The biggest signing in history

[Loudstrat]

Given all the talk about Inglis signing with Souths being the biggest that club has ever had (incredible for a club that has won 19 premierships), I am wondering how he stacks up against the biggest signings in history?

To be fair, I have to lay some criteria. I am talking about signing a player at the peak of an outstanding career. I rule out the following:
1) A player taking the only real option left after being released by a club (eg Wally Lewis joining the Gold Coast in 1991
2) A player leaving a local comp to join a new team (eg Wally again joining the Broncos in 1988)
3) A player from overseas playing in the off season (eg Ellery Hanley with Balmain in 1988)
4) A young gun at the start of a huge future (eg Johnny Raper from Newtown to St George in 1968)
5) A legendary player in their twilight - past or at the end of their rep careers - eg Arthur Beetson to Parramatta in 1979)

Of the really big names I cannot find many, and some even are tainted with regret at the circumstances. I've listed what I have seen in my time.

Comments?

 

[Deacon]

Sorry to be a kill joy, but not a player. Bennett to the Dragons easily our clubs biggest signing

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Brad Fittler.

 

[MSIH]

Craig Field.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Dally Messenger.

 

[Quigs]

Tommy Bishop to the Sharks.

Took them from nothings to a whisker of winning the 73 GF (bloody Fulton)

He made the Club.

 

[Loudstrat]

:lol: Read the criteria guys.

Sorry to be a kill joy, but not a player. Bennett to the Dragons easily our clubs biggest signing

That would be your 12 yo club..........

 

[Loudstrat]

Tommy Bishop to the Sharks.

Took them from nothings to a whisker of winning the 73 GF (bloody Fulton)

He made the Club.

He did a bodgey then!

 

[God-King Dean]

Karl McNichol.

 

[docbrown]

Albert Einstein, left the Nazis to join the Yankees.

 

[Doga]

Terry Lamb

 

[MSIH]

Cliffy

 

[gUt]

Sam Burgess?

 

[wittyfan]

Stacey Jones to the Warriors in 2009 tbh.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

dally messenger.

this

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Dally Messenger.

Certainly the most important signing.

Wasn't Bob Fulton past his best and injury plagued when he signed with Easts?

 

[Azkatro]

Out of that list, bit hard to compete with Beetson & Fulton.

 

[Green Machine]

Not too many remember Lurch O'Neill.

 

[Avenger]

I voted for Fulton and Fittler from that list however the most talked about recruitment would have to be the Canterbury 4 joining the Eels in 1997.

 

[saint_marto88]

I voted Freddy. Burgess could find himself amongst this list at the end of his career. Too early to call it yet though