I watched an NRL segment a couple of weeks ago, and they  were talking about how the great coaches can make an average player good, a good player great and a great player elite.


I think if you were to class elite as top 3 in their position in SL, I don't think we'd have a single player in that category. Maybe Ash when he was a winger. What concerns me is how many players are probably not even in the great category. 


A major problem we've had over the last few years is that we've had a lot of players with the potential to be great or even elite (Cam Smith, Newman, Oledski, Holroyd, Gannon etc.), and we've signed lots of players within those categories (Croft and Ackers and you could argue Bentley), but most are playing at a good or average level for too much of the season. 


If you were to compare each of our players against their SL counter-parts, who would be at the top end, who would be in the middle and who would be below. Is BA the right man to improve the players individually, and get them to not only play to their ability and potential, but beyond that. It takes more than just being super-fit to get there.

Ryan Sutton is available. Worth a punt?

I'd say so given the current pack. He's only 29 too. Yes he's had a mare of a time at the Dogs but there's a quality player in there who's been hardened in the NRL. Would need a wage drop though...  

He was one I'd been watching to see when he was coming home, but I'm not sure he's going to be able to play after the injuries. I'd take a bit of convincing now I think.

A no from me. A couple of years ago it would have been a yes, but he's suffered a lot of injuries and just isn't the kind of prop we need anymore. We need to replace Lisone with a proper of similar style but vastly superior in terms of fitness, application and attitude. Sutton isn't that player.