Hmmmm....Strange how just 12 months ago there was such open cockiness about:
1) The union of Mike Ratu and the Midas development touch of Justin, and
2) The increasing proportion of "young British talent" at Rovers (which bizarrely is something utterly unimportant now you're pushing double digits on the overseas players front - see the VT:lol: )

MrPhilb: "Another good young british player, Maybe moulded to replace Jake Webster who is out of contract at the end of 2010 and the quota yet again decreasing. Lets see if Justin can get the best out of him." Ooh, yes, let's. Good job that decreasing quota's had such a massive impact

barham red: "We work on the opposite mentality to your team, we sign potential young english players and give them room to develop, your lot sign players that had potential, usually in the early nineties and let them graze in the KC retirement home" Do you? You do know the average age of FC's squad is lower than Rovers, though? Let's not start on the overseas discussion or we'll be at 50 pages before we know where we are.
Captain Dave:"By the sounds of some of the comments seems a decent prospect and I'm sure working with JM and the team will be of a big benefit to him." Can't put a price on that sort of benefit.
Mild Rover:"Welcome to Michael Ratu - another promising young British squad member." So long, farewell, auf wiedersen, adieu..look at you, all proud about more British players coming, now you don't care, shame on you
j_hunter_hkr: He has just been awarded Leeds Reserves Player of the Year. I think that's ground enough to say he's an excellent prospect given the quality players Leeds produce.." Is, or was?
Gordon Gekko: "Ratu has a decent pedigree and will get the chance to establish himself as a SL player, a chance he may well not have got at Leeds." OK, then..
SirStan:"'I'm happy with this signing, cos it was authorised by someone who knows what they are doing. " Indeed, another one signed on a 2 year and released after one. Justin's getting a bit of form in this respect
Easty: "We've now backed that up with Leeds reserve player of the year. Now whatever the Hull fans say is full of bitterness. Where looking to a youthful side with alot of cracking young English talent and to me i have to say thankyou to Rovers as this is the future." What, one with 10 overseas players and a higher average squad age than FC? "Cracking" indeed.
Gavin Miller - Legend: "Good signing. Young, British and coming from the best club for youth development in the country. The fact Leeds wanted him to go out on loan for a year rather then sign for another club speaks volumes" What did it say, again?


And he made a good start too..
Big Spender: If reports about Ratu and his impressive pre season training is true we may even see Jake on the wing.
Alex Mc: Like the look of Ratu
SirStan: Mike Ratu - very impressed with him, and I see him pushing for a starting berth
Alex Mc: Main positves for me were Mike Ratu and Jake Websters performances.
Gordon Gekko: Mike Ratu - Very impressive. Quick feet and very strong with a pretty decent fend.
Alex Mc, about Kris Welham\; For me he has always been a bit over rated For me, Ratu is a better long term option.
Kingmaker: Ratu made over 20 tackles and stood up very well. Him and Welham were superb tonight.

Oh, well, if nothing else it's good evidence that people saying "<insert player name here> will only get better under Morgan's guidance" is utter crud.

Signing Washbrook wouldnt make any sence looking at the strength in depth we have in the backrow and the kid clearly isnt a stand off. Morgan is a long time admirer of him though.
I think its more likely that if we have cap space and room in the squad that we would sign another threequarter.

It really is embarrasing, sort your head out please!

You need psychiatric help.

Agree. With Webster, Welham and Hall covering centres, Briscoe & Cockayne for full-back then ideally we could do with another winger.

Does anybody actually read what this muppett actually writes, or just skip to the next post whilst thinking the words "boring lover" ?

I'm not saying.
She donated to my charity and I don't want to offend her.

All the time mate, all the time

Use the foe function.

Look, this is a thread about Ratu's early departure. Posters can't on the one hand expect to make cocky comments about:
- the pedigree of Ratu and the huge opportunity he'll get at Rovers
- how great Rovers squad is based on young British talent
- how the KC is a retirement home for Aussies

Then expect, one year later not to be reminded of this, some might say unfounded arrogance, when:
- Ratu is binned off less than a year into his contract having played 5 matches
- Rovers have increased their overseas contingent by 2 and released 5 British players
- FC have a younger average player age and 4 fewer overseas players

Some might question my sanity, but these are the facts, I'm afraid. If you don't like them use the foe function, my love. This is a thread about Ratu's departure, yet I seem to be the only one on topic.

Mrs Barista wrote:Mild Rover:"Welcome to Michael Ratu - another promising young British squad member." So long, farewell, auf wiedersen, adieu..look at you, all proud about more British players coming, now you don't care, shame on you I remember writing that but can't find it on the search function - have you been saving it up? Anyway another season, another young British centre to welcome... Mild Rover wrote:Welcome to Hull KR CH, best of luck. Ratu has been on the fringes as it is - I wonder if it'd be best for HKR and player if he could find another club. It is likely to cost the HKR a few quid, but there is no point being 5th choice centre at this stage of his career and we can only have 17 non-club trained players in the top 25 earners. http://forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=464501&p=15571946&hilit=+welcome+ratu#p15571946 That, my bête noire et blanc, is consistency. Now, you have made your point at length (despite a pretty unsubtle hint that I didn't want this particular thread derailing in this particular way - but having been owned, it'd look like a sulk if I...).

Mrs Barista wrote:Mild Rover:"Welcome to Michael Ratu - another promising young British squad member." So long, farewell, auf wiedersen, adieu..look at you, all proud about more British players coming, now you don't care, shame on you I remember writing that but can't find it on the search function - have you been saving it up? Anyway another season, another young British centre to welcome... Mild Rover wrote:Welcome to Hull KR CH, best of luck. Ratu has been on the fringes as it is - I wonder if it'd be best for HKR and player if he could find another club. It is likely to cost the HKR a few quid, but there is no point being 5th choice centre at this stage of his career and we can only have 17 non-club trained players in the top 25 earners. http://forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=464501&p=15571946&hilit=+welcome+ratu#p15571946 That, my bête noire et blanc, is consistency. Now, you have made your point at length (despite a pretty unsubtle hint that I didn't want this particular thread derailing in this particular way - but having been owned, it'd look like a sulk if I...).