Footy is a business now, Pete. Fortunate or unfortunate as it may be, it's true.
And sadly, our junior halves have not been able to step up, and when they have, they've left or fallen out of form (the Witts, Smith, Marsh, Hodkinson, Maloney, etc.).
I think we need to look at it in terms of pros and cons:
CONS
- He'd be massively, massively expensive, and, much like what's going on with Poore at the moment, if he didn't perform well he'd be crucified.
- Sometimes his personality on the field can be grating; he's not been unknown to yell at teammates for missing tackles or dropping balls.
- He hasn't actually achieved much more than our current halves in terms of club football.
- He can be hot and cold.
PROS
+ He is CLASS (on the field, in terms of his skills).
+ He is a marquee player that may make it easier and more attractive to attract other big name players to the club in the future should we need them.
+ He's experienced - maybe not in terms of NRL Finals, but he's been winning with Australia and Queensland forever.
+ He's a competitor - chasing kicks, making tackles, never saying 'die'...
