Albert Kelly wants back in the NRL

[Curaeus]

They're rare as hen's teeth I know but another quality back rower as good as Gareth Ellis is just what we need. Do we have any ESL scouts who could help us find such a person-assuming we have the cash?

 

[Nelson]

They're rare as hen's teeth I know but another quality back rower as good as Gareth Ellis is just what we need. Do we have any ESL scouts who could help us find such a person-assuming we have the cash?

The second row stocks in ESL are poor. There are some outside backs like Ryan Hall, Josh Charnley and Kallum Watkins but second row is generally garbage - as is evidenced by Gareth Ellis still starting (alongside Mark Minichello).

Elliot Whitehead was a good purchase by the Raiders, he was the standout of the England 2nd row. Of the rest that played for England last year Sean O'Loughlin is past it and Liam Farrell is too small (~6ft and low 90kgs). Brett Ferres has a tendency to have sex with his teammates wives so that's also a big no.

Ben Currie looks like he's going well this season though and has youth on his side -

http://www.rugby-league.com/superleague/player-info/10272

188cm (~6'3") and 102kg and going off his stats has an offload in him and tackle/line breaking ability. He's also Irish so he should have some fight and heart about him.

He's got a good highlights reel too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj14oK-pMqo

Consider the ESL scouted.

 

[Russell]

Obviously - not much good at defending.

What was there, one tackle on the highlights with a couple of other guys.

 

[Nelson]

Obviously - not much good at defending.

What was there, one tackle on the highlights with a couple of other guys.

…or people just don't like highlighting solid defence on highlight reels. He's made 298 tackles and missed 21 this season which has him tackling at about 93%. Blokes that go hunting for big highlight hits aren't necessarily the most solid of defenders.

I'm just going off a bunch of stats and some highlights but he looks like he's got some potential, particularly given he's 21 and already has 80 odd games of Super League under his belt.