Pre Season

[Guest]

SBW background is League.
I dont think it will be a problem for SBW starting in Feb because I still feel it's the same as when a club signs a player playing for another team before June 30. He knows the game, it's just another match plan.

Im sure it has happened ralphy that a league player has switched codes mid season and got a start straight away? Someone in England.

Hes background 5 years ago was league. He is now coming from a much slower code and is going to need a LOT of time to relearn the game and its changes since his spineless departure. He could be the best athlete in the world but that will not count for a thing in another game. Do you think Usain Bolt could just turn up to the next full marathon and win it? I hardly think so but I would go as far as to say he is the best athlete in the world today yet it means nothing unless he has the time to learn the tools and skills of a new game.

A jack of all trades but an expert in none. SBWalkout can have that claim if he wants.

[novice chook]

Didn't Gasnier come back mid season from Yawnion and walk straight into a side that won the GF mate??? Did he also play Origin that season, not sure about that???

I can't recall too many others going either way mid season though. It's usually something done at the end of a season, code swapping.

I think it's fair to say that Gasnier was pretty bloody average when he first returned - it took him a few months to look comfortable back playing league and gelling with his team mates.

He was gifted a premiership by riding on other players' backs. Not the first to do so and won't be the last. But he made no real impact on the DragQueens in 2010. If anything he was a hindrance in his first month or so back.

Here's hoping if we do sign Scummy Bill, he adjusts very quickly from yawnion/boxing to league. But until he has a few hitouts, we won't know how he'll perform.

NC

[Headless Chook]

Hes background 5 years ago was league. He is now coming from a much slower code and is going to need a LOT of time to relearn the game and its changes since his spineless departure. He could be the best athlete in the world but that will not count for a thing in another game. Do you think Usain Bolt could just turn up to the next full marathon and win it? I hardly think so but I would go as far as to say he is the best athlete in the world today yet it means nothing unless he has the time to learn the tools and skills of a new game.

A jack of all trades but an expert in none. SBWalkout can have that claim if he wants.

What exactly are these changes that he's going to have to learn? Its still basically the same game as 5 years ago, maybe a bit more wrestling than 2008 (although Melbourne were all over that back then too) but the fundamentals are the same.

[Vasco]

If anything the standard of the competition is slightly weaker.

[Guest]

What exactly are these changes that he's going to have to learn? Its still basically the same game as 5 years ago, maybe a bit more wrestling than 2008 (although Melbourne were all over that back then too) but the fundamentals are the same.

You are kidding yourself arent you? Rules have changed, tackling styles have changed, the infamous shoulder charge is now outlawed, speed, and the list goes on. Really...??? You think he will just fit in and work wonders on day dot with no pre-season? Theres going to be a lot of learning to be had and be had very quickly if we are to get our moneys worth out of the most expensive player in the league.

[fletch]

judging by tweets from JWH/Mose the boys were absolutely flogged on their first official day back at training this morning, would be a marked change from the pre-season last year when Smith had them playing ad-lib touchfootball most of the time.

no doubt a few boys wouldn't know what hit them this morning.

[Rooster_6]

What exactly are these changes that he's going to have to learn? Its still basically the same game as 5 years ago, maybe a bit more wrestling than 2008 (although Melbourne were all over that back then too) but the fundamentals are the same.

You are kidding yourself arent you? Rules have changed, tackling styles have changed, the infamous shoulder charge is now outlawed, speed, and the list goes on. Really...??? You think he will just fit in and work wonders on day dot with no pre-season? Theres going to be a lot of learning to be had and be had very quickly if we are to get our moneys worth out of the most expensive player in the league.

Shoulder charge hasn't been outlawed. In regards to speed surely he's faster having played in the backs during his time in Union than when he played in the forwards in league.

I'm not a huge fan of the signing either but your just making up crap to try and pass off your hate for him as legitimate Concerns.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Shoulder charge hasn't been outlawed. In regards to speed surely he's faster having played in the backs during his time in Union than when he played in the forwards in league.

I'm not a huge fan of the signing either but your just making up crap to try and pass off your hate for him as legitimate Concerns.

Speed has been plucked out of no where. the game is not faster than it was 5 years ago with all the wrestling in the ruck.

[Guest]

Speed has been plucked out of no where. the game is not faster than it was 5 years ago with all the wrestling in the ruck.

Its not plucked. Its fact. Player speed is far superior to what it was.

[Guest]

Shoulder charge hasn't been outlawed. In regards to speed surely he's faster having played in the backs during his time in Union than when he played in the forwards in league.

I'm not a huge fan of the signing either but your just making up crap to try and pass off your hate for him as legitimate Concerns.

Crap? Crap is trying to nullify legitimate concerns for the sake of trying to argue. What are your reasons for not being a fan of the signing then?

ps... stop trying to spoil all my fun!

[Guest]

Btw, I know the shoulder isnt legally banned but it may as well be outlawed as any contact like that these days is usually penalised or placed on report. You dont often see a shoulder charge hit someones legs now do you. Its usually up high.

[Guest]

The speed of Japanese Rugby is a lot different to the speed of the NRL.

[Guest]

Btw, I know the shoulder isnt legally banned but it may as well be outlawed as any contact like that these days is usually penalised or placed on report. You dont often see a shoulder charge hit someones legs now do you. Its usually up high.

Get it right and there is no problem, get it wrong and you are going to be on the end of a lengthy suspension. It's not rocket science.

[Guest]

Sbw is super human just accept it,,,,,he"ll be a stand out from the first touch you'll see

Yeh knocking the ball on after getting smashed by Ben Te'o.

[Headless Chook]

You are kidding yourself arent you? Rules have changed, tackling styles have changed, the infamous shoulder charge is now outlawed, speed, and the list goes on. Really...??? You think he will just fit in and work wonders on day dot with no pre-season? Theres going to be a lot of learning to be had and be had very quickly if we are to get our moneys worth out of the most expensive player in the league.

Please list all these rule changes that have made the game so different from 5 years ago. As I said, the fundamentals have not changed. You still have to be able to catch, pass, run and tackle....all things he does quite well as a matter of fact.