Quote Wire="Wire"18th man saying we pretty much have: the18thman.com/2016/10/24/fifita ... -round-up/ And apparently Gidders and Sims both just followed him on Twitter.'" The use of the word apparently means you have fell for someone else's lie. They had been friends for some time. I checked both of them out as friends the day the rumour broke, they were already. Not like 18th man to let bull sugar get in the way of a story. Anyways. I heard papers were drafted last week and done. That also could be a lie, but my lies often keep coming up as not.

Quote Wire="Wire"18th man saying we pretty much have: the18thman.com/2016/10/24/fifita ... -round-up/ And apparently Gidders and Sims both just followed him on Twitter.'" The use of the word apparently means you have fell for someone else's lie. They had been friends for some time. I checked both of them out as friends the day the rumour broke, they were already. Not like 18th man to let bull sugar get in the way of a story. Anyways. I heard papers were drafted last week and done. That also could be a lie, but my lies often keep coming up as not.

He'd be left wing or right centre I would think. After watching some highlights (not a true reflection I know) he looks alright to me. I'd take him and Taufua but doubt that we would have enough cap space for both. We only have 3 overseas now in sims, Gidley and Sandow so 1 space and then there is the kolpaks so it would likely all be down to having cap space.

I think if we were to sign the two, I would expect one or two loaners.

I haven't seen much of him, other than the highlights packages. Seems to have played plenty of right centre in 2016 so imagine he'd fit in there?



Naiqama & Atkins starting centres with King & Evans in reserve. Then wings of Lineham / Russell / Penny / Evans

I think you're right, it's not that unlikely though. If TS wants both and both want to come to us then I am sure there would be ways to make it happen. I would like to see Toby King starting next season though, I think with a good run in the side he'd be our best centre so I'd have slightly mixed feelings if we did sign both.

both would be great.. we really do need a few quality strike players in the /wing.

How could we fit both Naiqama and Taufua in the cap? surely someone else has to be leaving to make room.



I don't really understand the Aussie Kolpac rule but it would mean we would have;



Gidley, Sandow, Sims, Naiqama & Taufua all born in Aus with Sims & Naiqama of fijian decent and Taufua of Tongan decent

I don't know how much of our cap is spent or what these guys wages would be? Do you? The estimated wages of players who have left and arrived is largely just assumption so maybe we can take both on without releasing anyone and maybe we can't.



As I mentioned earlier if the club want both and both want to come then I suspect we will find a way. I'd be amazed if one of them doesn't qualify under kolpac.

I don't know either but it's not as if we don't have some big names in our squad on presumably decent contracts. It's not exactly as though Naiqama and Taufua are near the ends of there contracts in Aus and don't dent the salary cap too much, They're both at peak age in their careers so I would expect them to command a decent wage too.



As far as the Kolpac rule goes maybe if you have represented another nation such as Fiji or Tonga and have relevant passports then you apply under the Kolpac ruling?

In terms of quota, it got increased to 7 I believe with a maximum of 5 'overseas' i.e. Non Kolpac.



So currently we have Gidley, Sandow & Sims who classify as overseas. We could sign both Naiqama & Taufua and still be well under quota. We could add another two Aussies after that if we wanted.

I think the direction of the club is to go away from big numbers of overseas players. The way everyone spoke with great pride (Inside the club and the Media) at the near full teams of British players we fielded numerous times this year, would make it a surprise for me if we signed more than one more overseas player.



that said if someone like Taufua is available we shouldn't be too proud to bang the British only drum...

Absolutely, the club have targeted young English players on the verge of international selection for a few years now - and I'm glad to see it. Was just pointing out the numbers allowed. They have chopped and changed it so often in the past few years it's difficult to tell what's what.