The Hurricane - Who's that in your profile picture?
Over the past couple of years when you talk of Saints you think of Gidley, Wigan you speak of Leuluai or Feka, Warrington it's Matt King or the Andersons, Bradford have Orford, Beaver...etc.
Fact is these imports are making our SL competition a better competition. Jake Webster was an international who self admittedly dropped in form before playing here, as stated Galea and Newton made the dream team in 2009 while Dobson has made the team two years running along with an Albert Goldthorpe medal from 2009.
Ben Fisher came up from the national leagues with us, Mick Vella has been our club captain since our promotion and has made a big impact not just at first team level. Mick also has an Australia cap and a very big reputation back in the NRL.
Mason I dont think anyone could question this signing, he is a marketing mans dream and he puts in the performances too. Green I accept isn't the biggest of signings and the proof most certainly will be in the pudding but English half backs price themselves out of the market for the quality you get from them. English players' work ethic is much lower than that of their NRL counterparts, youngsters in Oz are stronger, fitter and at a better standard sooner than most English kids. Blame the weather if we must but who trains in an outdoor gym?
Morgan I believe works on a cream will always rise to the top basis. If an English player (i.e. Liam Watts, Kris Welham, Scott Taylor) is good enough they will get a spot in the team. If they are not better than what we can get in under the salary cap and within the rules then why settle for a worse squad than you need to?
Why dont you go and ask players like Tomkins, Myler, Welham, Eastmond...etc who they learnt their stuff from, I bet most of them will name an Aussie or NZ player in that list. Most of the imports improve our youngsters and this is why I dont think there is a problem with clubs doing what Rovers are. Just like I have no problem with Warrington over stepping the salary cap (oooppss here come the Wire fans!!!) because it is improving the competition AND our youngsters!