wonder if he's gone to france for the weekend game v catalan

That is what people want, but it's unrealistic to expect them to come to SL, and it is increasingly unlikely given the changes in tax etc.

spot on there Paul!! very good in fact with tons of exp

Thurstons way to injury prone for my liking now...Injury prone & pushing 30's, everything Hull FC look for in a player! 5 year deal going his way next season

Wonder if he'll do what Dykes and Head did and come over here because it will be easier on his body... how did that work out for them?

with the tax loophole situation,the prospect of seeing top class aussies coming over here will dwindle.over the next 2/3 years most of the so called overseas stars here now,will have finished their contracts and gone home,but will they be replaced with similar quality or better?i very much doubt it,so if we have the chance of either sammut or chase on say a 3 year deal,we should grasp that chance.

Sammut would be easily be good enough for me too, and I for one would be very happy if we got him in Black and White.

Less hopeful than I was 24 hrs ago tbh. The longer these things take the less likely they are to happen and ultimately Crusaders can set a silly figure and if we don't agree to it then they are no worse off as they have the player and we are left high and dry.

On the Chase option I just can't see Cas agreeing to a deal for this season unless we offer £150/200k and I can't see us doing that twice in the same season.

Looking to Oz is quite a gamble really looking at the recent success record. You go for a big name, big money number 7 like Orford and Sherwin and look what happens! You go for an injury hit player who thinks SL is easier on the body like Head or Dykes and look what happens.

Maybe a young relatively unkown Oz number 7 is the safer option at least they have a point to prove?

Sammut perfomed better then Long last season and he is a similar type of player and reminds me of Long in his younger days, not the finished article but has that flair that we have lacked, I wouldbe more then happy with him as our long term halfback, anyone who thinks we are going to sign one of the very best from the NRL is sadly deluded.

I just want to know either way. It has been stated that we have made a second offer, so we should know very soon if it has materialised or not IMO. I really hope we get him.

On the Chase matter, I can't honestly see us getting him. Would mean a big money offer like you say and Cas would have lost 3 of there big stars in one off season.

for me id be looking at young halfbacks playing in the under 20s in aussie some cracking talent and its a very good standard and would be able to get them quite cheapish and could build the team around them for years to come, i dont like to say it but rovers have got 2 young aussie halfbacks that wernt great in aussie but like dobson done very well over here. if they dont work out which any signing aussie or english has that risk but at leaste massive wages wont be involved. also id like gareth moore or maybe look at other super league clubs at there young halfbacks the likes of gaz obrien of wire tipped to be a really good player first team oppitunites ect could persuade him or sam powell at wigan and theres plenty more that could be willing to come knowing they could have first team oppitunites. finally sammut would be a good signing on a 1 year deal but i woundt start paying transfer fees for him or big ones at that

Where are all the Sammut "done dealers" this evening? Very quiet !
Will he be here or on a plane to Catalans on Friday?

Has anyone mentioned Moore from Batley could be a good option.

I reckon on a plane to Catalans

I would be happy with Sammut signing for us but it all depends on how long he's going to stay, if he want to only stay for one year then I would be reluctant to pay a big fee for him but if we can get him on a 3 year deal, I would be happy to pay a fee and move him to 6 next year if we have a scrum half lined up for 2012.

If we play this right, Sammut could be a crucial part of the squad for the next 6 or so years.

Me too. More chance of re-signing Ben Sammut !

Seems to be the better move. Has worked out well for players like Sammut and Dobson who couldnt consistently make it over there.

I remember Peter Sharp trying to sign Jamie Soward when he was struggling to make the Roosters first grade, what a signing he would have been, if it had come off he still might have been in a job.

Soward would have been some signing.

jamie soward is a very good player shame, but rather then pay transfer fees for sammut id rather get a young aussie half from there 20s comp

the obvious advantage with signing Sammut is he has a Maltese passport and doesn't require a Visa and is already over here. He could literally drive to Hull and start training.

whereas any Aussie realistically isn't going to arrive until at least Easter due to the lengthy waits for Visa's.

Unless it was applied for weeks ago

Sneaky

Why is there this wait for visas? Would there be a similar wait for a footballer or a union Australian?