Joining an aussie R.U. side according to T n A

Also on Bulls' site.

According to the Bulls, he wouldn't have played until after the season had started, and he's just got married. It seems to have been his longer term plan anyway, and he made the decision to go early in order to avoid all the uncertainty.

I wish him all the best but let's hope no one else goes.

Looking forward to seeing how he went but not the worst news.

Best of luck to him.

He does seem to be the ideal person to let go if his plan was to leave anyway and go back home with his new wife. He was only signed up for the year and would have missed the start so this is not a massive loss. Agree about not losing any more. If we can make it through this season we have Purtell and Diskin out of contract that will give obvious savings plus a few more if they don't perform such as Sammut. Its all about getting through the next 11 months.

Not the worst news, thought we had signed to many 2nd rowers any way with Donaldson, Addy, Fergie, Blythe and Roberts plus some of the youth prospects we are pretty well covered.

Least its for the right reasons, and with his injury he may not have played much anyway.

Hopefully its saved us a bit on money, not a huge amount but as you say he was only signed for the 1 year so not all bad.

Agree with other comments.Would of liked to of seen him play but probably best for all concerned

Sounds like he was looking for a way out, and given that he went through the Crusaders meltdown that's not surprising - especially given that he has a new wife and a life in Australia

Seems like the best solution for all parties - takes someone off our wage bill who was probably only going to a bit-part player in any case

no mention of a replacement so presumably a full salary saving, unless this opens the opportunity for Evans to come back. We could cope with one half-back going, and if Gale being made vice captain is any indication of how hes been training, Sammut would perhaps be the better option financially and team wise. Carvell is the one I least want to leave but fear the most will. But whatever gets us to 12th is fine by me.

Of course tg will count this as one of his five, though its surprising he didnt say in his "5 leaving" post only yesterday that it would be announced today that Winterstein was leaving. But hey, we all knew this was brewing, because thats what happens to Aussies who stay at home injured, tho credit to Frank for not whinging unlike certain predecessors.

He's no loss , if he wasn't good enough for the unwashed at wakey then union is his only option

Given the circumstances from both sides this seems perfectly sensible and probably genuniely does suit both parties to be honest. We've clearly got to let some people go so an injured overseas squad player to union down under is not bad tbf.

There are other players and positions whos departure would hurt us more.

Jamie Foster just tweeted that he is not going,

Good. Our squad is small enough already. Good luck to Winterstein and I can't blame him for leaving.

This. Plenty of cover in 2nd row so a sensible way to reduce wages.

I reckon if you are looking to fill any gaps in the pack cheaply, there will be some good loan deals available during the season.

Certainly at Saints we have many players in the pack, but not all will get a look in. So there maybe some players looking to play fulltime elsewhere to keep themselves in the shop window.

Depends on how Brown rotates them but even with rotation there are some people who got debuts last year who will struggle to get a look in this year.

But if it's a money saving idea, better probably to bring no one in.

What's this...Vinnies last stand on rlfans. I assume you've been barred from all other sub forums so you've appeared here. Why don't you just get another email addresses than you can re-register under another username ( your 5th in as many years at a guess).

No need to recruit any more second rowers, this just gives Roberts and Mellor the chance to cement a place in the 17.

No loss to you. Hasn't got the work rate to be a decent player. Bags full of potential. He's massive and can run good lines but most of the time didn't want to at Widnes.

Can think of a few players like that, could have been another Karl pryce.

Wtf ?? Are you on drugs fat boy ?

Play nice please.

You know what I'm on about mr coffee throwing no show!

Take it elsewhere boys.