24 replies to this topic

[THE RED ROOSTER]

From the club's Facebook page

Harlequins Rugby League Quins RL have signed a ball playing forward from Australia. Subject to a medical & visa, he will be the first in a series of new players joining us for 2011...Further details will follow when we can formerly announce it. Can you guess who it is

Any inside tips from TRL's Australian contingent on who this is ?

Edited by THE RED ROOSTER, 12 October 2010 - 06:29 PM.

[MattSantos]

The only player who i'd want who fits that bill is Glenn Stewart.

[terrywebbisgod]

Paul Vautin?

[carlos]

was John Hopoate a forward?

[ParisSurtout]

What does "ball playing forward" mean specifically?

[skep155]

Quite frankly I'm just delighted that they have signed anyone at all.

[rlno1]

What does "ball playing forward" mean specifically?

Aren't they extinct?

[ParisSurtout]

Perhaps "ball playing forward " means someone who can offload?

But who could that be? The only Aussie forward whom I am aware is off contract and without a club at this late stage is Sydney Roosters James Aubusson, and he is a hooker.

Edited by ParisSurtout, 12 October 2010 - 09:30 PM.

[Rioman]

Last ball playing forward Australia had was Arthur Beetson, so it must be him.

[Millman]

Last ball playing forward Australia had was Arthur Beetson, so it must be him.

Their only megastar is Dame Edna.

[Millman]

Mark Tookey?

[CoogeeLoiner]

It might be Nick Kouparitsas from the Roosters.....Smithy has been trying to drop the hint to him for a while that he's not wanted.

Hardly a megastar, though he could be classed as a "ball playing forward"

The only other one who springs to mind is George Rose at Manly, although I'm sure he's under contract.

Saying that, so was Ben Cross......

[ParisSurtout]

It might be Nick Kouparitsas from the Roosters.....Smithy has been trying to drop the hint to him for a while that he's not wanted.

Hardly a megastar, though he could be classed as a "ball playing forward"

The only other one who springs to mind is George Rose at Manly, although I'm sure he's under contract.

Saying that, so was Ben Cross......

Nick Kouparitsas is both a hooker and back rower. More the latter. He does like to offload a lot, often to the opposing team, so I suppose he could be considered a "ball playing forward."

Brian Smith does not want NK because he has too many errors, such as he drops the ball too often.

So the former Canterbury forward, now at the Roosters, could well become a Harlequin. But they will need more than him, especially another prop, two wingers, and a full back. They might also get his team mate James Aubusson cheap, to rotate with Chad Randall.

A very promising Roosters talent is the red headed Tom Symonds, who can play second row or centre. Also there is another red head named Ben Jones, who is a stand off. Neither are going to be in the first choice team, but the Roosters may not want to release them because they are needed as reserves. On the other hand if Quins can offer them both a first team place and decent money, they may ask for a release.

Quins need to try and borrow brilliant Ben Jones-Bishop again if he is not playing in the Leeds first team each week. What they should not do is try and recruit the Catalans unwanted and emotionally unstable Chris Walker.

Edited by ParisSurtout, 12 October 2010 - 11:21 PM.

[East Coast Tiger]

Yeah it's Kouparitsas

Says the Tele

[dallymessenger]

Yeah it's Kouparitsas

Says the Tele

ball playing forward

thats an embarrasing description for him.

poor signing

all quins have done is freed up salary cap space for the roosters

[steef]

Whilst I've not seen the guy play and clearly the Australian posters here know much more about him than I, if he made 23 appearances for a team that reached the Grand Final he can't be that bad can he?

[East Coast Tiger]

Whilst I've not seen the guy play and clearly the Australian posters here know much more about him than I, if he made 23 appearances for a team that reached the Grand Final he can't be that bad can he?

Alas I fear he made most of them last year when they were wooden spooners. He'll do okay. He's a fringe NRL first grader and realistically that's about Quins' standard. I'd sooner have him than blokes like Gafa, that blond winger David whatsisname and several others they've signed in recent years. He might be okay yet/ Give him a chance. Quins aren't exactly flush with star players.

[steef]

Alas I fear he made most of them last year when they were wooden spooners. He'll do okay. He's a fringe NRL first grader and realistically that's about Quins' standard. I'd sooner have him than blokes like Gafa, that blond winger David whatsisname and several others they've signed in recent years. He might be okay yet/ Give him a chance. Quins aren't exactly flush with star players.

Ah, fair enough. The article on the BBC made it sound to me as if the appearances were last season, not the one before. Least he's young enough to improve and not an "over the hiller."

[Gruff]

Ah, fair enough. The article on the BBC made it sound to me as if the appearances were last season, not the one before. Least he's young enough to improve and not an "over the hiller."

The official NRL stats show him as playing 23 times for the roosters in the year just gone - when they were grand finallists.

Not exactly a fringe player

Edited by Gruff, 13 October 2010 - 01:13 PM.

[East Coast Tiger]

The official NRL stats show him as playing 23 times for the roosters in the year just gone - when they were grand finallists.

Not exactly a fringe player

Yeah but it shows how much of an impact he had because I hardly noticed him.