He was in his late 20's when he came over from Balmain on a off season contract in 87 , at that time he was DallyM Fullback of the year & the previous seasons recipient of their golden boot award . it was akin to us signing Billy Slater for play for us for 4 months today.

however he did play for us in his 30's 5 odd years later in the 90's as player Manager so he still qualifies as a 30's signing I guess.

others not as many as you think given our Dad's Army signing tag:-
Michael Hancock -32
Willie Talau -33
Steve Hampson - 34
Andy Johnson - 30
Alan Hunte - 32
Peter Williams - 30
Mark Johnson - 30
Martin Offiah - 34
Luke Patten -31

other these Frank Wilson from the late 70's side, the ex Saints Welsh centre who was in his 30's when he signed for us and was still class

You must be very sensitive if you consider that a slagging-off. More tongue-in-cheek as you seem to be the only Salford fan who didn't rate Hancock. Think you need to chill out a little.

I agree that Fata Sini was also an excellent centre for us. Both equally stood-out in the teams they played in.

Sini doesn't join our now prestigous 30's club unfortunately although he is rightly a legend!, he was 29 when he joined Salford from Samoa RU ( I had to check as I had him older ) .

Hampson, Hunte, Williams, and I suppose Patten are the stand-outs there for me. All played well for us IIRC.

How old was Forber when we signed him? He was a monster for us aswell.

Thanks middleman

I'd say out of that list Frank Wilson stands out from the others with Talau in 2nd. If we were to sign player over 30 I'd prefer a halfback or a forward than a threequarter.

You'd rate Talau second out of that list?

In a Salford shirt yes

Forber was 28! a mere youth , anyway it's outside backs in their 30's , if we widen to include forwards & half backs the list would expand faster than Palea'aesina's waistline close season

of that list Peter Williams would get my vote , class hands and a great tackling technique.
also I forgot to include Phil Ford.

Can't believe Hoss Cartwright hasn't been mentioned, he was for me one the best second rowers I've ever seen in a Salford shirt and if it hadn't have been for injury I think he'd have become a true legend for his offload alone.

Cartwright was awesome he was a forward though not a threequarter.

I saw someone mention Forber and thought it only right to include Hoss. And Andy Greg when he came back was still on his day in a different class to many in their 20's.

Moon want's to play for Leeds,Gleeson want's to play for anybody.good luck to the two of them.

It wasn't your original post you dismissed him as a non entity, however I accept you later stated he was class at Brisbane, but in any case you lost all credibility with your Talau at number 2

I'm taking it you meant that tongue in cheek that Talau was number 2.

IIRC he spent most of his time on the treatment table.

Just out of interest what number did you have Peter Williams at ?

How can Talau be 2nd?? He only played about twice!!

I grew up watching Peter Williams, he signed 29 years of age, he had a terrific rugby brain, he could slot in fullback, stand-off and centre and not look out of place but the one thing Peter lacked was pace to be considered a true great. Give him that extra yard of pace i think we would of witnessed him in a Wigan shirt not Salford with the Great Britain No4 jersey made his own.

As a Salford supporter over the decades i have witnessed some pretty bad signings in the centre position in defensive terms. Bentley, Birkett, Carige, Langi, Tassell, Henry, Littler, Sean Gleeson, the list could go on. So when Talau arrived and played in a very bad McRae side, it was a breath of fresh air, i recognised that Talau solidified the left centre immensley and when he didn't play we missed his defence, we leaked in try after try thats why Talau was influencial when he played. If we had a decent enough defensive centre replacing him we probably wouldn't of missed him.

I don't know PV's plans or wishes ( he probably doesn't under current standings ) but Gleeson is a short term fix without any guarentee of any return from Gleeson. I'm sure there's a player in the Lower leagues who has potential and can be moulded into a Superleague player who is more enthused, cheaper, dedicated and hungrier than Martin Gleeson. Zak Hardaker is the prime example.

Trouble is, Zak Hardaker is the exception as opposed to the rule. There is undoubted talent in the lower leagues but the likes of Leeds are way ahead of us in forging links and attracting players. I suppose the Club has done something similar with Fages. Searched out and invested in a young lower league player with a lot of talent. It's about the only thing the Club has done for the long term i can actually remember.

I liked Talau but he was way passed his best for Salford and didn't play enough to warrant any adoration from myself. Each to their own I suppose.

Good post just a couple of points, firstly my memory of Tassell (deadman) was that of his defence I thought he was solid.

Secondly Gleeson isn't a gamble if it goes pete tong his contract gets torn up if not Salford have class in the centre, everyone knows what he is capable of, and interesting to hear Mozza thinks the same way as me (on another post) where he believes the world cup has to be his goal.

And finally the tough one finding the next Zak Hardaker, there few and far between and if there was one Wigan/Leeds are usually the first to know. Lets not forget we had one catching the ball at the sideline for us, but somehow missed him now he is Leeds/England first choice centre.

Apologies regarding Kris Tassel (RIP). I was unaware.

If Gleeson makes the England world cup squad then as a RL nation we are doomed, and do understand Gleeson needs a target, there's no doubt he was a decent player 4 -5 year ago even a primed Gleeson would struggle to get in before todays centre partnership with the quality of Watkins and Reed imo. Moz is Gleesons matey he's bound to speak positive about his mate playing for his hometown club.

That has just cracked me up, best thing I've read on here for ages

Tassell was immense defensively, when he hit he hit hard. Only problem was that he offered zero attacking threat, Talau was a waste of time signing, he was an average centre when we got him. I must have missed the great defensive display he put in as his loss of pace left him exposed on many occasions. I do however agree with regards to peter Williams, THE finest centre I have seen play for Salford, closely followed by Naylor.

Garen Casey anyone? This fella should have paid me to watch him rather than the other way around.

Can't argue with any of that fella

except maybe I was fortunate enough to watch Chris Hesketh.

yup I hear he was a bit special to!

Yeah and before the great,brilliant chris hesketh,what about them two Salford centres and Mr Les Bettinson and Salfords finest Ernest Critchley.Yep we were sh.. then but them two guys were Salford through and through.

And that just sums up it all up does`nt it? We havent had a class centre for fu//ing donkeys years.Williams was sh/t in his first year after signing from Sale,Second year improved some.Remember he was playing in a top team then,no screaming when he fuc,,ed of to wigan then aye,unlike Moon.