Speaking to O'Hara last night

[Brimmer]

Take a look at Dean Widders boys...

Hey does a lot for the community and he doesn't do it because "he has to".

Football players of today have a commitment to their club and therefore their fans and the grass roots.

If you are injured, I think it should be compulsory to help the team in other ways. I mean, if you get injured, rehibilitation is obviously the first priority but it's not as if they stop getting paid.

 

[Paullyboy]

Yeh I like Rhino but wouldnt be fazed at all if he left, I cant remember the last good game he had.

 

[Purtell The Turtle]

Raiders Lime was tops! Only better than Raiders Malt!!!

Ah the old days. Back when fruit balls were something to eat, and chicken and corn rolls were a delight.

 

[Stelios Giannakopoulos]

Raiders Lime was tops! Only better than Raiders Malt!!!

Ah the old days. Back when fruit balls were something to eat, and chicken and corn rolls were a delight.

With those yummy drummy things, and carrob buds, ah memories....

 

[Kris_man]

O'Hara's a good player, but I think we should now focus our attentnion toward other off-contract big name prop forwards. My preference is Corey Parker, I think he's a bit more attainable than Cayless or Bailey, and still a top player.

 

[Chachi]

I'd love it if we could get our hands on Ashley Harrison - especially with Hindmarsh, Adamson (likely) & T Smith gone from the back row next year.

I agree with going after Parker to replace O'Hara - I'm sure Bailey is likely to go to Cronulla if he doesn't re-sign with StG.

 

[I Bleed Green]

My pick of the forwards who may not go for much attention is Dean Widders.

This guy is horribly under-rated, and he has some great ball-playing skills for a backrower. Plus he can bust the line at will.

 

[Raider Ultra]

Cayless would be huge, although I can't see anyway we can get him unless O'Hara goes in the opposite direction.

 

[Broncodroid]

Ryan O'Hara is known to be keen on getting closer to friends and family still scattered across the Central Coast of NSW. Though to suggest "good riddance" as he may have preferred socialising with mates from the Coast and not a Raiders fan he does not know from a bar of soap is a little harsh.

O'Hara is as laidback as they come with feet still firmly on the ground despite his success in league.

He would of shrugged of any question on his injury as simply, he has been one to "roll with the punches" as they say and not let too much bother him.

O'Hara has never quite got back to the heights which saw him dominate for Country or don the Sky Blue jersey, though it would be safe to say he vastly improves the Canberra pack if he was not injured this season. I am sure Raiders players would love to have him packing his head into the scrum. Adamson and O'Hara would be a handful...

Look to see the big fella' cheering on his former Entrance Tigers this weekend

 

[thickos]

Look Broncodroid I'd love him out there, no doubt. The first couple of weeks he was missing, we got dominated badly by Manly and Melbourne. It's clear, even when he is not in great form, he brings a lot to the table as he consistently makes 100m+ per game and makes a lot of metres per carry. He is a class player.

However with issues such as smoking while being an asthmatic, his relatively poor form in 2004 (despite making Origin) and his seemingly 'non-commital' attitude to the club at the moment... people are upset. If he gets his act together he could be a superstar, but he's been cruising for too long now.

 

[ak47]

My pick of the forwards who may not go for much attention is Dean Widders.

This guy is horribly under-rated, and he has some great ball-playing skills for a backrower. Plus he can bust the line at will.

i went to school with Dean Widders in Armidale

he's a top bloke, and terrorised in the commonwealth bank cup for Duval High

he went to play for the rorters for nothing....he played for free....just to get noticed in the NRL

Parra picked him up and hasnt looked back

His ball playing skills are only a smidgen of what else he can do.
His knowledge, direction and reading attack/defense is also a massive skill he posesses

And I could see him signing with the raiders, as he is a country boy at heart, and Canberra more than any other club offer the countryside lifestyle.

I'd have him anyday.

 

[Broncodroid]

Look Broncodroid I'd love him out there, no doubt. The first couple of weeks he was missing, we got dominated badly by Manly and Melbourne. It's clear, even when he is not in great form, he brings a lot to the table as he consistently makes 100m+ per game and makes a lot of metres per carry. He is a class player.

However with issues such as smoking while being an asthmatic, his relatively poor form in 2004 (despite making Origin) and his seemingly 'non-commital' attitude to the club at the moment... people are upset. If he gets his act together he could be a superstar, but he's been cruising for too long now.

Nice post and I will cop that, IF there is a seemingly "non commital" attitude to the Canberra Raiders club which he is entitled to given he may want to see his value on the open market, I can understand a fan of the club being a little upset. Though, the player should not be chastised or earn the wrath of fans for looking out for his own best interests and life after rugby league. We are a professional sporting code seeing more and more players holding out like Ryan is perhaps doing here seeing what other clubs are willing to pay for his services.

We will see the best of Ryan O'Hara in the coming years (keeping in mind he is only 24 or 25) whether it be for Canberra or another NRL club. I don't agree with the "cruising" tag you have given him Thickos though each to their own. Perhaps the brilliant start to 2005 is dwarfing the efforts of those last season who were getting stuck in with little reward even though your club scraped into the semi finals.

Personally, I believe Ryan will be back nearer the Coast. Whether that be one of the Sydney Clubs or Newcastle, I am not sure. The likely club will be Sydney IMO where he is put under NSW coach Ricky Stuart and a 90 minute drive north home to the coast.

 

[thickos]

Have to agree there... can't imagine he will head to Newcastle given their current situation. I doubt they are appealling to players that are off-contract.

 

[legend]

I'd love to get Dean Widders. Very underrated and is not given the wraps he deserves and he looks to be getting better by the week.

 

[Broncodroid]

No, Newcastle is not looking as appealing as it once was especially for a forward. Think about it, you bust your ass and there is no one out wide who can consistently cross the damn line...! Why would you want to be a battering ram with little reward? In saying that, I won't under estimate the pulling power of playing with Andrew Johns who IMO will bounce back after this latest setback.

Dean Widders over the past month has been awesome. He has good ball skills and I am surprised by the turn of speed he has for a big man. IMO his value is soaring and will be a "bargain" buy for a club willing to lock him in long term.