I am still looking to get my cards signed. As others have stated, it is getting harder and harder for a number of reasons.
The sig pigs are the main issue and they are killing it for everyone. Mick Ennis was at it again today at Kogarah hitting everyone up with a mountain of cards. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, so I hate to think how the players feel. Most are too polite to say anything and just sign them all.
More and more players are of the opinion everything ends up on eBay. This causes them to either not sign cards ie. lote Tuqueri, or they alter their sigs for cards ie. Mark Gasnier who now signs scribble the size of a fingernail instead of a magnificent full signature which he used to.
Whole teams are now suspicious. Last season at a game I attended, Manly players all waited to leave at the same time. When walking through the crowd one player was yelling eBay eBay eBay. I managed to get 4 cards signed - three were scribble at best.
The issue is not just in Rugby League either, I also collect cricket. I have been after Shane Warne for years to sign some cards. He refused me last season on four separate occasions "nah mate, they will just end up on eBay" I have never had anything signed by him and most definitely would not sell it on eBay if I did, however due to others I have been tainted with the same brush. The ironic thing is now with him refusing to sign for me, the only way to complete my sets is to buy cards he has signed off eBay!
It is a great shame, and like Ross, I now focus on getting my Dragons cards signed as a priority and if I have the opportunity, get what I can for the other teams. with sooooooo many cards produced each year, it is nigh on impossible to get anywhere near a full set done.
I will also raise a point about the venues. More and more games are now moved to bigger stadiums, ie ANZ and Alliance. Those grounds are impossible to get anything signed at. I know you can get the Roosters at Allianz, however the away team parks the bus on the other side of the stadium so you can not get to them. Parra stadium is now very hard too. Dragons only play 4 games at WIN and 4 at Kogarah.
Will all of the above it is hard enough to get my own cards signed, let alone doubles to trade with. I have some, mainly dragons players, so I am happy to help where I can, just no where near what it used to be like.....