Castleford<\/a> have just released three Papua New Guinean forwards they signed from the Queensland Cup, but they fielded Joe Stimson against Wigan only two days after he had arrived from Brisbane Tigers. When it does work, the head of recruitment is seen as a genius. Typical of the new-style imports, Zac Cini is repeatedly impressing for Castleford at full-back four years on from his last appearance in the NRL, proving the step from Australia\u2019s second tier to Britain\u2019s first can be smoothly traversed.<\/p>\nCastleford Tiger\u2019s Zac Cini (centre) attempts to break through the Wakefield Trinity defence during the Super League match in April. Photograph: Danny Lawson\/PA<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is surreal playing against a world-class team, but I\u2019m working towards making that feel more comfortable,\u201d said Cini after another surefooted display against Wigan. \u201cThe physicality in Super League is bigger \u2013 there\u2019s a difference in the reffing of the speed of the ruck, so the defence get a lot more line speed and are looking to hit you harder. So I try to find space and avoid that with my footwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cini, who joined Wigan from the Parramatta Eels reserve team, has swapped living in Penrith, west of Sydney, for Pontefract, where he has settled with his young family. The Australian with roots in Malta is convinced that many other players could also blossom if the quota increases. \u201cThere\u2019s so much talent in the NSW Cup that, just based on numbers, doesn\u2019t get an opportunity to show what they can do. If they can come over here and play at the highest level, that\u2019s a big achievement and brings out the best in people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just down the A655, another under-the-radar recruit has lit up Super League. When Wakefield signed the young prop Caius Faatili from the Australian club Wynnum Manly Seagulls at the start of the year, he was not expected to have a big impact. But the New Zealander with Mick Hucknall hair and a Mick Cronin offload has proven to be one of the most exciting and dangerous props in the competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we watched him play in Australia, I wasn\u2019t sure,\u201d says Wakefield\u2019s coach, Daryl Powell. \u201cHe\u2019s a bit different, but he\u2019s got good control. He\u2019s not spraying the ball anywhere. He makes good decisions. It\u2019s taken him longer to settle than people think. He came in late and missed pre-season and I was only giving him 10-minute stints as he wasn\u2019t handling the defensive side of the game. He never complained and got fitter and better. Now he\u2019s starting games. He wants to work; he takes two carries in every set if he can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Faatili is quickly becoming a cult hero at Belle Vue and Powell can see why. \u201cHe\u2019s worn red suits and his hair\u2019s a bit different. He\u2019s a bit out there, but that\u2019s why he\u2019s perfect for this country. In Australia they like what they know. We\u2019re trying to put bums on seats over here. You want to enjoy watching a game and I\u2019d pay to watch us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unearthing undervalued gems has always been an aim for British clubs but the leading agent Graham Taylor, a Scot based in France who is against any quota increase, believes Pacific bargains can be misleading. The additional costs \u2013 visas for the family, flights, accommodation \u2013 can add another \u00a320,000 to any signing.<\/p>\n
One subtle way to slightly increase the quota would be to exclude from it non-federation-trained players now eligible via residency to play for a home nation or who have UK citizenship. Six years after signing for Wigan from the NSW Cup side Wentworthville Magpies, the Australian Bevan French is a superstar of the sport and eligible to represent England \u2013 as soon will be his teammate Jai Field, a fellow Australian.<\/p>\n
The Scotland internationals Lachlan Walmsley and James Bell have both played in British competitions for more than five years yet are still considered foreigners, which will have an impact on their next moves: the Australian-raised winger Walmsley is expected to leave Wakefield in October as they have lined up a new signing for his quota spot, and the St Helens forward Bell, from Auckland, is being linked with Hull FC. Both would interest every Super League club if taken off the quota.<\/p>\n
Wakefield Trinity\u2019s Lachlan Walmsley in action against Wigan Warriors in June. Photograph: John Clifton\/SWpix.com\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
While Cini shone at full-back, seeing the winger Will Tate from Scunthorpe and the hooker George Hill \u2013 a product of North Derbyshire Chargers \u2013 excel against Wigan left the Castleford coach, Danny McGuire, cautious about backing any increase in the quota. \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d said the former England and Great Britain half. \u201cI don\u2019t want to see young British players stifled, which would be my big concern. There are some good kids in the academy who need looking after.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m not sure we\u2019ve got a big enough pool of good players for the competition at the moment, so perhaps we do need to look at other quota spots, especially if we\u2019re looking at bringing more teams into the comp. It\u2019s a balance: you\u2019ve got to get your top-end recruitment right and you\u2019ve got to develop players. We need to be better at both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Experienced imports are not always the answer. With French out for eight weeks, the local youngster Jack Farrimond has been given an extended opportunity to prove he is Wigan\u2019s next diamond. \u201cHe\u2019s a good player, that\u2019s why he\u2019s here,\u201d said his head coach, Matty Peet. \u201cI\u2019ve told him I don\u2019t want him to be patient, I want him to be playing so well I\u2019m being told I\u2019ve got to keep him in. It\u2019s not about lowering the standard to make room for young players; it\u2019s them climbing over the top of people and creating competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fifty years ago Wigan and Castleford had only one overseas player each. The 16 First Division clubs had 23 Welshmen but only six Australians and not a single New Zealander or Frenchman. They would all find the current quota debate somewhat perplexing.<\/p>\n
One more thingChristian Wade is still waiting to make his debut for Wigan. Photograph: Dean Williams\/Wigan Warriors<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll have to wait for Super League\u2019s first player from the Royal County of Berkshire. Just before kick-off on Saturday night, Peet opted to replace the injured Liam Marshall with Jacob Douglas rather than give Christian Wade his debut. The former Buffalo Bills running back did the full warm-up and then watched the contest from the bench. \u201cHe\u2019ll have learned there are no easy games, especially as a winger in this sport, which I think he knows,\u201d said Peet. \u201cThe amount of work he\u2019s done, the footage he\u2019s watched with coaches, smashing teammates with pads and executing the basics of rugby league, has been impressive. He\u2019s trained quite a bit in the left-wing position and done really well but I just think Dougie is in front of him at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
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