Rhino in peace. Austin looking like the player who first came to Wire. Not saying for a second you guys still need him, as you have a great half back pairing just now.
But did you think he could do it again? Why did we not see more of this at Wire?
Genuinely interested…..

Steady on it’s one game.

Was good last year too… even when when we were dire as a team he was the one talking and trying…

He looks like Austin 2020-2021 for me. Occasionally quite good, but nothing like the explosive individual player he was for the first half of 2019.

However, he's probably costing you peanuts compared to the £250k a season we were paying him, so in terms of value-for-money you're probably quids in.

Yeah, good point. Probably a lot less pressure on him.
I was impressed when Kevin Brown said he was the most skilful player he’d ever come across. Can see why, but is clearly still hot and cold……

What did he do today?.. Couple of darting runs aided by a nice sidestep, some nice towering up-and-unders, which the opposition struggled to deal with, or has he added a third string to his sply populated bow?



Hate to sound cynical, but Austin, apart from that opening couple of months in 2019, was a letdown for us and a general waste of some big salary.

As pointed out, if Leeds are getting him 'on the cheap', then all's good if you are content with a monthly (if you're lucky) show of quality, but if you want a consistent, marquee salaried match winner, then I'm steering well clear.

It’s harsh but true, he became a 1 trick pony that other teams soon figured out. Not the worse half ever but was not worth the money he was being paid, fair play to him getting that pay day.

Massive dummy followed by step, high spiral bomb. Nothing much else.

Once teams worked that out and realised he was inept defensively the writing was on the wall for his Wire departure.

To answer your two questions:

1. He'll always have great games, but they'll be few and far between. I don't think he'll ever have a sustained run of form again as he did in the first half of 2019.

2. As other posters have said. He has a brilliant step and a sky-high bomb. Once teams worked that out, he was nullified pretty easily.

In his defence, he had a few injuries and was playing behind an underpowered pack. But still, he didn't end up being worth the money, and (money not being a factor) I wouldn't swap him for Drinkwater, let alone Williams.

He was used as a super sub at Canberra.
And tbh I think that is how he should be used.
Not good enough for a starting gig but his condition from playing in the NRL meant he arrived at Wire fit and hungry with a fire to show the NRL what they will be missing…
It meant he was unbeatable in our competition, until he got injured.
He became unfit, carrying a bit of a belly that he never lost afterwards, loosing his much of his most effective gift, lightening pace off a sidestep and upper body strength to power through,m.
He had skill, the likes of what I’ve never seen since Jonathan Davis and Phil Blake.
We asked him to do the job of controlling the game, but he just couldn’t do it….he was a finisher, not a play creator.

He had an excellent all round game v Cats. ... I haven't seen him play as well as that ever. Good luck to him. At Wire he started like a bomb but struggled due to injury, over-worked & lack of an in form half-back partner. Nice to see him enjoying himself.

I remember him early doors v Hull away having a blinder and he looked like heir apparent to Briers, then a couple of injuries and he was never the same again.

He was superb 2nd half v Cats but they lost Tyrone May who was giving them big problems at stand off and they bizarrely imploded when Leeds went to 12 men.

I won't hold my breath for an Austin renaissance, and neither should Leeds.