So are we just forgetting those long, long years of you linking the club with every single big-name Aussie, or Brit for that matter, who happened to be off contract?

Or a better version of Clint Newton.

The bar for "world class" qualification seems to get lower every year.



3 appearances for Oz some time ago, three (?) starts in SOO then didn't make the 2008 world cup squad and has fallen into City/Country since. If he was world class, surely he would be playing for NSW and Australia? Chris Flannery had played double the Origin games before joining Saints, I wouldn't mark him down as world class by any stretch of the imagination.



I think I'll wait until he's played a few games over here before adjudging him the best back rower in the league.

Hoffman is a quality signing, banding around world class tags is an irrelvance. He will be your best backrower, without a shadow of a doubt. Which, in turn, will force your youngsters to up their game.



To those who say it will be fine to let him go in twelve months; you will be gutted. If he replicates his Melbourne form, you will be begging him to stay. He is what I would call a model professional; makes very few mistakes, reliable and healthy. Add to that he has covered centre and prop in his time, only adds to his asset to the team.

As he has proved by being distinctly average even in Super League.



I feely admit, if Hoffman turns out to be as poor a signing as Flannery, I'll be very upset.

I don't think anyone can seriously call Hoffman world class, he'll hopefully be a very good player and one of the best in the league, but he hasn't been near the Aus side, or SOO lately. That in itself is probably part of the reason why he's over here at a youngish age regardless of Melbournes situation.

if he had a SOO and Aus regular spot he would not be plying his trade in Super league would he?

Same could be said about every Aussie that has come over here. Not sure what point you are trying to make?

To be fair, I wouldn't say Flannery has been a poor signing for us. He hasn't set the World alight admittedly, but he makes the hard yards for us and his versatility has been an asset at times.

Reminds me a lot like Phil Bailey puts the effort in and rarely has a bad game but players like that don't really get the attention or limelight.

just saying none of the Aussies in SL are world class, doesnt mean they arent top class players and better than anything we have in the UK

Hoffman is quality. Nothing wrong with luxury signings when they are that good.