: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:37 pm  

The Clan wrote:

Clubs will bolster their squads with overseas players, some players better than others, depending upon their circumstances.

Some clubs need less overseas players because they are in a better/different situation than another club.

Every club bolsters their squad to some degree,
as do Wakefield

to a much greater level, yes

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:38 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

Hull seem to have plenty of props, Thackray could be a decent shot


but again, that isnt the point, If wakefield need a big offloading prop and cant find one here, fine got get Winterstein

but when you also cant find a winger so you need two players trained overseas, or a hooker, or a centre, or second row,

it stops being an issue of producing a big offloading prop and you start to wonder what we are actually producing,

and even then, Why do wakefield need 3 overseas hookers? is there really not a young british player good enough to be 3rd choice hooker? and why do you need Henderson, Martin and Demteriou when you have Atkins, and Gleeson who can play centre and Grix, snitch, wilkes, ferguson, bibb, pitts who can play 2nd row and you have let Golden go to Quins?

The club were interested in Thackary at the end of the season, but for whatever reason it didn't work out. More than likely for financial reasons because the club has to make a profit.

Help me out Smokey, i want to understand but are we talking about one signing, or the production of youngsters?

Firstly Demetriou isn't a centre, secondly Grix isn't a second rower, thirdly Latu mainly plays loose, fourth Henderson tends to play second row, fifth Golden wasn't let go, Quins made a substantially higher bid than the club could afford. But in him leaving that has meant that Pitts, Bibb and Ferguson are getting alot more game, surely that's good?

Martin came in at a period when our centre's were developing (Gleeson & Atkins) and when Demetriou was making the transition to the forwards. Kear stated he needed experienced heads to guide the younger players. You cannot simply terminate somebodies contract because it doesn't sit right with a couple of people of fans.

We have good youngsters, we have a decent academy which has had alot of money spent on it recently (But that doesn't mean instant returns). We are working hard in the community, we are working to our limitations in the current climate. The people that matter, know what the club have and are continually doing and can see they're going in the right direction.

I will not say anymore on this matter, i understand what you're saying but everything isn't as cut and dry as it seems.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:38 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

he is, absolutely,

but he also has the same pedigree as Frank Winterstein, 8 first grade appearances in Aus and a couple of Schoolboy caps

Well at least Smokey can see the similarity with Korkidas and Winterstein with regards to NRL reserve grade quality even if Marsdengiant can not (or refuses to?!).

However, we know how Korky will play with the comfort of a 3 year contract where as no one knows how Winterstein will fare until he plays an actual game in Super League.

Anyhow, now the cutandpasteathons have started I think I shall leave this topic well alone.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:43 pm  

Trinity Till Death wrote:

The club were interested in Thackary at the end of the season, but for whatever reason it didn't work out. More than likely for financial reasons because the club has to make a profit.

Help me out Smokey, i want to understand but are we talking about one signing, or the production of youngsters?

we are talking about Wakefield 'apparantly' needing 11 overseas players this year

Firstly Demetriou isn't a centre, secondly Grix isn't a second rower, thirdly Latu mainly plays loose, fourth Henderson tends to play second row, fifth Golden wasn't let go, Quins made a substantially higher bid than the club could afford. But in him leaving that has meant that Pitts, Bibb and Ferguson are getting alot more game, surely that's good?

but they can lll play there can they not? and Golden leaving so that Pitts Bibb and ferguson could play is neither here nor there when henderson was kept on

Martin came in at a period when our centre's were developing (Gleeson & Atkins) and when Demetriou was making the transition to the forwards. Kear stated he needed experienced heads to guide the younger players. You cannot simply terminate somebodies contract because it doesn't sit right with a couple of people of fans.

so Kear made a mistake in signing him for too long, and now they have to pay his wages which meant Golden left and henderson stayed and they couldnt afford thackray so Winterstein has to come in

We have good youngsters, we have a decent academy which has had alot of money spent on it recently (But that doesn't mean instant returns). We are working hard in the community, we are working to our limitations in the current climate. The people that matter, know what the club have and are continually doing and can see they're going in the right direction.

forgive me, but im sure i heard this 3 or 4 years ago aswell

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:48 pm  

Marsdengiant wrote:

Your comment on Laws is cheap. You want us to throw him into SL after major surgery - that is sick. You may do that in wakey, not at the Giants.

But you said you wanted us to throw in youngsters? Why is it any different for you? Do we not have players with injuries in our first team and academy?

So what your saying is Korkidas is a short term replacement to cover for injuries? The same as what FW is for Wakefield? Huddersfield are as guilty as Wakefield are.

However, i chose not to see it that way. I chose to see it as the clubs looking after their youngsters whilst still competing to a high standard.

Re: RFL and Wakey signing : Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:13 pm  

Marsdengiant wrote:

The press says wakey are planning to sign Frank Winterstein.

This guy has played only 4/5 NRL games (so he is nowhere near the 50% RFL criteria) and there is no evidence of him [b]playing for Samoa [/b](being a squad member does not meet RFL criteria).

If this guy is to be allowed in then the RFL will have to give it their blessing.

The whole point of the rules is to ensure overseas players in SL have some proven quality. That we are not displacing British prospects with unproven overseas players.

The RFl should stick to their criteria and not allow Winterstein in.

This is not anti wakey. For eg I have no objection to Stosic being given the okay.

Played for Samoa in federation cup against England.

He was also in the world cup squad but he got injured.

Re: RFL and Wakey signing : Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:16 pm  

adam9641 wrote:

Played for Samoa in federation cup against England.

He was also in the world cup squad but he got injured.

thanks. was covered a while back.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:17 pm  

Trinity Till Death wrote:

But you said you wanted us to throw in youngsters? Why is it any different for you? Do we not have players with injuries in our first team and academy?

So what your saying is Korkidas is a short term replacement to cover for injuries? The same as what FW is for Wakefield? Huddersfield are as guilty as Wakefield are.

However, i chose not to see it that way. I chose to see it as the clubs looking after their youngsters whilst still competing to a high standard.

I think the crux is that out of all the teams in SL, wakey appear to have the worst record on player development, this despite a considerable length of time in the top division and all that goes with it. I know the ground must swallow up a chunk of cash, but surely you must be in a better position than cas, who have spent 2 spells in the lower leagues in recent years, but still have managed to bring through and retain young talent into their 1st team. Most people's perception of wakey is that they have been happy to fill their side with journeymen from overseas at the expense of developing young British talent. Even the quins, in a non RL area, are doing significantly better.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:22 pm  

Trinity Till Death wrote:

But you said you wanted us to throw in youngsters? Why is it any different for you? Do we not have players with injuries in our first team and academy?

So what your saying is Korkidas is a short term replacement to cover for injuries? The same as what FW is for Wakefield? Huddersfield are as guilty as Wakefield are.

However, i chose not to see it that way. I chose to see it as the clubs looking after their youngsters whilst still competing to a high standard.

Give me the direct reference where I said that or are you now lying?

Nor have I ever said Korki is short term.

I know it is hard to defend a club of 10 years in SL signing a resreve grader but making up what I say is rather pathetic.

We have overseas guys. You have many more. All the guys we recruited have extensive 1st team experience FW has not. Pretending otherwise is childish.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:32 pm  

Everybody says they would like the number of overseas players to come down to ultimately help our national team improve, but I think this thread shows why it's not happening.

The most important thing to the majority of fans is to get one over on their local rivals, by any means neccesary. The bigger picture comes a distant distant second