HULL KR: Galea happy with Clinton move
HULL KR's Ben Galea believes the capture of Joel Clinton would be the final piece in Rovers' jigsaw for the forthcoming season.
Rovers are favourites to land the highly-sought after prop after he agreed a release from his contract at Brisbane Broncos, where he was their highest paid forward on £152,000 a year.
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Ben Galea
Clinton, who had another year to run on his deal, is expected to join Rovers as soon as he secures his visa.
Galea is looking forward to playing alongside the former Australian international and feels he would fill the gap left by Nick Fozzard, who returned to St Helens.
"Joel would be a great signing because of the big-game experience he would bring to our squad," Galea told the Mail.
"He has played in the front row for Australia and won a Grand Final with Penrith Panthers in 2003.
"We need players with that sort of experience and he would be the final piece of the jigsaw for us.
"With Nick Fozzard moving on at the end of last season, we have a hole to fill and Joel would be the ideal replacement.
"We have a lot of young forwards in our squad next season and Joel would help them out a lot.
"At 27, he still has a lot of good years ahead of him and if he rediscovers the form of five years ago, then he would be a great acquisition."
Galea started his pre-season yesterday and is happy with what he has seen from the new recruits so far.
The arrival of Bradford's Matt Cook, Leeds Rhinos' Michael Ratu and Hull's Josh Hodgson has brought the average age of the squad down following the release of thirty-somethings Nick Fozzard, Daniel Fitzhenry, Stanley Gene and Makali Aizue.
Galea believes the current squad is good enough to repeat their top four finish of last season, and go one better in the play-offs.
Defeats to Leeds and Wigan brought a great season to a disappointing end and left the squad looking to do better next year.
"We choked in the play-offs last season because we were inexperienced," said Galea.
"We didn't handle the situations well, but we have learned from that and we will be better placed to do well this time.
"We can finish in the top four again because the younger players have more games under their belts.
"I met Matt Cook for the first time yesterday and he is a really dedicated player."
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by karl thordarson, brisbane Australia
Saturday, December 05 2009, 12:43PM
“I am a regular at the broncos games. And I must say we are glad to see the back of him (clinton) he has not done anything for us.”
by Humbugandproud, easthull
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 2:24PM
“Slammer That last post was for you mate....I see the HDM has ommitted 3 letters in my post as it was short for assistant,Doh!!!! its a pity they cannot take all the childish tripe referring to shirts and gays and such of these pages as quick,What a load of pathetic rubbish is printed every day,Same old,same old Cant they get into there little peanut brains its not funny and certainly only fit for a sewer rat to digest,Grow up,Even they would spew it back up”
by slammer, EHIW
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 2:17PM
“humbug, at the end of the day us supporters have to trust in the judgement of the guys in charge - for you Mr Agar and for me Morgs. Be it on their heads, as they say!”
by Humbugandproud, easthull
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 2:12PM
“We all can read what the experts say and take it on board,But a lot what they print can be taken with a pinch of salt,As an Example Alun Hunt Salford`s Ass. coach wrote he thought our new signing Jordan Turner was going to be the next Ellery Handly and this kid was going to be a world beater,Well we can all be gullible at times,but not that much,surely,I will take my salt in a table spoon if he turns out half as good”
by george, hull
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 1:59PM
“cheers for that eddy,i mean,dave,or is it blinkered,craig,ged, im falling asleep now.boring.”