If you are looking for unbiased opinions on imports, this is where you will get them.
Forget the Super League spin doctors, the morons on web forwards or the void of information new serviced provided to the British fan. The
Freak knows the score and he always speaks the truth!
Albert Torrens
More of a center then a winger, Torrens made a career from himself in Australia as being a solid center that wont lose you games. A decent
defender, his best days were with the Manly Sea Eagles. He's an ok player, not the type I want to see heading to Super League because he
isn't above and beyond what GB already has over there, but he wont let his club down.
Andrew Johns
Well....I didn't think I'd be putting this name up here so soon! Andrew Johns is the best player in the world. He will be the best import in SL
history. He will come at a price....and he will be worth every last cent.
More SL clubs should be going all out and making moves like this. Johns is the complete player. The best kicking game of any player I have
ever seen. The best passing game of any player I have ever seen. A dominant defender, this is a player that would be the best hooker in the
world if he decided to play in the nine jersey. He can make 40 tackles if needed and he can crush any prop in the game in a bone jarring
tackle.
As a leader, Johns has a desire to win that few player possess. Wolves fans can be assured that Johns has probably done more scouting of
his possible SL opponents then most coaches would do. He will make the players around him better players. From the fullback to prop
forward, every player in the club will gain from playing alongside Andrew Johns.
With this addition the Wolves got from a club that at best could have hoped to fluke a few big wins and maybe make the second last
weekend of the finals....to at least the second best club in SL, if not, title favorites.
Simply put, the signing of Andrew Johns will have the impact of an Atomic Bomb in SL. The last month or so of the SL season will revolve
around everything Johns does and how he improves the Wolves side.
Like I said, the very best signing by a club in the history of SL.
Bryan Fletcher
A good second rower a few years ago, like most players that head to Souths, he seems to have had the desire for playing the game sucked
out of him. Old and expensive, Fletcher is a poor signing for Wigan. Just the thing they didn't need as they look to rebuild their once decent
Rugby League club.
Francis Meli
A huge winger that can put on massive hits in defence. Meli was a top player in 2002, but since then his form has fallen away terribly and he
has been known to give away stupid penalties and mate terrible mistakes at the worst possible time. Average under the high ball, lazy in
defense, like Vainikolo he finds it difficult to chase when turned around. The up side is he will be marked by other SL wingers, and therefore
he will probably be tagged as the best player in the world by some stupid SL club within the next couple of seasons.
Awen Guttenbeil
An athletic forward from the New Zealand Warriors, Guttenbeil is yet another import heading to the new French SL club. He is a solid player
who will serve UTC well.
Alex Chan
Another import for the so called French SL club. Alex Chan is a good, tough, solid prop forward. He doesnt occasionally have problems with
high tackles but he is a solid acquisition. He wont set the world on fire, but he will get the job done.
Mark Hughes
Injuries and poor form have seen Mark Hughes go from a State Of Origin player, to barely even playing the game any more. A very poor
signing by UTC.
David Peachey
A great attacking fullback, Peachey has slowed down in recent season and does not get himself in the attack anywhere near as much as he
used to. He'll get the job done for Widnes....if they don't get relegated first.
Michael Sullivan
A handy utility, Sullivan is at his best when coming off the bench as a replacement dummy half. Sullivan is less effective when starting the
game from dummy half and although he can cover the 6 and 7 positions if needed, any team that buys him as a halfback will face problems
with his lack of passing and kicking game.
Iafeta Paleaaesina
Dubbed "Mr Effective" by New Zealand commentators, Paleaaesina's game basically involves a couple of big runs every mate and very little
else. He is best used off the bench when you want to give your starting props a breather. He will probably be the type of players British fans
enjoy watching and I wouldn't be surprised if he became a bit of a crowd favorite with Wigan fans.
Jason Cayless
Cayless is one of the top five props in the game today. A fierce competitor, Cayless is a hard running prop forward with great mobility and
very good defense. Cayless will be a real asset to St Helen's. He will be one of the few world class forwards they have had at their club in
recent seasons.
Pat Richards
A guy that looks like a very good athlete. The problem is, Richards doesn't play like an athlete. He is an average winger that is pretty good
when it comes to leaping for the high ball. He is an average player at best, but he'll be one of the top wingers in SL.
Paul Rauhihi
A giant, Rauhihi has previously played for the Bulldogs and Knights. Rauhihi gets a lot of wraps and over 70 minutes, he isn't the type of
bloke you want running at you. The problem is, in big games he goes missing.
It doesn't matter who he is playing, it can be a big finals match or a Test match, he just disappears. On top of that, he does some REALLY
dumb things and is easily drawn into penalties if the opposition tries to niggle him. In SL, he'll probably go ok, but he is no world beater and
if he decides to put in less effort...he could be a bust.
Ben Harris
A good young player who is moving to SL so he wife can be closer to her family. Harris is a robust centre who has shown flashes of being a
very good young player. Recent injury problems have not let him play at his best but make no mistake, he is a very good player and a great
signing for a SL club.
Ian Hindmarsh
Where do you find a slow second rower that is completely unremarkable in every way? On every Rugby League field in the world! A poor
signing, he will add nothing to the French SL club.
Stacey Jones
Well Stacey has finally quit completely on the Warriors and he will be part of the new French SL team. Johns had been rotten for two years
now. Slow off the mark, nothing in attack....think a slow version of Denis Moran. A waste of time, money and a place that a young French
halfback could have developed into.
Vinnie Anderson
An average player that never cemented himself in any position at the New Zealand Warriors. Some St Helen's fans are excited but the fact is
there is a reason the Warriors released him from his contract at this early stage of the season.
Mark McLinden
A good buy for London. He is more of a utility player and has never established himself in one position, but his great speed of the mark, his
out and out pace and his style of play suit see him become a big hit in SL.
Brad Drew
If he plays at hooker (And all reports suggest he will) he could be the Man Of Steel by seasons end. He is a rep quality player who just
couldn't crack the top rep sides in Australia because of a lack of stamina when compared to the likes of Buderus, Priddis and Smith.
Michael DeVere
A solid player, he wont to anything spectacular, but he'll get the job done and wont let you down. He will be a very handy point scorer if given
the kicking duties.
Stephen Kearney
Stick a fork in him.....he's done. Kearney has been over rated for years but in 2004 he showed it was all over. Still, Kearney is heading to the
UK for all the right reasons. He wants a holiday, he wants to take it easy and earn a bit of money. His comments upset some British fans, but
thats just how we look at SL.
Brad Meyer's
Well, who says an average QLD Cup player cant get a gig in Super League. Meyer's burst onto the scene with Dane Carlaw and the two
moved through the rep ranks together as a big second row combination. Meyer's however has been MIA ever since. A good buy for the
Bradford Bulls. He'll be part of an outstanding one two punch of imports with Robbie Paul!
Jamie Lyon
So now your importing players from Wee Waa? Tell me something, why does a Super League club go out and pay a big transfer fee for a guy
that has basically given up on the game?
Lyon is a big lad at the best of times, and his months out of the top level of the game will likely see him as a few kilo's. Its really hard to say
how he will go. He will either be a terrific signing's, or a complete bust.
My guess is, he turns up well over weight, he struggles early on, his lack of condition sees him getting injured, he performs well, but not to
his previous standards. Basically, Lyon is heading to St Helens to kill time until he can come back to Australia and sign for Manly.
