I am glad that we are not throwing all our money at a so called top oversea star,unless its someone like benji marshall who would make a difference apart fom o,meley and fitz look at the completely overpaid overrated players in the last few years we have had berro been the main one a cpl of good games for a mega salary, we should be looking at home grown talent and players like sam moa from overseas.

I agree, good to see we're throwing it all at 2nd rate overseas players

they will all be second rate overseas players from now on because the new tax laws will prevent any top stars the nrl earning the money they did imo i would ban all overseas players and develop our own talent, the only good side will be the overseas players wont be on anywhere near the likes of berro and co.

I suspect this may be a misconception, and the difference is not as much as you'd expect.

I think many seem to be thinking that because the quality of player coming over has gone down, those who do come over are not being being paid as much. What is likely the actual case though, is that because of the increase in the NRL cap, the 'lesser/middling' players are still able to earn more without coming over, so they still need to be paid a premium to make it worth their while. Then with the tax situation changing, there's an additional increase to make their net pay up to what they want. The cost to the club probably isn't much/any less than it was to get the higher calibre of players a couple of years ago.

Bit harsh on Berro, he was a top grade player when we brought him over. I think the problem was more to do with Agar rather playing an injured overseas player than replace him with a youngster.
He's done it all year with Fitz & Omeley too, Matt Sing was the same.
Trouble is we only see these guys for 80 minutes & judge them on that. We don't know about what knocks they are carrying & how many injections they are having just to help out the coach.
Let's hope the new gaffer replaces like for like when injuries occur & we should get to see the likes of Green & Crooks in first grade action.

When people say second rate ..Where would you put M Dobson He wasn't getting
first team rugby back in Auss

There is a guy from Australia who has recently been posting across on the Rovers forum who has some interesting views on where Super League clubs should be aiming their overseas recruitment. He reckons that NRL clubs have circa 30 kids in their under 20s of which 10 are maybe good enough for the NRL. As each club only signs maybe 4 of them there are potentially 6 players from each club who are not far off top grade standard, have loads of improvement in them but no where to play in Australia at the top level. These are the players that Super League clubs should be signing. Plenty to prove and not expensive.

Yeah,pity we missed out on signing him.

Wondered how long it would be.

Surely most of these wouldn't get work visas due to not playing in the first grade. Hull had an half back lined up last season according to Agar (mentioned at one of the forums iirc)but he couldn't get a permit.

michael picker of canberra, his court appearances made it impossible for him to get a work permit.

If thats the case............

Would it make sense that NRL clubs were affiliated to a particular SL club. Then if they have a young talent who they arent ready to blood in the first team just yet, but can see that he has real potential they could 'loan' him to their SL club for a season or two. Thus giving him the experience he requires plus proving he has what it takes, also the SL club could well get a real talent at a vastly reduced cost?!

Obviously it wouldn't be as simple as that with contracts and loan periods etc. But its just an idea....

3rd rate

Would it make sense that NRL clubs were affiliated to a particular SL club. Then if they have a young talent who they arent ready to blood in the first team just yet, but can see that he has real potential they could 'loan' him to their SL club for a season or two. Thus giving him the experience he requires plus proving he has what it takes, also the SL club could well get a real talent at a vastly reduced cost?!

Obviously it wouldn't be as simple as that with contracts and loan periods etc. But its just an idea....