Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 10:47 pm  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

Let's look at the evidence.

We sign him. We'll STILL play Smith/Agar's formulaic dross.
He'll try and play "off the cuff" stuff. He'll get reigned in by Smith/Agar
He'll go"off the rails" (he does have a history)
He'll "bugger off"

What could possibly go wrong eh.

There is one alternate scenario, that he reforms himself and has a stellar season with us, becomes a Wire cult hero for a year, then NRL clubs get interested again, his agent starts leaking stories to the press that he's homesick, and he gets in an ugly dispute with the club about wanting to leave.

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 10:49 pm  

Gazwire wrote:

There is a risk with him but he's one hell of a player. Check out his showreel on the 'video sharing website'- I'm certain he would put bums back on seats.

We've said the same, 2 years ago.
How did that work out?
As great a player he may be., he'''s still "an accident waiting to happen".


Unless we win something pdq, I'd stick a transfer embargo on Smith, and saunter through the next few years, until his contract expires.

There'll be a NEW Barba, then.

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 10:51 pm  

This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html

This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 10:52 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

Everything is rumour until you read it in the Guardian.
Done deal. Still a rumour.

I am starting to read rubber duckie's posts in Donald Trump's voice.

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 10:55 pm  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

We've said the same, 2 years ago.
How did that work out?
As great a player he may be., he'''s still "an accident waiting to happen".

Top of the league and in two Grand Finals.

Although if we had gone for Kevin Brown instead of Sandow back then who knows we could have got over the line in one of the finals at least.

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 11:01 pm  

Jack Pepsi wrote: This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html That article is dated in February and I think he's technically still with Toulon. Didn't Eddie mention during commentary that he'd heard rumours that he'd signed for Warrington. On redvee they're quite hopefull he'll be joining them as apparently went into the saints dressing room and spoke to Mike Rush.

Jack Pepsi wrote: This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html That article is dated in February and I think he's technically still with Toulon. Didn't Eddie mention during commentary that he'd heard rumours that he'd signed for Warrington. On redvee they're quite hopefull he'll be joining them as apparently went into the saints dressing room and spoke to Mike Rush.

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 11:04 pm  

Gazwire wrote:

That article is dated in February and I think he's technically still with Toulon. Didn't Eddie mention during commentary that he'd heard rumours that he'd signed for Warrington. On redvee they're quite hopefull he'll be joining them as apparently went into the saints dressing room and spoke to Mike Rush.

OK fair play

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 11:11 pm  

Jack Pepsi wrote: This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html The french Season has just finished and Barba has been told he isnt in their pans for next season despite still being under Contract ...so effectively sacked... millionaire owner i guess not bothered about paying him off....

Jack Pepsi wrote: This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html The french Season has just finished and Barba has been told he isnt in their pans for next season despite still being under Contract ...so effectively sacked... millionaire owner i guess not bothered about paying him off....

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 11:15 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

Top of the league and in two Grand Finals.

Although if we had gone for Kevin Brown instead of Sandow back then who knows we could have got over the line in one of the finals at least.

That's more like it SC, back on form

Love the suggestion that Smith would stifle Barba. Like he did with Sandow you mean? Or when we had a load of ball players 2009-2013? You go with what you've got-when we needed a half in an emergency to fill the gap Sandow left, we got the best available it would seem: a current international half-back, but not one necessarily blessed with the ball skills most of us would like. But I'm sure Mr Brown would be a much better player if Smith said: "free reign lad, just play off the cuff and do whatever you fancy". We'd be top of the league in no time, eh? Or maybe Westwood would be getting hit in the face with his passes instead of the shoulder??

Re: Ben Barba : Sat May 20, 2017 11:20 pm  

Perhaps he did go to the Saints changing room, it seems he wants to be the first to tell Rush his decision to reject Saints for the Wire in person first before they get second hand rumours.
Very decent of him.