So this year I'm making it my mission to look into any non SL/British players who join us, many of whom I believe in the past have been inferior to what's available in this country. I'm including this lad because not many of us will have seen much of him.

So after spending more hours (quite week at work) watching Youtube, bits people I know have sent me here's my report for what it's worth. I accept that because a all of his career has been Championship a lot of what I post is subjective I've tried to be scientific.

First the negatives.

1: As mentioned on here before he doesn't seem to run his weight as well as he should, not much in the way of clean breaks or hard yards.

2: His defence seems reasonable without being what I'd call brutal. Always in position but can flap a bit.

3: From what I've seen no real off load game.

The positives. (in accending order)

1:Reasonably quick for his size and runs some good lines which hopefully with better players around him he will make more of.

2: Good stamina, always seems willing to take the ball up.

3: His best strendth is his ability to drag players into the tackle followed by a reasonably quick play the ball. He's a big man and he will tire any defence especially when combined with other big props. I think if he brings it all to SL he will do well for us and will IMHO be the best we could hope for at that price.

He's a decent workhorse but as far as I can tell nothing more. However depending on who we sign he will be great to bring on for a while to give the more damaging forwards a rest.

How this player goes depends on how he adapts to F/T training and SL itself. He's got the size which we have sorely missed and that alone makes him usefull. He definitely has the potential to carve a modest career in SL but for now thats as far as it goes.

As a SL signing 5/10 (purely because he has no SL experience at all, it's pure potential nothing more)

As a Trinity signing from the Championship 8/10 - OBVIOUSLY BASED ON NO INJURIES AND THE PLAYER SETTLING INTO THE TEAM ETC.

From what I have seen of Hirst he does have the ability to stand in the tackle and off load.

Leadership ?

Wasn't Keegan captain of a very successful team (in relative terms of course) and leadership is something we have been severely lacking both on and off the field.
This could be one of his main assets.

Yes he was captain at Batley so does have the leadership abilities.

Just not sure as yet until our props are all sorted as to where he will be in the pecking order and how much game time he will get.

However he will need to be given a chance and Im sure he will

You need to add Teflon hands and also that he isn't the best defender to the negatives.

Vasty - you need to change the title of your post. You've got the words "magnet" and "man" the wrong way round.

You genuinely think that is a clever post?

Should fit in well with the rest of the forwards then!

Well no l sshouldnt actually - you see that's just your opinion not mine. You may think you're right you may even be right if that makes you happy but from what I have seen none of what you say applies - it's called perception and min differs from yours.

Anyway right or wrong would it not be productive just for once for Trinity fans to get behind a player who's at least willing to give it a go rather than undermining him before he's even played a game....jeez how difficult can it be

Well said there.

I think we should always give new incoming players a chance be we start having a go at them, not matter what

I like it when we sign players from `lower ` divisions, often those players have made massive sacrifices just to play Rugby, they are not rewarded well, often they could be better paid doing something else, many play for the love of the game, many are just wanting a chance to show what they can do. In my opinion the `lower `division clubs and players are not given enough respect by SL clubs and SL fans, for many just to maintain the club with the crowds they get is a fabulous achievement. There are many players in the lower leagues who have simply not been given an opportunity, they may well have missed out on a SL club Academy.
A player like Hirst can only be praised for having a go, it is very unlikely that a player like Hirst will do a Kirk or an Anderson and toss it off, he is likely to really value his opportunity and give 100 %. If he proves to be good enough it will be fantastic for the player and the club, a win win. If not it is unlikely to be players fault.