Really? Sam Burgess, James Graham and 33 year old (but still the best we've got IMO) Adrian Morley who else?



2) Bums on seats / season ticket sales / publicity factor







See point 2



The list I provided was purely NRL, that's not what I'm asking, we know there may be a few in the NRL however I'd hasten to say even with that list Willie Mason would stand out to the man in the street in Salford or anywhere else.



I would much prefer Aston Simms, Ben Cross, Luke Bailey, Carl Webb, Jason Ryles, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and maybe Chris Armit of those out of contract (up to last weekend) in the NRL, than Mason but if he was willing to come to these islands and the rest aren't then why not.



Although this is irrelevant now as he doesn't want to sign for us.

Meh, this is getting messy. (I'm sure I'm developing dyslexia) I'll save my response for tomorrow.

There's obviously a split camp regarding Mason.

Some are suggesting that he's past it (although I wouldn't say so).

Some think he's a whole heap of trouble and not worth big money.

Some are of the opinion that he'd be a certain crowd puller.

In any event, it would appear that we are not favourites to land him.

Others who are more clued up on NRL props suggest that there are better out there.

The question is:

Are they available and would they sign for Salford.

If we intend to make a mark in our last season at The Willows, do we want to strengthen the team or pull the crowds in.

Ideally it'd be both, but I'd settle for either.

Today the Manchester Evening News suggests Anthony Quinn from Melbourne and Carl Webb from North Queensland are possible targets for us.

I'd say that if we signed Webb we would be taking a bigger risk than signing Mason.

Carl Webb yes please, always been one of my favourite NRL props and would compliment Cashmere wonderfully, Quinn is a class winger (though to be fair didn't think a winger was high on our shopping list).



Think we should bring back David Gower and then we can have my favourite Cricketer and Actor in the same team, now feel inspired to go watch my favourite film The Guns of Navarone again.

Quin is apparently coming to Super League and I'd be happy if it was to us. I think we do need a winger/centre to replace Talau (depending on where Gibson plays).

I'd be happy with Webb but I think we need a prop who can bring some genuine impact off the bench.

David Gower has gone to St George Dragons from Wests so we won't be getting him back.

With Tyrer returning from loan and McGilvary being injury prone I'd say sell McGilvary and get a new winger, saying that I think we need a centre and a prop a lot more.

Also heard chris Nero has signed

FFS, him and Anderson are like going backwards ...

Why? Surely Nero will be better for us than Talau? and Anderson has to be better than say Sibbitt's been in last couple of years? Can't see how this is going backwards? Would Sibbitt get in Warrington's 17 every week? I admit I don't expect them to set the Willows on fire but they will be better than what we have got now. You have to be realistic, we are not going to attract top international players in their prime or up and coming stars from any other Superleague clubs are we? Maybe we will have a bit more pulling power when we get in the new stadium with hopefully bigger crowds, but right now I'd imagine it's a very hard sell however big the offer!

Maybe Nero's not but Anderson, I mean I wouldn't say hes much better than what we currently have and his wages will be quite a bit, I'm just saying we could probably get better than Anderson for what he'll be worth and Nero well I'd rather have him than Talau yes.

I'd say Anderson would be an improvement on Sibbit, Parker and Littler (depending on how much effort he's willing to put in). By the way Quins fans think he's a cert for them next year. Strange how things change in a week, one minute looking good and feeling optimistic, next we're back to doom and gloom.

I have to disagree strongly because if you look at Anderson's stats he averages over 7 meters per carry. Compare that to all 12 current Salford forwards and he blows them out of the water. The closest to him is Rob Parker who has averaged 6.5 Metres. This is one of our problems we don't have enough go forward, three of our current back row are actually adapted centres. Further to this Anderson also puts in an average of 20 tackles a game despite being spelled for long periods.



Average Meters Per Carry Stats 2010: Alker 4.6 Mts - Sibbitt 5.3 Mts - Littler 5.5 Mts - Adamson 5.3 Mts - Swain 5.4 Mts - Cashmere 6 Mts - Leuluai 6.3 Mts - Jewitt 5.5 Mts - Boyle 5.9 Mts - Sidlow 6.3 Mts - Neal 5.9 Mts.



Compare this to Wigan and you'll see why they are top and we are where we are: Paleaaesina 8 Mts - Tomkins 6.3 Mts - Fielden 7 Mts - Coley 6.7 Mts - Hansen 6.9 Mts - Prescott 6.9 Mts - Riddell 5.7 Mts - Farrell 7.3 Mts - Mcllorum 5.9 Mts - Bailey 6.6 Mts - Mossop 7.1 Mts - O'Laughlin 5.4 Mts



I think it's very conclusive that Anderson could be a good signing for us, just for you info Adrian Morley averages 7.98 metres and Jamie Peacock does 7.5 per carry.

According to the MEN we are Fighting with Bradford for Paleaaesina, which I think would be a bad move for us, if Cashmere is penalised for trying to play the ball, Paleaaesina in a Salford shirt would be penalised each time he ran into the tackle.

I think Paleasina would be a terrible move - he's only ever on the park for 10 minutes, and if Wigan couldn't get him fit what hope is there for us doing it? Even with a it more investment we're likely to have a pretty small squad - get a couple of injuries in the forwards and with one only able to play very limited spells it is a nightmare

link here to story about Palea’asina. [url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/rugby_league/s/1312988_salford_battle_with_bradford_for_wigan_ace_fekaNo Fekin Way[/url

Stats [url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2010&hp1=1135&hs2=2009&hp2=1135&stat=metres&season=2008Iafeta Palea'aesina Wigan[/url



Notice his agent is Endacott & Peter Brown , I wouldn't offer a half sucked Polo Mint to Peter Brown on principle .. [size=50Idle Bast*rd had a stinker and lost us the Lancashire Cup Final [/size

[url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/rugby_league/s/1312988_salford_battle_with_bradford_for_wigan_ace_fekaM.E.N Story here[/url



So we're after Feka Palea'asina, Chris Nero, Carl Webb, Vinnie Anderson, Stephen Wild & Sean Gleeson (and we've got Patten of course) when did we turn into Man City?

His goal kicking that day lost us that effin game!

Is this the Peter Brown that after constantly attempting to kick off with various Salford players got leathered in the last minute of the 1991 Div 1 Premiership Cup Final?

Not only that he replaced David Major who played a blinder at Prop in the Semi and took over goal kicking from Peter Williams ....



Yes he was was THAT Halifax player [i( You must Buy the Video ! )[/i who took exception to either Dean or Kerry or both ..

Oooh. I have the video. Always worth a watch once in a while. I seem to remember Steve Kerry getting so annoyed with the shenanigans going on in the scrum that he kicked out and nearly caught the Fax prop (perhaps Brendan Hill) square on the chin.



Despite the fact that Peter Brown was clearly crackers, the fight he basically started in the last minute was immense. Ha, and the commentator who was so parochial in Salford's favour getting giddy when it was going off, describing Brown as a "disgrace that wants banning from the game" before carrying on to chant "Salford - Salford..."



LOVE IT!

and I know the background to Brown and Mick Dean's tittle tattle

Aaaaand you're going to leave that story just there right? Talk about dangling carrots Pev.

Yep Mick was a mate of mine a few years back.