Although Crookes looks like a decent prospect it is not really known whether he is going to be any good at SL level, so saying he should be our starting centre in the No 3 shirt is madness. He has only played 3 games in SL, and has not played since easter, so he will be not where he needs to be physically, so to think someone like that is going to be/should be our starting centre from the start of the season is not very realistic. Hopefully we will see him play a number of games to see if he can cut it at that level.

I admit I am not a coach, but I don't understand why we don't think about Langley at prop ??? Runs hard (ish), tackles well, never passes

. Seriously, can someone explain why we wouldn't use Langers at prop ?? Cheers

I've been saying this for years, but thinking about it, as a prop he won't be on the field as much as he currently is, and his defensive work is too important to leave him off for long periods.

That, plus he doesn't make enough metres at prop. He probably won't be playing Loose in a couple of years when Donno breaks through though.

Just wandering around the t'internet and came across this quote I've not seen before, from the titans playoff game back in Sept. I did predict a while ago walker/kearney as our 2 overseas sigings left, plus picking up someone like reardon and a fed trained prop... we'll see I guess.

[url=http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/09/18/138605_gold-coast-titans.htmlchris walker[/url

[i"While tonight's match could also be his last in the NRL, Walker, who is going to play for the Bradford Bulls in Super League, has not ruled out a return to the Australian competition."

"I've only signed in England for two years, so you never know," said Walker of a return. "I could be back in the NRL, if I'm feeling right and playing well."[/i

Must still be some red tape to untangle before any announcement unless either side has changed their minds?

Probably awaiting visa clearance before announcing the signing.

I heard he was waiting for an offer from a top team before committing.

Most likely scenario.

thats what I was thinking too. cant help but wonder though, as the interview quoted was a few weeks back and hoods statement about us not being interested is more recent, If hes failed to get a visa inbetween and we're now scrambling for a replacement.

Hopefully not but I wouldn't be surprised.

yep wouldnt be supprised if its because of visa we havent annouce signing of chris walker

know eric grothe jr is in talks with a super league club would love to sign him as think hed do well

And speaking of delayed announcements, what about Jarryd Hayne? Or is there now a slight doubt that he may not actually be coming?

We should sign him before the Tri-Nations because once people see him play other clubs may be interested.
=whiteI'm just trying to lighten the depressing mood - OK?

I heard we'd turned our attentions to Greg Inglis, Jonathan Thurston and Benji Marshall instead. I also heard that Des Hasler is coming over to assist Macca along with Wayne Bennett who's going to assist Basil with the U20s.

Can anyone find a positive in the signing of Sculthorpe please?


I'd rather have signed his brother.

It lowers expectations for the season, which may mean you oevr-achieve

Not quite a positive, but good try. Maybe its just to give the other clubs something else to laugh at?

What were people's opinions on Reardon? He was cracking for your first time round. If got on a pay as you play, or relatively cheaply could be a good signing

I think, because he'll be cheap, and it's only a 1 year contract its a good deal for both parties. If he can recapture some kind of form, then great, if not, bye bye after 2010.

ok how about, you can be guarunteed to go down with a fight (and a suspension to follow)

Good one. Plus, if the rugby is $hit again, we'll watch a couple of good bust ups (hopefully) .

One comment that seems to be made about new signings by those who are determined to be positive is”who else was there?”. This is a valid point, and rarely addressed adequately by those inclined to be negative. However, it is also perhaps too easy for the positives to hide behind. Therefore, in the interests of realism, and trying to avoid any factional agendas, I thought that it might be a good idea – instead of simply saying “X is an OK signing”, “Y is a rubbish signing” – actually to analyse the signings in comparison with the other options.

What I have tried to do is to compare like with like – players who have moved either within the UK or into the UK, who have a similar quota status and who play similar positions. Here goes:

[uGlenn Hall[/u
Status – full quota
Position – prop / 2nd row
The impression is of someone who has been a steady, solid player for good teams, without ever troubling the representative selectors. Though the same could have been said of Morrison, Hall doesn’t seem to have the same degree of kudos. To cover prop, I’m pretty sure Tronc or O’Meley are better players. To cover 2nd row, the options are less clear: Fitzgibbon has been class but is 4 years older; Fa’alogo is an international, but left Oz under a cloud; and we could have retained Morrison or Solomona, though there would have been doubts over the fitness in both cases and consistency in the second. As for Brits in the same position, I’m not confident that any available props or second rows were better.
Conclusion – we probably had to use a quota spot. We seem to have acquired a reasonable player, but better were available.

