Sort of suggests otherwise?

Just a little point...have you spoken with Connor at all? To be able to back up what you said?

Connor has always seemed decent enough in his RL knowledge. Though I get the idea that his views are no more valuable than most on here. Doesn't he come from a football background in reporting.

Have to wait and see on this purtell.

Can he catch? Can he run with any semblance of pace? Can he tackle?

If the answer to any two of the above is yes then he is an improvement...

They better play Eye of the Tiger when his name is read out in the line up...

I hope Connor doesn't mind me posting this but he comes from a Rugby Union background growing up near Sale Sharks rickety shack of a ground Heywood Road (sadly no longer with us).

But his true love is football as you say and Manchester United.

He's a top bloke and will be missed by all, although I hope he takes up my offer of joining me for the Crusaders game in the commentary box.

I would be interested to hear what Canberra fans think of Purtell. His scoring record there was certainly very good.

I know a thread has already been made but it's annoying me how much purtell is getting knocked already without playing a match? Surely he can't be as bad as made out if he's starting centre for a NRL club regardless of injuries? Just wondered if anyone actually seen him play? Myself I will hold my judgement till he plays, instead of slating someone who hasnt even played for us yet!

One thing I read from one fan is Purtell he trys really hard and looks gutted when he screws up - shows heart and determination, something only seen in a handful of players - Ainy and Elima to name a couple.

He played well on the wing for Penrith v Cowboys. Didn't know a great deal about him before we were linked, but will keep an eye on him via Prem Sports.

Says in todays RL rags that Joel Moons agent reckons he is more likely to come to SL than stay in the NRL. We should be interested in him IMO.

Well, I don't think he's as bad in this thread as he is in the other thread, so there's a point to this thread.

The people who have knocked him are youtube watchers who see youtube and then comment on a players ability! Personally I think he is alright, improvement on what we have, been watching him since 2007 since his Canberra days, very direct player. But cant comment on what he wpould be like as a super league player, all comes down to what service he gets from what ever half back pairing he gets

The quote from conner you have said could be, of not probably, be from what he has seen on Youtube like most people on here. And im saying personally his league knowledge is limited, like most people on here. Not trying to get under anyones skin. But like people who have suggested Herbert should be 13, clueless. Blaming all players for playing a defensive system that clearly isnt working.

What does that have to do with Conner's reporting ability?

Think this Purtell bashing is wearing a bit thin now. Give the bloke a chance. It certainly doesn't sound like he's a world beater but I'm sure he won't be getting paid as such. Any player who has held their starting place consistently for 2 seasons can't be that bad. He had a good game last weekend and looks like he's a real trier (total opposite of Ah Van). If you look at a few more YouTube videos other than the 'errors' one he shows some really nice touches and gives a fantastic pass in what's billed as the best ever penrith try. The last few 3/4 NRL signing have all been reserve grade players. It sound like he's coming regardless of opinions, so how's about we get behind the bloke and give him a chance

...is the right answer.

I think I would rate the opinion of someone who has watched him regularly rather more than those who might seek to form a view based just on some youTube clips and forum talk.

He can't be THAT bad, otherwise the fans would be clamouring to convert Michael Worrincy into a winger to fill his position (assuming MBBB has not recently joined the forum...).

To put together a video montage of a player's errors takes a really nice person.

Wingers do tend to take more than their fair share of flak, even Ah Van in my view. When you rush out trying to close down a 3 on 1 and are left in no man's land you look a total mug but nobody screams at the stand off/loose forward/ second row for leaving the centre and winger to cover half the pitch. What wing does Purtell play on? Will he be outside Lullia? My instinct would be to go with Platt and Raynor on the right as they're defensively our 2 best backs, or is that damning with faint praise.

will he be centre or wing? looking at the positions he has played, in 2008 he stated he wanted to be thought of as a centre rather than wing and since then its been as much centre as wing though this season more wing so perhaps a desire to move on and play centre again. which then raises questions where the other centres and utility players and the other signing still to be announced slot into Potters plans. Lulia can play wing too, so its going to be interesting to see how the backs settle down next year. www.rleague.com/db/player/p/purt ... /index.php

will he be centre or wing? looking at the positions he has played, in 2008 he stated he wanted to be thought of as a centre rather than wing and since then its been as much centre as wing though this season more wing so perhaps a desire to move on and play centre again. which then raises questions where the other centres and utility players and the other signing still to be announced slot into Potters plans. Lulia can play wing too, so its going to be interesting to see how the backs settle down next year. www.rleague.com/db/player/p/purt ... /index.php

If we have another season were we have wingers/fullbacks/2nd rowers playing in the centres, I may shed a tear.

One of the questions I asked potter in the Q & A thing he did was if he thought we had too many 'jack of all trades' and not enough 'masters'. I stated that I believed we had too many utility players and not enough specialists. I was a bit surprised that the question wasn't answered but it turned out that it was covered in a full T&A article the next day. Potter stated that he was quite happy to have utility players able to cover many positions. I still believe now as I did then, I think he's wrong. Yes you need a couple of utilities to cover injuries but not a whole back line made up of them. Some positions need specialists and we won't win anything until we have them.

i think he be a gud capture. lukin forward to getting sum size n weight in 3/4s

Quote ="martinwildbull"will he be centre or wing? looking at the positions he has played, in 2008 he stated he wanted to be thought of as a centre rather than wing and since then its been as much centre as wing though this season more wing so perhaps a desire to move on and play centre again. which then raises questions where the other centres and utility players and the other signing still to be announced slot into Potters plans. Lulia can play wing too, so its going to be interesting to see how the backs settle down next year. www.rleague.com/db/player/p/purt ... /index.php'" What other signing still to be announced? Afaik purtill is the Aussie Connor was hinting at. Sammut and this one were the only imminent signing mentioned iirc

Quote ="martinwildbull"will he be centre or wing? looking at the positions he has played, in 2008 he stated he wanted to be thought of as a centre rather than wing and since then its been as much centre as wing though this season more wing so perhaps a desire to move on and play centre again. which then raises questions where the other centres and utility players and the other signing still to be announced slot into Potters plans. Lulia can play wing too, so its going to be interesting to see how the backs settle down next year. www.rleague.com/db/player/p/purt ... /index.php'" What other signing still to be announced? Afaik purtill is the Aussie Connor was hinting at. Sammut and this one were the only imminent signing mentioned iirc

I believe Potter has said in an article somewhere that the threequarter yet to be announced won't be the end of our recruitment this year.

Ah right. Didn't expect it to be. Thought OP meant something imminent.

Karl pryce. i hope it is otherwise im paying bully a tenner. need nother rough backrower or prop