Regan Campbell Gillard has left Parramatta, at 31 a top middle and is the calibre of player who would make a big impact. He would be great but I suspect a club in the NRL will snap him up.

Aren’t Leeds rumoured to be interested?

He’s already turned down a £380k a year deal with St George.

Nobody in SL is going to be paying that much for him so, yes, I’d agree, highly likely he has already signed for another NRL club.

That’s just plain wrong imo. He’s on peanuts and I’m not suggesting he has earned an improved contract, but if he’ll take the same deal then I see no reason why not, he’s only 22 for heavens sake.

Having read a lot of what you put I think you have a slightly off logic to what the true advantages of Ellis cash are.

It’s not the big signings, we’ve always managed them, even if not on the quantity that Ellis might allow. But for me the real luxury we now have is that we can develop players in a way we couldn’t Before.

We can now give players that bit longer so long as they are willing to be reasonable. I know it used to really pee off Carter the he simply didn’t have the cash to keep the maybe players. Not all will make it but plenty do.

For now Shaw is a reserve player, we need them and we can afford them. We now have the one luxury we never had before, time.

Final note. I think you need to accept that not all the talent is in the NRL which you seem a bit obsessed with. You were happy to back Boothroyd after he got injured based on roughly three games, so why not Shaw? Boothroyd did no more than Shaw in his first few games!

rumoured here that he's turned down Brisbane because he want's to stay in Sydney... Although his management team seem to have messed up a possible deal at the Dragons

I beg to differ and Boothroyd showed a lot more and continues to do so than Shaw despite being almost 3 years Shaws junior.


I know full well you can’t have a team of superstars and need reserve and back up squad players. I’m just not convinced that Shaw is or ever will be SL level standard. If he is to be a trinity player next season regardless I will fully support him and hope I am wrong and that he progresses well.

We also have Lingard as the player to develop and in a way he could very well have taken Shaw’s spot already.

Of course I don’t think talent is purely in the nrl. There’s plenty of talent in the uk, the issue is that a lot of it is locked down at their respective clubs.

This is about my thoughts on Shaw and I have reservations as to whether he will ever be good enough for SL and his recent injury record. I may not end up being right but that’s my present thoughts which may change if I see more of him.

I genuinely think Lingard is a better player now at 17 than Shaw is at 22.

Shaw is still young, still got plenty of time, especially in the position he plays, but I actually think he has struggled at this level to make any sort of impact, regardless of his wage which somehow Vastman seems to know, I think there are better players to carry in the squad both in terms of where they are at now as a player but also potential for the next few years (see Lingard).

If we are after another out and out prop, I do wonder if the club have considered Chris Hill for a year, 36 but just made Wanes England squad, so still up there and on the outer at Hudds.

Wonder if Shaw could drop back a row? He seems to have more of the build of a second row than a prop

If we are after a prop it probably wouldn’t be a starting prop and one who would be more of a squad player.

I’d look at Bienek at London as he seems to have impact and looked good in the 2 games I’ve seen him.

Regards your other post. Shaw is one of those who will probably come good in his mid - late 20s. It’s whether the club feels it want to persevere with him or sees enough in him. He may already be under contract and I’m fine with that.

Still very interested to see who we have signed for next season.

As mentioned Royle could be worth a look as an edge forward. Think he’s quite a big lad seeing him play for saints earlier this season but he seems more like an Ashurst type of player.

Lewis Bienik as far as I can gather has got a very good job darn sarf outside of Rugby League and so is not interested in playing full time

Next announcement at 7

Noah Booth 1 year extension

Good decision that.
I think he'll be a great player, and not too bad already.

Booth will certainly add good cover to the full back, centre and wing. Can’t beat speed and the lad has that.

Reminds me of Matty Ashton. I also think he’d make a good winger.

It’s pleasing to know that we could field a quality home grown back line that, fingers crossed they keep on developing, could be a match the some of the best in the game.
Boothe
Murphy (I know he’s at Sts)
Law
Pratt
Johnstone
Jowitt

Is Booth home grown?

I think we'll see Booth transition more into a three quarter. Max has got the full back shirt nailed down, and then with Rourke coming in we look covered there for at least a couple of years. And from what I've seen so far of Booth, I think he's got the size and speed to make an impact there.

Booth also seems to be able to pass on the right well. I noticed at full back he often attacked to create space e on the right as opposed to Max who gravitates left. Could be a good option for right centre in the future.

Going to be a fight for that right centre spot. Hall, Scott, Booth. Though Scott may play second row.

I imagine Roarke if he signs will cover like Booth the back line.

I doubt that we'll pursue Rourke now.

What makes you say that?

We certainly need another good 5/6 players so he could still be on the cards.

The Roarke rumour was weeks ago so I’d imagine the pursuit is already over one way or the other.

Rourke's signed. Still him and Matty Russell to announce.

We only need God to come on and confirm now.

That would pretty much finish the back line and I would be fine with that.

Just a 9, prop and second row to finish up - one of which a marquee.

I’d like to see us look at these but we’ll see- Parcell, Royle, Hood, Neko, Boothroyd, Bienek.

Can we hold you to that?

Yes.