[uHeath L’Estrange[/u
Status – full quota
Position – hooker
L’Estrange’s reputation seems to be similar to that of Hall. In this case, very few hookers have changed clubs – Brad Drew, Andy Eliis, Tommy Lee & Newton. The easiest option would have been to retain Newton, but he just hadn’t been performing for us recently. Drew might have been an option, but despite his undoubted class it would have left us with 2 players of 35+ in the team and would still have used up a quota spot. On the whole, my preference would have been for Lee, reserving the quota spot for another position. However, none of the options available would have inspired. I haven’t considered Scott Moore, as he has simply remained with Saints, despite his recent loan spells.
Conclusion – so-so, but a shame to use up a quota spot.

[uBrett Kearney[/u
Position – half-back / full-back
Status – full quota
On the assumption that we want to play him in the halves, once again very few half-backs have changed teams. Myler was always going to be out of our range if a transfer fee was demanded, while Drew and Lee, as mentioned above, are primarily hookers. Jeffries had blown hot and cold. The doubt remains over his fitness, of course, but if he stays fit, he has a good reputation as an exciting player.
Conclusion – like it or not, probably the best available.

[uStuart Reardon[/u
Position – winger / full-back
Status – home grown
At his best, a good full-back and a competent winger. Leaving character issues aside for a different debate, his injury record is a concern. However, other British outside backs available were not notably better. Paul Johnson’s injury record is no better, and he’s several years older. Neither is Gibson’s, and he hasn’t really progressed. Grix, Ratu or Broughton might have been options, but none of them have proved themselves. Lee Smith would have been ideal, but I doubt we could have competed financially with RU. Perhaps the best bet would have been to keep Tadulala, who would have counted as federation-trained, but even with him there were question marks over his age and a sense that his defence was weakening.
Conclusion – again, like it or not, there appear to have been no obvious alternatives, and may prove good value for money.

[uDanny Sculthorpe[/u
Position – prop
Status – federation-trained
The most controversial of all, due to poor records with illness, injury, discipline and consistency, as well as questions over his attitude. While no star British props have changed clubs, I would have been haapier with any of Snitch, Haggerty or Fozzard, and no less happy with retaining Matt James.
Conclusion – we could have had it so much better

[uChris Walker (assumed)[/u
Position – centre / wing
Status – full quota
Aussie test and Origin player a few years ago, but has had disciplinary problems and run-ins with the law, and is thought to have lost a lot of pace. For a quota player, I would have preferred Soliola, Delaney or Millard.
Conclusion – if true, not impressed.

Overall conclusion – new recruitment individually ranges from “OK, especially as there’s no one better available (Kearney & Reardon) through “OK, but maybe could have been better (Hall & L’Estrange) to “bafflingly poor” (Sculthorpe and possibly Walker). Collectively, it goes nowhere near to addressing the players lost over the last few seasons and leaves us with a considerably worse team than the one that just finished 9th. If our assumed final recruit proves better than Walker, or indeed if we have someone further up our sleeves, this may be turned around, but 2010 is not looking bright.

What you also have to remember is that some players that we were rumoured to be after chose not to join the club.

If we are to believe the stronger, more frequent rumours from on this board, and had things gone a little differently, we could be sitting here with Craig Wing and Daryl Millard on our books. I'd certainly be much more excited about next season if that were the case, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Again if you consider our attempted signing of Aizue a few weeks ago then it becomes even more clear that Sculthorpe was probably our last resort. I still can't get over the 2 year contract though, surely only a 1 year deal would leave him wanting to impress during next season. But now he can rest assured of another season after that regardless of his performance.

Sound analysis there and I don't think anyone can really argue with the view taken on each of our signings.

Seems like we've missed out on some better buys probably down to money. That will continute to be the case until we can bring in more money through being more successful. We're fast returning to the situation we were in prior to SL.

Looks like the kids have to be alright or we're up poop creek!

As I said somewhere else if this squad gets into the 8 it'll be a great achievement. I predict a finish no higher than 9th.

If we don't finish top 8 i will devour my right arm