Who's the best player we've ever poached?

[Mickie Lane]

John Mayes is on Sally's imported list.

Schooner was pointing out that Mayes is Bondi bred.

Okay

Now I understand.
schooner & yourself are very observant to pick that up.

[Bates]

Okay

Now I understand.
schooner & yourself are very observant to pick that up.

No flies on Schooner.

You need to concentrate harder

[David Sutherland]

John Mayes born and bred in Bondi played for Bondi United alongside John Peard

Yes and Johnny also played 46 first grade games for the Roosters prior to going to Manly in 1973.

The term "poaching" has also been used to describe teams signing players from premiership/championship winning teams.

Manly did win the comp in 1973 and Johnny Mayes played an important part in that premiership win as half back. - 16 tries even

Manly certainly had some try scoring prowess in 1973 - 3 in the top 5. and even the Roosters with 2 in the top 5

1973 NSWRFL Top Try Scorers (All Matches):

• Bob Fulton (Manly-Warringah): 18 tries
• Johnny Mayes (Manly-Warringah): 16 tries
• Bill Mullins (Eastern Suburbs): 15 tries
• Mark Harris (Eastern Suburbs): 13 tries
• Ken Irvine (Manly-Warringah): 13 tries
• Bernie Lowther (Canterbury-Bankstown): 13 tries

There are people who will still say the Roosters "Poached" Cooper Cronk. Cronk was off contract though, so how was he "poached"?

Brad Fittler even? Penrith signed with the Super League, basically making Fittler's contract null and void, as his contract was to play for Penrith in the ARL Comp and not the Super League Comp — same as Matt Sing.

Poaching, as far as sport goes, is the act of illegally or unethically persuading/enticing/inducing a player to leave their current team or club for another, either by approaching them directly or indirectly (publicly or privately) i.e. Hence the New Phil Gould NRL Anti-Tampering Regulation/Rule. i.e. Lachlan Galvin.

[Vasco]

I remember standing on the Northern hill at Penrith Park in 1995 watching Brad Fittler and Matt Sing playing for Penrith and thinking goody as it had already been made public that they were coming to Easts.
I was a but upset watching the reserve grade though as i knew Rod Silva had gone to the dark side and would be playing for the Dogs and was cut loose not long after that game.

Yeah and won a comp that same year!

[Bates]

Yes and Johnny also played 46 first grade games for the Roosters prior to going to Manly in 1973.

The term "poaching" has also been used to describe teams signing players from premiership/championship winning teams.

Manly did win the comp in 1973 and Johnny Mayes played an important part in that premiership win as half back. - 16 tries even

Manly certainly had some try scoring prowess in 1973 - 3 in the top 5. and even the Roosters with 2 in the top 5

1973 NSWRFL Top Try Scorers (All Matches):

• Bob Fulton (Manly-Warringah): 18 tries
• Johnny Mayes (Manly-Warringah): 16 tries
• Bill Mullins (Eastern Suburbs): 15 tries
• Mark Harris (Eastern Suburbs): 13 tries
• Ken Irvine (Manly-Warringah): 13 tries
• Bernie Lowther (Canterbury-Bankstown): 13 tries

There are people who will still say the Roosters "Poached" Cooper Cronk. Cronk was off contract though, so how was he "poached"?

Brad Fittler even? Penrith signed with the Super League, basically making Fittler's contract null and void, as his contract was to play for Penrith in the ARL Comp and not the Super League Comp — same as Matt Sing.

Poaching, as far as sport goes, is the act of illegally or unethically persuading/enticing/inducing a player to leave their current team or club for another, either by approaching them directly or indirectly (publicly or privately) i.e. Hence the New Phil Gould NRL Anti-Tampering Regulation/Rule. i.e. Lachlan Galvin.

"so how was he poached"

Easily as money talks!

The Storm were only offering Cronk $600k at that point in time and only a 1 year extension as he was 35 years old.

We offered Cronk $1 mill a season and a 2 year deal plus a job with the club after footy. His wife was also working in Sydney.

Basically we made it impossible for him to say no!

[mightyrooster]

Yes and Johnny also played 46 first grade games for the Roosters prior to going to Manly in 1973.

The term "poaching" has also been used to describe teams signing players from premiership/championship winning teams.

Manly did win the comp in 1973 and Johnny Mayes played an important part in that premiership win as half back. - 16 tries even

Manly certainly had some try scoring prowess in 1973 - 3 in the top 5. and even the Roosters with 2 in the top 5

1973 NSWRFL Top Try Scorers (All Matches):

• Bob Fulton (Manly-Warringah): 18 tries
• Johnny Mayes (Manly-Warringah): 16 tries
• Bill Mullins (Eastern Suburbs): 15 tries
• Mark Harris (Eastern Suburbs): 13 tries
• Ken Irvine (Manly-Warringah): 13 tries
• Bernie Lowther (Canterbury-Bankstown): 13 tries

There are people who will still say the Roosters "Poached" Cooper Cronk. Cronk was off contract though, so how was he "poached"?

Brad Fittler even? Penrith signed with the Super League, basically making Fittler's contract null and void, as his contract was to play for Penrith in the ARL Comp and not the Super League Comp — same as Matt Sing.

Poaching, as far as sport goes, is the act of illegally or unethically persuading/enticing/inducing a player to leave their current team or club for another, either by approaching them directly or indirectly (publicly or privately) i.e. Hence the New Phil Gould NRL Anti-Tampering Regulation/Rule. i.e. Lachlan Galvin.

Then there’s Craig Wing. We ‘poached’ him from Souffs but when he became a premiership winner with us he apparently had a beautiful homecoming to the vermin without any poaching. It’s a term used by the media and fans to suit their given agendas.

[David Sutherland]

Souths were legally removed from the comp so Craig Wing had no club - so with no club he was never "poached" as many still say he was.

Legally removed " In August 2003, the High Court of Australia ruled in favour of News Ltd, overturning a previous Federal Court decision and determining that the exclusion of the South Sydney Rabbitohs from the 2000-2001 NRL competition did not breach the Trade Practices Act".

The Roosters could have got back all their stolen junior league area and then some.

[mightyrooster]

Souths were legally removed from the comp so Craig Wing had no club - so with no club he was never "poached" as many still say he was.

Legally removed " In August 2003, the High Court of Australia ruled in favour of News Ltd, overturning a previous Federal Court decision and determining that the exclusion of the South Sydney Rabbitohs from the 2000-2001 NRL competition did not breach the Trade Practices Act".

The Roosters could have got back all their stolen junior league area and then some.

Good point there Sultho. But the vermin and their sympathisers like to paint the roosters as the bad guys as you know.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

No doubt Ryan Hall

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

The best and most influential player we have signed IMO is Freddy. Probably growing up in the 90s, I'm a bit biased, but under him, the club turned around.
Cronk second. We don’t go B2B without his direction and control.
I wouldn't classify either as being poached, though.
Of the others mentioned in this thread, the likes of Teddy, JWH, Kez, Artie, Coote, Wing etc, how many of them had more success at their previous clubs than they did with us? Easts make good players into greats.