I reckon much will depend on the outcome of Friday night and maybe next week if we are still alive. Maybe GH doesnt want to upset the momentum at the moment while we are still fighting for the GF, before making any recruitment announcements. Given his comments a couple of weeks back when he stated on the club's website that we would be spending up to the full salary cap again, he must have something in the pipeline, given the amount of cap space we will have with Senior, Lauatiti, and possibly Buderus leaving the club this year.

The Cuthbertson rumour came from an Aussie paper quoting his agent as saying he is not going to be retained by St George due to other salary cap needs and that it looked like he may have to move to England and that he was in talks with us, Saints and I think the other SL team was Hull KR.

There is a link somewhere within this thread to the article.

My 'reading between the lines' brought me to the conclusion it was the usual agents ploy of trying to create interest elsewhere in order to broker a better deal in the NRL?

Time will see, but if the rumour is correct I think he could be a very good signing

I would imagine sheer hope rather than any real insight!

I would actually have reservations about signing Cuthbertson. No doubt on his day, he's a good player. However - up until the last year, he was always a bit over weight, and his form was erratic at best. He strikes me as the sort of player who needs a really strong coach, with disciplined structures. If he joined us, I get the feeling things would be alot slacker than they are at the dragons, and there's a real possibility he'd not be as disciplined with his diet and training regime, or be as selective with his offloads to be effective.
As for Tony Williams, he is absolutely in the form of his life, and the step up into the pack has seen him be a revelation. Again though, he is playing in the Manly team that has one of the most structured attacks in rugby league which creates the space/time for him on the edges to get a full head of steam, which then see's him skittling over defenders for fun - He certainly wouldnt be as effective in the Leeds team, as we play a much flatter attack, with alot less time to wind up on his run.
Both would have the potential to be great signings, if the coaching and structure is right - However, both have the potential to be disasters. I'd say it's about 50/50, and I'm not so sure it would be worth the gamble for the money that they would undoubtedly expect.

Thanks for all the background info. It's all gone quiet on Cuthbertson so I don't know what is happening but other NRL clubs were after him as well. You say he needs a disiplined coach well I would think that McD falls into that catagory.
Tony Williams is OOC and I've read other NRL clubs were keen to sign him. I'm not sure even if the Rhinos are interested. His form is terrific and he is close to being called up into the international squad. I don't think he would disgard that by playing in SL I hope I'm wrong because both players would be great signings for the Rhinos

Agree I can see Williams in a rhinos shirt next year

I mentioned Williams because he's exactly what we need - but not what we'll get.

I've read that several NRL clubs are chasing him and if he wants to play for Australia then he has to stay down under which is a shame. What level will we get?

We could have exactly the same with Ryan Hall, if we made the switch.

6'4'' 18st 8lbs Ryan Hall? Exactly the same?

Agree a back-row difference-maker is what we need post-Ali. Ryan Hall is not that man.

I was talking about a powerful wide running tackle busting back rower. Ryan Hall would be exactly that if he played there.

Much the same as Williams has become there having been switched.

At the moment I see no reason to move hall from the wing, especially into the pack.

He would be fairly effective running wide, but think he has had a good year on the wing and personally wouldn't move him

Stupid. Ryan Hall is the best winger in the league, leave him on the bloody wing.

In your opinion.

And I was responding to



Not suggesting we had to do it, but that we could repeat the same thing Manly have done.

I wouldn't rule out the chances of Hall moving into the pack at some point. Lee Gilmour, and Luke Lewis have both been moved into the pack despite being very good outside backs early in their career. I'm not sure Hall has the pace to succeed long term as an international winger. It could be similar to Chev Walker, a very good SL winger but his attributes are more suited to the back row at test level.

I think it might be possible sometime in the future to move Hall into the forwards but that's a long way off. If the Rhinos managed to sign Tony Williams from Manly, who is in fantastic form, he is very versitile and has played centre, wing, back-row forward and loose-foward. We would get quality versitility now and it would add to the squad The down-side is I don't know if Garry H is interestd!

Buderus mentioned on Look North that Newcastle & Leeds might start sending young players across to both clubs.

Luke Lewis is a very good example, but I'm pretty certain Gilmour was originally a second rower and has played more centre later in his career.

ryan hates playing in the backrow he told me he's only done it "once or twice and hated it" iv'e watched this kid since he was 12 and he is no backrower he just hasn't the ticker for it, he played all his junior and open age amature rugby at fullback where he was outstanding.

I don't think Tony Williams was ever a major tatget on Gary H's radar screen although he would be a great addition to the squad. However Williams is now in the international squad and in great demand from NRL clubs and his salary will reflect that demand! www.zerotackle.com.au/williams-s ... rama-4211/

I don't think Tony Williams was ever a major tatget on Gary H's radar screen although he would be a great addition to the squad. However Williams is now in the international squad and in great demand from NRL clubs and his salary will reflect that demand! www.zerotackle.com.au/williams-s ... rama-4211/

I heard an interesting one today, but not going to post it as it was not from anyone reliable or official or anything.

But if true, It could be announced early next week, or week after, or week after,

. I know that sounds vague but there is a reason for that.

I'm sure its the other way around. I'm sure he didn't play 2nd row until Millward signed him for Saints.

You say your contact might not be reliable so what makes you think that there might be something in what you've heard? I assume the reference to next week etc is connected with international squads

I didn't say there was. It's a rumours thread, but I purposely stated I wouldn't name the player said due to things getting misconstrued.

Similar to the deal we had with South Sydney whereby none went in either direction