I think over the past 12 or so years we have been chasing the dream of the big one. We have been trying to buy our way to the holy grail by chasing Star players that will be the difference between also rans and the winners. Look at the number of halfbacks (6/7) we have had. 
Sandow
Roberts
Brown
Widdop
Gidley
Williams
Austin
Sneyd
Plus probably others I have forgotten. 


But when you look at Saints they have stability in a lot of those key positions. Pretty sure Lomax has been at Saints all those 12 years. . The Melbourne storm model was based around the 1,6,7&9. 




It looks like we have tried to get the best in some positions and then some other positions have been an afterthought based on what we had left available on the cap. 


I think we need to spin it on its head and build the squad around what we have and who we think will be invested in the club long term and then fill in around that with some quality players. 


So it is feasible to see a team built around
CTW, Lindop, Thewlis x 2,  Possibly Wrench, Irwin, Hayes, Thomas, Wood, Walker, Harthill, Ashton etc 
Some of them might not make the grade but hopefully all do. 
Then you look at the positions where we need support and fill them with quality players. A few quality forwards and a quality centre. 
I think we have been approaching this the other way round by playing fantasy RL to try and get top players and then realizing we only have enough money to Sign Matty Russell, Dan Russell, etc 

Anyone coming over from Australia at 30 years old, with 8 games left of the season because they can't get in their own team abd specialises in a position we don't need help in is a terrible move.

Just as an aside, as Just Browny said, John Bateman was 30, joined in late July 2024 with 8 league games remaining, and couldn't get in the West Tigers side. He made a positive contribution. 

He can make a wonderful contribution…but in the words of Kyle Amor ‘it matters not’. We could win every game (we won’t win 4) and still we wouldn’t qualify. 

Bateman didn't do that well and nobody will remember his stint. Did well defensively but offered almost nothing in attack. If Matterson is another Bateman (he isn't) then we don't need him. We aren't getting relegated and we aren't making the playoffs off the back of an anonymous second rower. Just look at what his own speccies say. They don't want him back next year.

Perhaps there will be quite a few of these cast offs coming over when the NRL template is in place. At least there a plenty of last chance saloons over here.