It’s been lovely reading round social media and these boards for opinions on this signing. As a general rugby league fan I was made up Wire signed Widdop, Catalans got Maloney etc because it’s great for the league but funnily enough the general feelings around superleague don’t seem as positive on us signing one of the Burgess clan. You’ve got the usual salary cap breach claims, he’ll fit in at the grubiest team in the planet, he’s finished etc but my number one is from our favourite Wire fan Rubber Dickie-

“I’d rather sign Eddie Battye”

Close the forums, we’ve got a winner!

You can't beat jealousy. It's always shown best from someone who'd quietly convinced themselves that they were now the biggest draw in town - and had then found out otherwise.

It has been priceless reading! Before he signed for us, the general opinion is that most SL teams would welcome him with open arms. Now he's a Warrior its a case of hes finished, not been good since 810BC, wont be in the top 10 SL props etc etc....

He will be disappointed. He is Wakefield bound.

I wonder if all agents fees have been declared this time around ha ha

Again great signing and good to see weew getting better players coming over from nrl your team will be pretty decent next year if can get them gelled together in pre season and early games

Strangely my opinion isn’t based on reputation or on internationals (that was your criteria), based on your criteria I note you haven’t dealt with Wire.
As for O’Loughlin, I didn’t know how much he had played which is why I asked.
I note you have completely ignored the fact that I said I’m an admirer.
As for Farrell and the other bloke Hughes and Currie (even though nowhere near his best yet, are a match). No doubt you will respond with the “Hughes= Wigan reject” line. We see him week in week out just as you say about your 2.
Ps check out my signature for further clarification

Sorry, I didn't do Wire because it's a very similar situation to Saints. None of your back rowers are current internationals and, whilst I think Currie could have been with a good injury free run, as it stands, he's not. If I give you he's the equal of Faz (ex international) that leaves you Jack Hughes for Greenwood. Jack is a good, solid Superleague back rower but, even at his best, has never been near the England set up. I'm not sure who you want to put up against O'Loughlin but I can't see anyone in your squad (Jason Clarke, BMM - both of whom your own fans don't really rate) who comes close. You say you're an admirer so I'm assuming you agree?

I'm using being internationals as a benchmark because that's the highest standard achievable and is universally accepted as a marker of a player's worth across every sport in the world. Not really sure why you would object to that tbh and I'm sure you've used it yourself when describing Widdop, for example.

I'm not decrying your (or Saints) packs by the way. Both your front rows are significantly better than ours and much the same reasoning applies in reverse. However, my comment regarding the back row is a fair one and, unless you can show me a like for like one that stands scrutiny (to paraphrase your sig, anything else is just opinion) I'm not exactly sure what you're objecting to.

Age has nothing to do with it. George, along with Sam peaked around 3-5 years ago. Their bodies took a beating at a young age similar to Stuart Fielden and now they are on the decline from the heights they once reached. I am not saying they are bad players, and they can still hold their own but they are not going to ever recapture the form they once displayed. George will go well in SL if his mind is on the job. Best prop in the league? im not sure about that but he will be up there with the best as long as he stays injury free. Sam will still be a very important player for Souths but if you think he is going to come close to hitting the heights of his first stint there, you are mistaken. IMO Tom Burgess is the better of the 3 brothers at this present time and still playing close to his peak level.

Dear shipmates remember to wear factor 50 when going out into that green glow emanating from certain other sites.

Can you not afford sky Sam's killing it