Just found out that we and wakefield are in
talks with Jamal Fakir

31 year old second rower who had attracted the attention of several French rugby union teams some time ago.
I don't know what he is like at the moment as i haven't really taken a great deal of notice of individual Catalan players this season, looks a big lad though.

One of my favourite players, I remember him absolutely destroying us in the CC the year before Catalans joined SL when they were still UTC, about 2003/04?

Unfortunately his all actions style has resulted in a lot of injuries, that combined with it being a big change for someone moving over here with regards to the language and culture would mean I wouldn't be over keen on this idea.

If the lad doesn't have much English, Chris Chester speaks French, I think, so that might help the transition. He's looked quite impressive I've thought too, big and strong. French players count as fed-trained now, I'm pretty sure.

I don't think ud need to talk to him tho so the language barrier shud be fine cud always google translate

Any thoughts on the prop nh said we hoped to announce.

Puletua is probably the closest we could get for a like for like for Paea on the ooc list. 34 soon though and strongly linked with Salford. He'd be non-fed.
Keith Mason is a bit younger and fed-trained. Not sure how he's got on at Cas this year.
Anybody realistic in the NRL?

Your shop could do a nice line in Carry On t shirts too

Could be worse, he could be Jim Apple trying to introduce himself in France

Most of the Catalan team are big lads! I reckon he would go well for the next few years, as we've seen, with increased fitness 31 doesn't really mean a player is on the decline anymore

The rumour mill over here is rife - Rover's have signed the Fakir.

He will be a good acquisition if it is true and raises a question mark over the future of Con Mika.

MR, re your poser re the prop NH alluded to, I heard it is Lee Jewitt from Salford - the player Walker traded punches with earlier in the season.

I'd be really pleased if we've managed to sign Fakir - I've always been a massive fan; an explosive runner with great foot work for a big man and not as dependent on running starts the same way other impact players can be.

Lee Jewitt would be another astute signing IMO; like most forwards CS has signed he's very physical and aggressive and a player who plays the game with the same intensity regardless of what the score is. These types of players take every drive and every tackle as a personal battle and this is one of the main traits of how you win forward battles.

Mika has been offered another deal and I hope he stays because he's now finally starting to find some consistency in his performances like the rest of our young players and is probably our physically strongest player pound for pound in the whole squad. His big mate Paterson is going but I'd assume his other close mate Paea will still be living locally so I'm hopeful he'll stay.

Phew, for a minute I thought you were signing a fat, unfit Frenchman and a player nobby doesn't think is good enough for the Salford revolution. Thanks for clearing it up