Who has been our best buy over the last 5 years

[Rooster_6]

This is a depressing question to answer.

Half a decade of mediocre recruitment is up there with our records against Penrith and Melbourne.

Luckily Aubbo’s in there calling some shots now though. God help us.

Why the Aubo hate?

[Mickie Lane]

Brandon Smith

Ryan Hall was another top signing.

[Schooner]

Josh Morris was a great signing until injured and then retired

[King Salvo]

Josh Morris was great in 2020, seemed to fall away the next year when Brett did his knee. Value for money I would upset a few people and throw Drew Hutchison's name into the mix. Cost us next to nothing and gave us good service. Watson was good at the back end of 2022 and was such a big loss in 2023. Great again last year. We haven't really signed a lot of players when you think about it.

Doesn't upset me as the Hutchinator played well above his pay packet.

[Random Rooster]

May it prove to be Justin Holbrook ?? (stir the pot).

I agree!! Our attack last year was no fluke, it was Holbrook all over. Too bad our defence up the middle was mediocre when JWH wasn't on the field

[roosterchook]

1. Sam Walker
2. Watson

Those two have been our best investments in my opinion.

[QWERTY]

Doesn't upset me as the Hutchinator played well above his pay packet.

Hutch was pivotal in 2021

[ism22]

This is a depressing question to answer.

Half a decade of mediocre recruitment is up there with our records against Penrith and Melbourne.

Luckily Aubbo’s in there calling some shots now though. God help us.

Who have we signed over this period? People are acting as if they've all been shyte and retention means nothing. Sure it's be bice to have a SBW/Cronk-esque story (noting Cronk played during that period but was signed the year before so arguably counts as he won B2B). But guess who's won premierships over that period... us and Penrith! Sure teams like the Doggies have recruited well, but they were wooden spoon goons, so the bar was set pretty lower for them (i.e. make the 8 and you've over-achieved).

We have signed rhe following on 1st grade contracts (notes attached for consideration of a few less likely one):
- Walker = probably our best signing? Has the best years ahead of him too...
- Cheese
- Leniu
- Sua'ali'i = p!ssed off Souffs so that's gold
- Watson = came back on fark all and then played Origin... great value buy
- May = value signing for 1 season
- Lodge = paid fark all and he played a big roll in getting us into the 8... flicked him without drama
- Young = a WIP but insanely good attack... also a decent coup as he's signed long-term for (presumably) not THAT much
- Va'a
- Mark N = marquee signing outta nowhere for very little
- Whyte
- Pauga = random t&t who has earned an NRL contract and filled lotsa gaps

Walker would be my pick for best signing as he's developed from being a well known youngster, into a bloke who's got Origin written all over him (for the wrong team, unfortunately). Though I note that a lot of players are yet to make their mark on the game so it's a little bit premature to be writing them off.

Guys like Lodge and May weren't bad signings. They filled gaps and were moved on when we made difficult calls about their cultural fit (both were in the picture for NSW selection - the fact we can afford to make hard calls says something in itself). IMO the salary cap means there will always be players like them and tough calls to make.

Cheese and Sua'ali'i are probably both under-performers but what of it? Doesn't mean our whole recruitment plan's shot (noting Watson and Mark N were excellent quality alternatives). IMO it's like a good investment portfolio... some shares flop... others perform... so long as your overall return is positive, you're all good.

[Vasco]

This is a very good question.

Hard to answer actually.

But seriously, what happened with Wong this year. At the end of the 2023 season, SBW was dead set creaming his dacks over him when he was commentating on channel 9.

Sam Walker has definitely been our most ' exciting ' player these past 5 years.

He'll get there.