Spike
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Hull Kingston Rovers coach Harvey Howard will head to Australia next week and tie up the club's biggest signing in recent history.
Rovers have agreed terms with Parramatta Eels hooker or half-back James Webster and Howard will personally oversee the NRL player's medical before completing a one-year deal.
Howard staved off interest from Super League side London Broncos to make Webster his second signing in a week after the capture of Sheffield Eagles forward Andy Raleigh.
The 25-year-old fills the Robins' overseas quota for 2005 - and all that remains is for Howard to ensure the deal is completed when he returns home to Australia on personal business next week.
"I am due to fly over to Australia next week, I have arranged a medical for him and I will be supervising it," said Howard of the player scored two tries in 10 first grade games last season, despite missing 10 weeks through injury. "We are not going to complete the signing of someone who is half injured as I'm a big believer in this and he will be returning on the same flight as me."
"He did have a little bit of an injury last season but what I do know, is that he is a player who gets involved and gives 100 per cent."
Howard has been able to bring in Webster after a tightening of the salary cap restrictions Down Under meant the Eels had to release the player.
"James became available this year, possesses exceptional qualities and it was great when I found out there was a chance of getting him," added Howard. "I did a lot of groundwork after initial work by Ron Massey who was Australian team manager Jack Gibson's chief scout. He told me 'he was the man' if you can get him. It was then a case of luring him away from Parramatta."
"I spoke to James personally, to see their intentions of why he wants to come. He has always had the ambition to come over here and play and now he has the opportunity. I was there at the right place and time to actually throw the line out to him and he is a player Brian Smith rates highly."
"I personally think he should have got a lot more game time with Parramatta and he is a real team player. If he had been in the starting line-up I would wonder how on earth we managed to sign him. But I know from speaking to him he is looking forward to the challenge. He's keen and is the sort of guy who will get stuck into anything.
In total Webster, who can also play at half back, has played over 30 games in the NRL having joined Parramatta in 2002 from Balmain Tigers who he had been with since 1999. Unfortunately he couldn't help the Eels in making the play-offs as they finished a disappointing 12th out of 15.
Source: Hull Daily Mail
You no longer have to demean yourself by following the Eels for the sake of ginger meggs. :lol: I wonder why he gave up the chance to play for the London Broncos in Super League to play Division 1 with the Rovers. There surely must be more to it.
Here's a link to their official website
http://www.hullkr.co.uk/main.asp
Rovers have agreed terms with Parramatta Eels hooker or half-back James Webster and Howard will personally oversee the NRL player's medical before completing a one-year deal.
Howard staved off interest from Super League side London Broncos to make Webster his second signing in a week after the capture of Sheffield Eagles forward Andy Raleigh.
The 25-year-old fills the Robins' overseas quota for 2005 - and all that remains is for Howard to ensure the deal is completed when he returns home to Australia on personal business next week.
"I am due to fly over to Australia next week, I have arranged a medical for him and I will be supervising it," said Howard of the player scored two tries in 10 first grade games last season, despite missing 10 weeks through injury. "We are not going to complete the signing of someone who is half injured as I'm a big believer in this and he will be returning on the same flight as me."
"He did have a little bit of an injury last season but what I do know, is that he is a player who gets involved and gives 100 per cent."
Howard has been able to bring in Webster after a tightening of the salary cap restrictions Down Under meant the Eels had to release the player.
"James became available this year, possesses exceptional qualities and it was great when I found out there was a chance of getting him," added Howard. "I did a lot of groundwork after initial work by Ron Massey who was Australian team manager Jack Gibson's chief scout. He told me 'he was the man' if you can get him. It was then a case of luring him away from Parramatta."
"I spoke to James personally, to see their intentions of why he wants to come. He has always had the ambition to come over here and play and now he has the opportunity. I was there at the right place and time to actually throw the line out to him and he is a player Brian Smith rates highly."
"I personally think he should have got a lot more game time with Parramatta and he is a real team player. If he had been in the starting line-up I would wonder how on earth we managed to sign him. But I know from speaking to him he is looking forward to the challenge. He's keen and is the sort of guy who will get stuck into anything.
In total Webster, who can also play at half back, has played over 30 games in the NRL having joined Parramatta in 2002 from Balmain Tigers who he had been with since 1999. Unfortunately he couldn't help the Eels in making the play-offs as they finished a disappointing 12th out of 15.
Source: Hull Daily Mail
You no longer have to demean yourself by following the Eels for the sake of ginger meggs. :lol: I wonder why he gave up the chance to play for the London Broncos in Super League to play Division 1 with the Rovers. There surely must be more to it.
Here's a link to their official website
http://www.hullkr.co.uk/main.asp
;-) *chile runs off and hides behind MT*
