Re: Luke Walsh : Wed May 01, 2013 9:51 am  

If Walsh - or any other player - was ripping it up in the NRL, then they ain't coming to SL.

The only way Saints get him is if he's struggling for form.

It's delusional to expect the cream of the NRL to come over here right now - all we are gonna get is players with baggage. Does Walsh look like he has potential? Yes.

And most importantly, of all the criticism of him, is anyone saying - he isn't a 7? Would be better at fullback/hooker/centre? Exactly! An undisputed 7 with some level of potential (POTY 2011 etc. etc.) On that basis I'd be pleased with his signing and don't know exactly what some others expect us to be doing.

Re: Luke Walsh : Wed May 01, 2013 10:00 am  

Times have changed. NRL players willing to come over are at a premium with the cap, exchange rate & a far better comp. The "homegrown" rule & increase makes getting an overseas player a difficult & competetive process. No player would be willing to come over here on loan as there will always be a lesser club offering a longer contract to compete.
2-3 yr deal or it just won't happen. Im sure weve done our homework this time with likes of Daniel Anderson still in regular communication with the club, weve just got to trust Mike Rush on his recruitment selections.

Re: Luke Walsh : Wed May 01, 2013 10:17 am  

(Saint) wrote:

If Walsh - or any other player - was ripping it up in the NRL, then they ain't coming to SL.

The only way Saints get him is if he's struggling for form.

It's delusional to expect the cream of the NRL to come over here right now - all we are gonna get is players with baggage. Does Walsh look like he has potential? Yes.

And most importantly, of all the criticism of him, is anyone saying - he isn't a 7? Would be better at fullback/hooker/centre? Exactly! An undisputed 7 with some level of potential (POTY 2011 etc. etc.) On that basis I'd be pleased with his signing and don't know exactly what some others expect us to be doing.

No one is expecting the cream of the crop to come over, but there is no point signing a player just because we can. They need to evaluate it properly and be sure he's better than the options available in this country. If Brown deemed him to be so, then great, sign him up. It is one of the most important decisions the club will make, they need to get this right. Signing Perry, Laffranchi and Hohaia set our progress back a couple of years and we need to get this one right. Another poor signing and we can forget the next 2 or 3 years as well.

Re: Luke Walsh : Wed May 01, 2013 10:23 am  

Saddened! wrote:

No one is expecting the cream of the crop to come over, but there is no point signing a player just because we can. They need to evaluate it properly and be sure he's better than the options available in this country. If Brown deemed him to be so, then great, sign him up. It is one of the most important decisions the club will make, they need to get this right. Signing Perry, Laffranchi and Hohaia set our progress back a couple of years and we need to get this one right. Another poor signing and we can forget the next 2 or 3 years as well.

Agree with your post, but it seems to me there are zero options in this country. The best OOC 'half-back' is Hanbury who has played most of his rugby at 1 this year.

We need a traditional 7. Desperately. Walsh fits the bill for me.

Re: Luke Walsh : Wed May 01, 2013 11:10 am  

Saddened! wrote:

No one is expecting the cream of the crop to come over, but there is no point signing a player just because we can. They need to evaluate it properly and be sure he's better than the options available in this country. If Brown deemed him to be so, then great, sign him up. It is one of the most important decisions the club will make, they need to get this right. Signing Perry, Laffranchi and Hohaia set our progress back a couple of years and we need to get this one right. Another poor signing and we can forget the next 2 or 3 years as well.

I don't think anyone will argue with that.

The club has to be thorough and they have to get the right number 7 that will lead us around the field for the next 3 or 4 years at least. Since Long left we've had no stability in this position with Smith, Eastmond, Lomax and the multiple players from this season trying in this role. We need a good half back to come in and that position needs to be stable.

If Luke Walsh is deemed that man then fair enough, I know very little about him to comment too much.

Re: Luke Walsh : Fri May 03, 2013 11:10 am  

He's been released from Penrith from the end of the season, expected to join Saints.

Re: Luke Walsh : Fri May 03, 2013 11:15 am  

At least he's a natural scrum half and can kick goals. Got Penrith player of the year in 2011 so must have something about him. Let's hope he's not a dud, a la Lance and Perry.

Re: Luke Walsh : Fri May 03, 2013 11:31 am  

St. Rughead wrote:

At least he's a natural scrum half and can kick goals. Got Penrith player of the year in 2011 so must have something about him. Let's hope he's not a dud, a la Lance and Perry.

At least we're signing him to play in the right position, which should avoid another Lance situ.

He should be good enough to do the job. You don't get player of the year at an NRL club without having some ability and he won that award in front of players like Michael Jennings, Petero Civoniceva (who was a big money signing for them), Trentwaterhouse and Michael Worrincy.

Don't expect a world beater, but hopefully someone who'll improve our team no-end.

Re: Luke Walsh : Fri May 03, 2013 11:36 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

At least we're signing him to play in the right position, which should avoid another Lance situ.

He should be good enough to do the job. You don't get player of the year at an NRL club without having some ability and he won that award in front of players like Michael Jennings, Petero Civoniceva (who was a big money signing for them), Trentwaterhouse and Michael Worrincy.

Don't expect a world beater, but hopefully someone who'll improve our team no-end.

Not quite in the same bracket as Civoniceva and Jennings

Re: Luke Walsh : Fri May 03, 2013 11:38 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

He's been released from Penrith from the end of the season, expected to join Saints.

Come on pal, show us a link or something....