to Penrith Panthers...

rumour on the Aussie scene.

Heard this too, is it just me or does anyone else think Agar is trying to sign someone???

May be he is, but i think it may be more of a case of trying to balance the books.

if it is true - Cleary was Isaac's coach at Warriors so he would know Isaac's abilities

Theres something we don't know about this issac john business. He came to the club as a great prospect and the club saw something in him to justify bringing him half way around the world. Since then he's hardly played and when he hasn't been injured, a 30 something centre playing at stand off is keeping him out of the team...and now we hear that penrith are after him.

Now, Paul Sykes has had his share of poor games yet Issac John cant seem to get near the squad, but is on the radar of penrith panthers....am I doing Paul Sykes a disservice here?

If John is going, then we must be looking to bring in someone who has become available.....or we're offloading a wage to pay the ccj's? Either way, something doesn't add up for me.

You are a bit, Sykes hasn't really had any poor games what still remains is the occasional erratic pieces of play but nothing to suggest he should be dropped for anyone IMHO.

Sykes is not an out and out S/O but he complements Smith so well it would be madness to drop him which is tough on John.

I don't think there is anything sinister about this. Issac John doesn't look good enough to get in the 1st 17 at Wakey at the moment. Simple as that. I would imagine if he goes to Penrith it is for their feeder club.

I'd probably say he has potential, it's just that Penrith can afford to wait where we can't.
Sykes has been influencial, whether directly, or complimenting Smith or with boot. Hard for Isaac to break into that.
If he'd been English no one would probably have bothered too much but when you come half way round the world to play, and you are not playing, it is probably better to look for other options.

I'd be happy if he stayed. You can guarentee Sykes will be injured the day after he leaves. or worse, Smith.
Wildie didn't realy perform when given the chance to replace Smith at Bradford so I'd have thought John would have been next in line.

Part of the problem was he came and was going to be the next best thing since sliced bread a world class stand off.The side did not start to tick and something had to be done so in comes Sykes and instantly we looked a better side and more organised and it gave Smith the chance to play his game.I only saw the odd good thing from John and once a game is not good enough at 24 he should be making his mark and fear time is running out for him.He aint the first player to come who was going to be a cracker jack and he wont be the last.I dont think he has it to make that step up and will probably be one of those players that would be slightly better than Championship level but not good enough for Super League just my thoughts on him.Good luck to the lad if he moves on and if he stays I hope he proves me wrong.

Paul Sykes in my opinion has looked a superb foil for Tim Smith. It's not always the best individual but rather the best combination and Sykes provides that. John maybe was unfortunate that at the start of the season the team just hadn't gelled. But i've no doubt if he'd been more consistent with his kicking we wouldn't have been on the look out for Sykes and thus he'd have had more time to prove himself.

I'm still unsure whether he can cut it at SL but he definitely needs games and i doubt he'll get that at WTW unless we have a few injuries

Smith and Sykes are a great example of Agarmetrics at work - he knew that Sykes wasn't the greatest individual player, but understood that his strengths would complement Smith's weaknesses; it's been *the* success story of his tenure for me, closely followed by coaxing Kirmond's A game out of him on a regular basis and unearthing Paul Aiton.

As for John - a move to Penrith would probably be best for all concerned - he isn't going to get a game here and as someone as pointed out, he'll probably get a regular start in their feeder club, to find out if he has actually got what it takes.

he is basically a victim of us not having a recognised goalkicker, so i don't think we should be too harsh on the lad. Had we had a kicker i don't think we would have ever looked at Sykes tbh.

As an aside, i'd be interested to see who would kick goal if Sykes got injured this season.

A swap for Taumata? leaving Penrith - his 7th NRL club

Collis would have been first choice kicker at the beginning of last year but had an injury that prevented this. And Bobbie Goulding is the best kicker at the club, Sykes included.

That name popped up shortly after the rumour is spread.. I wonder...

Pretty much no chance of him getting a work permit due to previous indiscretions .

Not heard much about Arana he a good player?

Apparently a good player but a bit of a nut case.

Very talented, a classic skillful stand off. But can't keep himself on the straight and narrow.

Seems we are good for this kind of player, maybe welcome to the asylum

Surely he can't be as bad as Rangi Chase.

Interesting... From his twitter.

I would have thought John might have been lined up to take over from Sykes somewhere down the line seen as he's getting to the back end of his carreer, providing John made a good account of himself this season.

hmmm From what I know about Taumata, he's a bit of a bad lad and comes with a lot of off field issues...a bit of a cross between tevita latu and todd carney.....and our squad isn't a bad lads army....he may upset the apple cart.

Taumata:

Great talent but...


sacked by his first four clubs for breaches of dclub discilpline, all involving off the field violence, and prosecuted for stealing a prescription book from the Penrith club doctor...


[urlhttp://www.nrl.com/tabid/10874/newsId/53683/Default.aspx[/url
[urlhttp://www.nrl.com/taumata-leaves-nrl-club-no.7/tabid/10874/newsid/70796/default.aspx[/url

if he was even allowed into GB would you want the risk of employing him?

You never know coming over might help him. We've had players who have had problems, he might turn his life around outside of AUS.