Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Sun May 24, 2020 12:49 pm  

Shabino wrote:

But was that signing that exciting at the time...?

I'd say it was, because he & Paul Caddick same the club from near certain oblivion.

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Sun May 24, 2020 2:34 pm  

Remember John Gallagher, making the headlines in most national news papers and the national news headlines, regardless of how it turned out, in terms of impact it shook the Rugby world, think it gave the Southern Hemisphere and NZ RU a real chill down the spine as they where not used to their sham amateur players being poached and where not too bothered when league was raiding and weakening South Wales and some extent England and Australia.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Tue May 26, 2020 9:13 am  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

Whilst Ferris was a big signing, Gaz Ellis got more of a fanfare on arrival. Leeds and Bradford had been chasing him between them for a long time before we finally got him. His welcome on the field on the Boxing Day game was huge.

I wonder where his career would have gone had he signed for the Bulls instead.

Ellis was a big signing, in terms of the up and coming hot property, as you say, leeds and bradford, and Warrington were linked to him, we'd obviously spent a huge amount on gleeson a few months earlier, so were getting thrown into contention.

i was in norway for xmas and got more than a few disapointed texts from friends when it was announced he'd signed for leeds.

Amazing player, easy to admire from the away terrace.

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Tue May 26, 2020 10:30 am  

I would include Fleary, Farrell and Powell in there, as players that made a difference though not considered big signings.

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Tue May 26, 2020 10:40 am  

terry newton r.i.p

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Tue May 26, 2020 3:41 pm  

In my time the top 10 that made me instantly think "Wow!" are Grothe, Schofield, Gallagher, Hanley, Harris, Senior, Clyde, Mullins, Peacock, Buderus. Shame that Clyde was always injured, briefly showed what he could do in that fantastic Challenge Cup quarter final win at Hull and I don't think he lacked for effort (unlike Mullins).
Others such as Innes, Lauitiiti and Webb were exciting but I couldn't pretend that I knew all about them BEFORE they signed for us.
If we were talking about any club then Wakey signing Wally Lewis still beggers belief.

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Tue May 26, 2020 3:53 pm  

Holmes wrote:

In my time the top 10 that made me instantly think "Wow!" are Grothe, Schofield, Gallagher, Hanley, Harris, Senior, Clyde, Mullins, Peacock, Buderus. Shame that Clyde was always injured, briefly showed what he could do in that fantastic Challenge Cup quarter final win at Hull and I don't think he lacked for effort (unlike Mullins).
Others such as Innes, Lauitiiti and Webb were exciting but I couldn't pretend that I knew all about them BEFORE they signed for us.
If we were talking about any club then Wakey signing Wally Lewis still beggers belief.

Think you'd also have to have Crooks in therewith Schoey.

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Wed May 27, 2020 9:41 am  

Tony Smith.

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Wed May 27, 2020 9:44 am  

finglas wrote:

Think you'd also have to have Crooks in therewith Schoey.

I think we'll have to agree to differ on that one!

Re: Top 10 groundbreaking signings : Wed May 27, 2020 9:46 am  

Holmes wrote:

If we were talking about any club then Wakey signing Wally Lewis still beggers belief.

His dummy spit and sending off at HQ is still one of the funniest moments in sporting history. Welcome to the crappy, sight impaired, anatomically ignorant (the "chest" does not stretch to the top of the forehead), totally partial, nobly kneed, unfit, take no lip from players, random rule enforcing world of British referees