Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:21 pm  

Does Blake Austin have a family? Might actually work in our favour if he has no baggage, so to speak. Did I imagine it, or did someone say he’s got English parents and has been to the UK before?

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:28 pm  

Grandmother I think. Could be Ethel.

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:29 pm  

chapylad wrote:

But at ÂŁ335k a year

I think it was more likely $335k a year, about £187,500. So if we guarantee him £800k over 4 years that would seem about right. Not sure he’s worth it but he’s young enough and there aren’t many halfbacks available of his quality... not the sort of classic �little general’ scrum half I was hoping for to guide us round the park though... maybe we can get a Gale or Drinkwater style player alongside Austin.

That’s if it’s even true - still a rumour for me until it’s announced.

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:32 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

Grandmother I think. Could be Ethel.

I think I met her when my mum took me to get my primary school pants in Stockton Heath forge. Great lady, and if her grandson can stitch this squad together, no matter how unfashionable it may look, then we should be okay...

He could be our Maestro, and a good Ambassador. We certainly don’t want another Princess...

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:05 pm  

easyWire wrote:

I think it was more likely $335k a year, about £187,500. So if we guarantee him £800k over 4 years that would seem about right. Not sure he’s worth it but he’s young enough and there aren’t many halfbacks available of his quality... not the sort of classic �little general’ scrum half I was hoping for to guide us round the park though... maybe we can get a Gale or Drinkwater style player alongside Austin.

That’s if it’s even true - still a rumour for me until it’s announced.

he was rumoured to have knocked back a $2.4 million four year deal from Canberra ($600k a year)

$2.4 million aussie dollars is ÂŁ1.3 million quid.

ÂŁ1.3 million quid divided by 4 is ÂŁ335,000 per year.


the average NRL salary is $370k aus dollars so earning $600k for him was a good wage. The top names however all earn $1million a year.

he's a quality player though and i'm more than happy to see us pay ÂŁ300k plus.....

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:17 pm  

the flying biscuit wrote:

he's a quality player though and i'm more than happy to see us pay ÂŁ300k plus.....

Yup, we are lucky enough to be the one club who can afford to match the Aussies on the money front, shame we can’t offer the lifestyle but players shouldn’t be naive enough to not see that. I get the feeling he’s coming here under different circumstances to Roberts though, which was a last minute thing for Roberts’ family to suddenly have to deal with.

Let’s hope he can make a difference, and let’s find him a decent half-back partner to guide us around the pitch.

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Mon Jul 09, 2018 8:50 am  

easyWire wrote:

Does Blake Austin have a family? Might actually work in our favour if he has no baggage, so to speak. Did I imagine it, or did someone say he’s got English parents and has been to the UK before?

Blake Austin spoke a few years ago about how hard it was to move to Canberra due to the distance from his family.

It's a great signing, not only for Wire, but for Super League as well. Wire should do what Saints have done with Barba, insist any immediate family come over (Early) and get settled in and pre-book three or four trips to the Canaries whenever there is a blank weekend in the calendar so they don't get too cold/depressed.

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Mon Jul 09, 2018 9:08 am  

I say, Saddened ,will Saints sign me ? I am always available for 3 or 4 trips to Lanzarote.

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:04 am  

easyWire wrote:

I think I met her when my mum took me to get my primary school pants in Stockton Heath forge. Great lady, and if her grandson can stitch this squad together, no matter how unfashionable it may look, then we should be okay...

He could be our Maestro, and a good Ambassador. We certainly don’t want another Princess...

Any problems and we could send him to montego bay at maxi-mum speed.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Blake Austin On “Long Term Deal”? : Mon Jul 09, 2018 6:03 pm  

Confirmed on twitter