I think you do need to send a message sometimes - to fans, sponsors, and at this point in time, Brad Arthur. What signal does it send him if he's asked to 'make do' without one of the marquee players he personally went after? It certainly doesn't tell him that the cub is backing him to the utmost. I do agree entirely that a replacement should strengthen the side - we're talking about replacing one of our highest earners. Any replacement has to be the sort of player that can make an impact.

AC - I've no idea who we should go for. Someone mentioned Ravalawa. He'd be the closest straight swap, albeit a bit of a downgrade on Sivo from what I've seen. But would he come for one season? Would we want him to do that? Perhaps a better bet would be to look round the Qld or NSW Cup and see if there's a big winger that would be interested if it gave them exposure at a higher level. Or maybe not a winger at all.

Either way its a big challenge to get anyone at this stage of the season. Perhaps the best thing of all to do is wait and see if someone falls out of favour in the NRL who might be willing to come over for a chunk of one season?

 Very worrying for the game over here. 

That?d do very nice indeed. Sounds like there?s certainly something there if Peter Smith reporting it 

If true it would surely be a precursor to a Croft return to the NRL in 2026, but in the meantime it would give us huge depth at halfback, and probably have us playing Hastings (when all fit) in the hooker role.

Not sure about Hastings, why are we obsessed with half backs that were good for a bit a few years ago for someone else. Sezar, Austin, Gale, Croft, Frawley (who was no good anywhere) probably others I?ve forgotten.

To be fair, that's how it works. Player does well at a club and other clubs become interested. It means they are generally a good player as the massively maligned Sezer is currently proving at Hull. Of course you can say that Hastings hasn't done well at Newcastle, but the chances of any SL club landing a NRL halback who is doing well are non existent. So you either take a huge gamble on an unproven NSW Wales/Queensland cup half or you go for some pedigree and experience, which Hastings undoubtedly has on both sides of the world. There's no guarantee of success but at least it's based on logic. Who would you go for?