I think it’s fair to say Dufty has some decent attributes but probably isn’t showing them regularly enough. When there’s a talent like Thewlis who’s come through the academy, and looks the real deal, whose preferred position is full back it’s easy to see why there’s a clamour to get him in there, so signing a proven quality winger (oh I don’t know, like Charnley maybe?) would make sense.

I don’t have a problem with pairing Williams with a half back who can just do the simple things really well, move the ball quickly and accurately with a kicking game that gets us in the right places on the pitch, a foil for a halfback partner with more flair and creativity. On paper that’s what Drinkwater should provide, in reality, like Dufty I don’t think we’re seeing his talent translate into performances on the pitch. Again with Dean and Hayes you’d really like to see them given an opportunity to see if they’ve got the talent to make it.

With Dudson, I’m not as apposed to him as many seem on here, but, I don’t think he makes the 18 when we’re at full strength, and that being the case, when we do need cover I think we’d all rather it be a prospect getting experience as apposed to a diminishing journeyman. I thought Thomas went well early on in the season when he had a bit of game time, ran hard and didn’t take a backward step…

I’d have no issue if Mautautia brought forward his retirement a few months, no issues at all…

Just keeping my fingers crossed Dan Russell threatens someone with a spatula any day now. 

We do have a massive history of signing crap players and desperation signings, but all from different coaches so it's a really weird one.
There are a few on the list that i wouldn't have put on though.
Like Smiffy said, Bodene Thompson was always a stop gap for us and i thought he played well for us.
Dodds was only signed on a one year deal and looked really good for us, but broke his leg really early in to i think only his 2nd game for us.
Dom Crosby i think his life circumstances would have affected anyone.
And Kasiano was superb for us for the first 10 games he played, then the WHOLE team took a massive nosedive it wasn't just one or 2 players that year.

But there has been some some head scratchers over the years, with weird drops in form.
Oli Holmes at Cas was an old school no nonsense machine of a second row, massive minutes. Tackled all day etc Then came here and that was it he just lost form.

Rob Butler was brilliant for London and i thought was a gem of a signing.....then came in overweight and never got fit again, then leaves us and gets in shape again.WTF

Asotasi i was over the moon when we signed him.......then it's like he was told he could clock off and relax on the field.

Rauhihi, absolute Tank of a man who won the Tri-nations in 2005....then came to us and apart from one Game against Leeds he became absolutely bang average and was dropped for Tyrone McCarthy.

There's been so many players i've seen come to us who's form has just disappeared, and from established players. It's utterly bizzarre.

I don't care how boring Wigan were to watch under him, but i think Wane is genuinely the only man i can think of that wouldn't take s**t and get the best out of players.

It’s no coincidence their form dropped off when they came here, they came for a different kind of well known culture.

What’s the deal with Powell.   Hearing that he’s on the way out?

Quite like this list for a self flagellation read!


Out of these and with no hindsight, who would you have signed? I'll go;


Ben Pomeroy, Chris Sandow, Josh McGuire, Oliver Holmes, Mitchell Dodds, Rob Butler (low risk a bit like Anthony England), Sam Kasiano.