Moon looks the business but doesn't count, because he was already over here; Delaney has developed into a fine second rower but as a recruited centre was less praiseworthy. Cross...uggh ....and now Achurch who looks no more capable than numerous recent young English juniors at the club who have come and gone !!??!! (...and is Vickery really a better winger than Chisholm etc? )

Are we seeing the paper thin "justification" for our glorious CEO's numerous talent spotting and recruitment trips down under ??

Achurch and Vickery need time. Vickery has never played first grade before, and Achurch is also pretty inexperienced, he looks to have ability to me but, looks nowhere near fit enough.

I don't know if Vickery is better than Chisolm, but whilst not setting the world alight last night, he was a million times better than Keinhorst.

Vickery might be a better winger, it's impossible to tell yet on that one.

....but who else, [uhome grown wise[/u (apart from Kirke of course) is afforded the exact same equal opportunities at first grade level each week to prove their regular selection worthiness??

Isnt Vickery English born, Exeter if I remember correctly so therefore doesn't take up a quota spot?? And didn't he pay for his own travel to England to take up the trial??

Erm......Vickery = 2 starts in 2013 = Keinhorst 2 starts in 2013

Achurch = 4 appearances
Luke Burgess = 81
Luke Ambler = 10
Jay Pitts = 27
Kyle Amor = 3
(with the potential for many more)
Brad Singleton = 2
Stevie Ward = 23
Chris Clarkson = 79

Bit early to going off on this one, if Achurch doesn't end up proving himself then he'll be out of team just like Cross (10 appearances) and Griffin (32), they might have been given a chance but they weren't kept around long when they didn't grab it.

Achurch and Vickery may turn out to be ok Super League players.

But, and sorry to sound like Jeff, you could see last night why they wouldn't get within a mile of the Melbourne side and why they weren't picked up a first-grade players even for poorer clubs in the NRL. Consequently they were just filling shirts for Leeds when tested at the top level.

McDermott talked after the game of Melbourne's "incredible resources", and that's the difference. The days of signing a Buderus or Lauititi, or even a Delaney or Moon, from the NRL may be over, unless they've literally been caught getting sucked off by their family pet.

The only way to improve UK sides in comparison to the Australians is to make the most of our own player-pool, which means a reduction in number of teams.

Not "going off" ....just would like to see parity of opportunities given regardless of origins or past reputation. Has Singleton been given the same number of first team opportunities as Achurch for example? Everybody seems to agree he needs more time to get up to speed and to full match fitness ....why is he therefore being given preferential treatment to do so in the first team 17?? Moore too must feel hard done to.

Lets examine your proposition.

Your first example, Moon, you're proclaiming the business after 4 games but discounting because he was over here already.
Your next example, Delaney, you consider a fine second rower but no credit is given because we signed him as a centre.
Your next example is Cross who was released 3 seasons ago but picked up by Wigan.
Then you've dismissed Achurch after 4 games.
Finally you move onto Vickery who, it seems to have escaped your attention, is English.

In fairness to you I was able to conclude you were an idiot after reading just four of your posts so perhaps I shouldnt criticize.

True.....how much credibility would a league of just six teams have though?

You should always feel free to criticise ....however it would be more prudent to not draw inferences as facts. I haven't "dismissed" Achurch...just questioned why he is given preferential treatment.

I confess I haven't picked up the fact that Vickery is English, but it must still be an irritation to those that have played in the club reserve teams in the hope of getting selected for a chance at first team rugby only to see another nail in the coffin from another [iapparently[/i average overseas usurper.