tinyurl.com/nvjpby

tinyurl.com/nvjpby

So why the picture of John Kear?

Well past it in my books. We need to be signing player with a decent future in the game ahead of them.

You're winding me up. Seems almost as universally respected as Menzies, still scoring tries and kicking goals, and would be the best chance to field a Muslim player we're likely to have any time soon.

Now I realise the serious issues that last point then raises. But if he was up to the job on the field, wouldn't the opportunity he offers as a potential ambassador and trailblazer at least be worth considering?

But Macca is building the club from the bottom up so we will soon be producing muslim players ourselves. Can't sign success thats the Noble way

Oh, the old "if we sign a muslim they'll all flock to watch him" approach? Guaranteed to work, couldn't move at Valley Parade last season after City brought in the Pakistan captain, I can only imagine the massive pull a Lebanese/Australian would have.

Hazem is a cracking player but by the looks of that he's retiring?

SHurly a contradiction in terms. Signing for us AND a bright future in the game.

But he's a different sort of muslim. He's not like the others.

Well let's sign him for that very reason then despite being well past it, why don't we sign every other well respected veteran whislt we are it it as well?

Nope, not for me. We've got enough veterans in our first team not providing the bang they are expected to, we don't need to take a chance on another, epsecially an overseas player looking for big bucks.

Already tried it with Abdul Khan.

Setting up a straw man there, old chum. No one's saying that it would change things overnight or even be 'guaranteed to work'. But he is a good pro, he is a metronome with the boot, he is still rapid enough for the NRL league leaders... surely worth looking at regardless of his background. Any 'Muslim bump' that did materialise (and it could, not just through the gate but through sponsorship and even an increase of affinity to the club) would then be a bonus. And wouldn't it be more likely with the greatest NRL point scorer of all time than that Zesh lad at City who is a bit of a plodder, isn't he?