Now we have a few games under our belt I thought I'd look at the new signings and how they are fairing.
Some took some stick before they even arrived and some were complete unknowns to us.
There is a long way to go and it is well documented that some players, overseas especially take a long time to bed in to a new team, but this is what I think so far.

Overseas Signings

Scott Anderson
For me, Scott does exactly what he said he would do.
When he arrived he said “I’d probably say my work rate is my main attribute, doing the hard yards and the little things in the game. Anyone that has seen my try scoring record will see I’ve never scored in the NRL so I’m not one for all the fancy stuff!
That pretty much sums him up for me. I think he has worked as hard as anyone else from his first game and gets those hard yards for us. We looked like having a weak front row before the signings but he has really bolstered that area. He plays more than the standard 40 minutes for a prop and goes a long way to keeping the rest of the team fresh by doing that.
I rate him highly. Very good start

Matt Ryan
Matt started slowly in my opinion. I wasn't sure what we were getting as there was mixed reports of prop/second row but he is clearly not a prop. We have played him a lot in the centre and I think moving him around has mean the has had a slow start. Saying that his game against Sts was his best so far and showed he has good hands, and excellent tackle technique. I saw one when there was clear space between him and the centre trying to get round him but he got low and was at full stretch but made a perfect tackle.
Slow start but I think he'll get better. Shows promise.

Pita Godinet
He is the only overseas player I had seen play before and was quite keen to see what he could do in the RWaB. Added to that Mt Smart's praising posts from distant shores my expectations grew even more.
I don't think he has disappointed there. He took his chance at Salford in his first game and was not good but not bad against Bradford, but with dryer ground and a bit more time with the other players he has developed into the key player in the team in my opinion. He makes things tick and is a real threat when running at the line. Interceptions are a gift there is no doubt.
I like him and I would look to keep him even longer than his current contract if he keeps progressing.
Must keep at scrum half though, he'll be good but not as effective at hooker.

Harry Siejka
Obviously we haven't seen what he can do yet. I didn't even realise he got o the field on Saturday.
I feel like he is a signing that wasn't happening and was replaced by Sammut and then when visa came through we felt obliged to keep.
Saying that, he promises to repay the faith and he will be valuable over the Easter period and if we get injuries so may be a good piece of business
No facts to judge so we'll wait and see

Domestic signings
Paul McShane
He got a bit of grief when he as named as a possible signing and clearly he was replacing a popular player but in my opinion he is probably the best signing of the bunch.
I was an Aiton fan but I think we have improved in this area. Passing is crisp and sets the back line going a step faster than we have had previously, his tackle rate is high so we are not missing Aiton's tackling as much (he topped tackle count last week) and I've been impressed with his short kicking game.
I'd like tos ee us spell him a bit in the tough games but not for the sake of it. We play better when he is on.
Great signing. He has a two year deal and I would extend for longer when we end this season.

Nick Scruton
Always thought he was good. Pleased when we signed him. Looks to be giving it for the cause.
Can't say much more. He is here for a year and then open to offers. If the budget allows, I would like to build a pack around him.
Only had a few games to show what he can do but the more he gets used to the team the better he will get.

Jarrod Sammut
Again, as with Scruton, I always though t he was good and he has shown the smae since signing. I think Godinet works very well for him as his only flaw his his defense and Godinet helps take the focus away from him. He is great with ball in hand, whether running or passing. His kicking is exceptional and will win us games with goal kicks along this season. I can't think of a player in recent times where I have had as much confidence in him scoring from where ever the kick is from.
Opportunity rather than planning got him here but it was an opportunity well taken and I think he will be a massive signing this year.

Danial Smith
I include him as a domestic as he was coming back anyway.
For me another signing that could be a long term gain. Slightly over shadowed recently by Tautai and Anderson but he puts in long stints and is hard to handle. I like the way he played when the rest of the team were poor against Bradford. He shows real leadership and in such a young prop. I think he has shown there is life after Amor and we will be singing his praises more and more through the season.
He is surprisingly good with the ball as well. I think we are a good choice for him to develop that side of his game and I hope he remembers that when the Giants notice him.

Loan deals
Ironially as these guys were the first saving players for us they are slightly on the outer now.

