In the Rag Barker quotes this:-







then prints a 650K valuation on the offer ...



I'm with Mike Tommo - Red Eyes in that the prospect of landing him is far fetched considering the sort of contract that usually tempts SBW.

He ultimately follows the money, never signs more than a 1 year contract & his current deal with the Roosters is a reported 1 million Aus $



What I do respect is the character of the Chairman in refusing to settle for also-rans & still trying to snare the 'Marquee signing' in the face of ridicule & disbelief.



We know he was ' serious about the Tomkins Bid ' when he took over all innocent like.

In July , It was reported that he was in talks with 3 NZ internationals





Jack Gibson once wrote, "Winning starts in the front office" ie with the management / Coach ,

We think it's far fetched but nobody's told Marwan he still seems convinced he can get an A-rated signing .

The Coach seems to be on board , just need the players & fans to believe ... after 30 odd years of accepting mediocrity I want to believe too

It's hard to tell what is actually going with our recruitment, the pessimist in me that can all too well remember the previous administration, sees all of this as too good to be true. On the other hand, this could purely be agents using the club to get their players better deals, it could be Koukash himself using all these stories to hide his true plan, but what if there is some truth and he delivers on some of these promises.



So far he's delivered on Morley and, it would seem, Rangi Chase. If we somehow managed to sign one of Mannering, Mautilino, Pritchard or Luke, we'd have one heck of a team next year. Heck I'd be happy if we signed Fisiiahi to go with those we'd already signed, but people talk about changing perceptions of our club and the attitudes within it. Playing alongside Morley will go some way to change attitudes inside the club, but could you imagine what SBW would add to the club.



I'm not getting carried away, but he is worth pulling the stops out for and, despite the other chairmen trying to prevent it, you could imagine that sky and the RFL must be happy to have a true international star joining the English game.

James Graham, Sam Burgess George Burgess, Tom Burgess, Luke Burgess Scott Moore, Mike cooper, Lee Mossop, some kid from Leeds, Sam Tomkins (unofficial), Pat Richards and probably some more ive missed off all going to the NRL because its more money and better than Superleague.



I cant understand a) michael Weyman going to HKR b) Luke Walsh to Saints and C) Joel monaghan not exploring a return to the NRL (ok he could do without digging up the dog incident again)

superleague at the minute is a bit I dont know why half decent youngish overseas players are coming here...



Sonny Bill would be great for the Game never mind Salford but he will stiff his "mates" at sydney and take a three year deal with Rugby Union no danger...

Yeah headline making I’m afraid. Not a chance in hell of this happening. This would take up half our salary cap so would be impossible unless we had Chase SBW and the U20’s side

I really dont want us spending that amount on one player whoever he is...Talismanic as SBW is its too much for one player. if we have that amount to spend then my personal choice would be building squad depth.

I think with someone like Koukash in charge now whatever we spent on SBW would be more than recouped in media exposure, advertising, bums on seats and merchandising.



A for instance was talking to a lad I work with who has no interest in either code of rugby but he specifically mentioned SBW based on the MEN report and said that he'd come and watch as he knows what a brilliant player SBW and in his words a 'supreme athlete'.



I very much doubt anything other a polite refusal from SBW will come out of this but the Doc in this case is now getting his name known in the NRL. I'd love to see the type of money being talked about used on Fisiiahi, Sam Rapira and if it can stretch Josh Mantellato (fringe player and amazing kicker with bags of pace).

I’m sure Koukash is canny enough to know that the way to get SBW in the team is to have him paid at least part of his salary by a third party that is unconnected with the club. That would avoid being caught by the Cap auditors.



I’m sure this already happens at other clubs where the owner has a network of wealthy connections.

Sponsorship via his boxing career is the easy way around all of the money concerns.



Of the big names that have been bandied about I have to say this is the most plausible - especially given we are talking about a one year contract which would suit the purposes of both Salford and SBW. Imagine the kickstart a name like SBW could give to the club.

A SBW fight @ Barton is a good shout too, might give the Doc some bargaining chips with the SMC/Peel when looking to buy his stake in the club.

I'm sure a fight against David Price, Derek Chisora and/or Audley Harrison would generate some reasonable interest, particularly if it was on the undercard to a half decent main event. I am sure Salford's Jamie Moore who is now trainer to Hull's promising young up and coming Tommy Coyle would relish a spot on the undercard too. I can just picture it now, the "Brawl in Barton" going down in history alongside the "Thriller in Manilla" or the "Rumble in The Jungle".

Agree 100% fella.



Just a reminder folks that when interviewed by Brad "Freddie" Fittler Brad asked are you going to commit to the Roosters I'm a Rooster, wouldn't you like to leave a legacy here ? Sonny replied by saying I only do what makes me happy if I'm here for longer then so be it if not I'll move on and do something else. (or words to that effect the interview is played regulary on premier sports).



As for the salary cap I've spent the last god knows how many years wondering how the likes of Wigan/Leeds/Saints/Wire have kept a cast of all stars under the salary cap whilst we have had 30 years of dross, they somehow manage it even if one or two of them have been found out,

To be honest if my dreams start to be fulfilled I couldn't give two hoots how we join the club....

SBW has turned Roosters from mid table also rans to NRL title contenders.

so we 'tongue firmly in cheek here '

Chase - SBW & the Old guard with our U20's would do OK ...

Also it doesn't stop squad building for 2015 with a 1 yr deal

SBW, Ashurst , Morley, Meli , Emitt, McGoldrick. Williams ,

could be off the players wage bill. so it doesn't stop Marwan shopping and a precedent set that anyone is a acheivable target.