: Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:53 pm
Apologies for lurking, but was interested to see reactions after Saturday;s game having gone along.
It interesting to note that the players under fire are the Aussies, yet there is mainly good things to be said on here about British players at Wire (Briers being the exception at the mo perhaps).
Frankly, we are all to blame for this. Every fan of every Superleague side that posts each season about who the next great Aussie import might be. We all look for quick fixes and instant success through big signings from down under. It is a fact that I've often repeated in forums that no team has won a Grand Final with an Australian halfback, and Wigan are the only team to have fielded one in a final.
New Zealanders and Islanders are different. They come in their prime, or before it in most cases and earn their places in the team then and spend good long years with clubs. (The Pauls are the only non-British halfs to win a grand final ring).
yet every year we look for the next big name Australian. Whilst a few have been successful, the numbers who have gone home without bringing the expected success in the modern era are staggering. Even where they have made an impact -some might point to Barrett at Wigan for instance- its back to square one when they leave.
Surely the lessons must be learnt by us all!
