The recent signing of Chad Townsend by the Sydney Roosters has the majority of league fans asking one thing ...
"...Really?"
On paper, this makes little to no sense. An aging halfback, hardly setting the league on fire, moving to Sydney to play for the Roosters.
I get it, this is a premiership-winning halfback, widely known as one of the competition's genuine good guys, who can do a job.
That said, with the greatest of respects to the man who lead my Sharks to their first ever title ... really?
It did get me thinking about recent, similar signings. Players who were signed to a chorus of indifference, and the impacts they ultimately had.
Here are ten signings who arrived under, shall we say, mixed reviews!? All of which turned out more than a little okay.
7. Reuben Garrick (Manly Sea Eagles)
I wasn't sure whether to place the Manly winger as technically he didn't make an NRL appearance at another NRL club prior. Hear me out though.
Garrick's name was spoken about in high regard during his time at the Dragons but was released without ever making his senior grade debut.
Manly must have seen something because I cannot find any fanfare re Garrick's initial signing. In fact the only article I found was a paywall'ed report from the South Coast Register.
Garrick has turned into a point scoring machine. He is equally at home on the wing, at centre or fullback and stared in the World Cup if 9s for the Australians.
