: Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:01 pm  

Stul wrote:

Didn't we get Spruce from that level?

Not really. Widnes were expecting to be IN SL in 1996. Indeed, IIRC their chairman had apparently been assured of that and indeed had announced it to their crowd. Then he got told a few days later that Paris were in instead. Old heads on here will remember the legal challenges... upshot was that with Widnes' declining fortunes we picked up Spruce for a substantial fee (out of the Newlove money) as a stand-out player from a club at a similar level.

: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:40 pm  

Paul124897 wrote:

Christ, it certainly shows our ambition, or lack of when reading threads like this.

why exactly? are you suggesting that there are no players at NL level capable of stepping up to SL

: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:45 pm  

mat wrote:

why exactly? are you suggesting that there are no players at NL level capable of stepping up to SL

No...

regards,

Ian Kirke
Leeds Rhinos

: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:45 pm  

mat wrote:

why exactly? are you suggesting that there are no players at NL level capable of stepping up to SL

Correct.

: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:48 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Correct.

as already mentioned kirke and add to that mcnally (although unproven so far) and brough. Theres always going to be players that SL scouts miss who come to prominence at NL level. we're being very short sighted if we refuse to look at players purely on the basis that they are playing in NL.

: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:50 pm  

Richard Whiting aswell, Jamie Rooney, Karl Pratt. There is a few hidden gems.