every game this year. He's a talent, but infuriating too. We, like people on this board, need to remind ourselves he's only 19.

He's powerful, extremely quick for a big fella and offloads well. On the negative side, for a backrower in union he lacked the necessary work ethic; were perpetual motion is needed as opposed to bursts. As such he was moved to play in the centres or would come on after 60 mins and run at tired defences and he was used very effectively as a ball carrier; believe me you wouldn't want to tackle in him either head on or if he was in space as he is quick; what is most impressive is his accelaration from a standing start or out of half tackle.

If FC get him atuned to League he could mature into a cracking player; the problems won't be physical, he has all the necessary attributes.

Those of you questioning why a top class rugby union club hasn't snapped him up are deluding yourselves if you think people get missed nowadays; the scouting system and youth development systems are light years ahead of league clubs and the money on offer is superior. Clubs have passed on him I believe.

Oh and you'll like him for one thing; he smashed Jimmy Rule when we played Ionians.