Jimmy Keinhorst
I thought he might establish himself as the permanent centre.
Injury has stopped that but if he can get himself fit, I think he will be an asset. The danger for him is that Ryan or Lyne will have a good enough run in the position that he can't get it back. I hope he gets chance to show his skills soon.

Luke Briscoe
I have not seen him play. He had good reports from the preseason friendly game but has been picked out as a scapegoat since the Wigan game.
I can only assume he has more to offer but eventually he'll have to go back to Leeds if he can't find a place in the team.

Paul Riley
Has been getting good game time as he is an out and out winger and gives us some stability.
I have been disappointed slightly as I though he could offer more but having Lyne inside and just getting used to his new team may be holding him back.
Worth keeping for now but may run out of time to impress and the fans will get on his back soon.

So all in all, I think we have made som egreat signings, and whether Agar or Hetherington, the people responsible deserve some praise when you look at where we started.
I firmly believe this team will kick on and be clear of relegation by end of the year.

That a bit long?

Don't want to sound naughty but I thought we had Paul Reilly a bit ago!

Both Ginger, easy mistake to make.

[size=150Chris Riley[/size

Schoolboy error. Sorry. Clearly rushing at the end.

Lesson learned there PopTart "never rush your end"

Scott Anderson - hard grafting prop like what I see so far and without taking any thing away from Poore is better of the two no giving a penalty or two away to boot.

Matt Ryan - not had chance to shine yet but gives it his best and I think he has more to come and we will be glad of him.

Pita Godinet - just what I expected of what little I had seen of him on the internet,lightening reactions and reads the game so fast at times and think with Sammut will be a cracking combination after a few more games.

Harry Siejka - comes as a former oz schoolboy but after a few mins on Sunday now is not the time to judge him and he has said he will be giving it his all.


Paul McShane - certainl gives us another dimension and as much as I was a fan of Aiton I think we are better for McShane playing at nine.

Nick Scruton - Big unit who we know will be and is a quality player.

Sammut - can change a game at the drop of an hat and looks to be forming a quality partnership with Godinet.

Danni Smith - going well for such a young lad and can go far in the game

Keinhorst - came with an injury but if he can get over the injury he is certainly a player that's worth having around.

Briscoe - Probably a bit too raw and early for him in Super league to be honest

Riley - he always backs the man with the ball up and think on sunday that he was probs feeling the effects of the shot he took to the head all game,a proven finisher and you only need to look at his try scoring ratio to games played to see that.

All in all to say we let some players go because things looked dire I think once this set of players start to gel we will have a better side and some sides will be in for a shock or two.

Wow good run downs on the players , helpful to get a read of who we have in this team.

Sounds very encouraging , the recruitment team have done an outstanding job.

That's a heck of a lot of new playing staff , is that typical of any given season ? lets hope the club can keep some continuity going.

There are certainly options and depth in the spine half / hooker.....looks like we're covered there for depth in the case of injury and to put some real pressure on the the likes of Godinet Mcshane , and Sammut to hold some form which is only ever a good thing.
Sejka is a bonus in that regard.
I don't know enough about the team to comment , clearly it's hard with so many new players to coordinate defensive systems.

The other thing I picked up from the radio commentary of last week is that the game callers kept uttering surprise at a lot of the Refs decisions , they were clearly calling the game in favor of St's ( from the tone and focus on one team ).

In my experience of watching footy , lesser sides will always get less benefit of the doubt in the 50/50's......good sides will get the rub of the green.

It's a fact of life for the new signings and the established players to get their heads around and I'm keen to hear that the team is being drilled in defence.
Any chance we could be a Superior defensive team should be explored in future signings....it sounds like they have put together plenty pf people that can set up Trys.

Just announced on twitter that Briscoe has left the Wildcats and looks to be going on dule reg with Hunslet

As has Ryan Bailey.

He's Ryan Bailey - he plays where he's told.

I think all of our permanent signings have been excellent and ALL have helped to improve the squad.

The loan players are a different matter and although we have been short in our three quarters and it's easy to understand why we would take these players on board, I don't think the Leeds pair are as good as the young lads that we had last season and our own youngsters will feel pretty brassed off that these players are ahead of them in the pecking order, when they don't appear any better.
Plus, instead of bringing our own players on, we are helping Leeds to maintain and improve their squad.
Having said that, Riley is a decent player already and can certainly do a job for us.