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.

Does anybody know if he,s taller than crabtree?

mmm seems to happen a lot on here

The link says he's 6' 4". Crabtree's 6' 6" or 6' 7" IIRC.

Lets all remember he is a junior when all said and done! lets not build him up with a tag he cant live up to and then slate him huh.. he will develop or not thats down to him but bringbackbucks post is very interesting ..

Spot on. I've heard some great things about him already.

Sticking Jim Lad on his ars3 on a few occasions?

If he matures properly and is coached properly he could well be a fantastic front row option in the future.

Well if the club know they wont put it on the fecking website

Except for in the opening link, you mean?

Read that and then tell me how old he is