Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Thu Oct 21, 2021 3:47 pm  

Yep look I think we look done for the squad for 2022 now. The good news is there should be a fair wiggle room for the year after as lots of players naturally come to the end of contracts together.

Honestly if it were me I'd take the opportunity to do a thorough sweep of the broom. Some youngsters will need upgrading, as for the rest we should have cap and quota left over for another couple of significant new signings for 2023.

It's a very good position to be in given where we started, and most of this is driven by getting our academy better/right maybe 5 years ago. The seeds of future success went in the ground then.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 5:54 am  

Boots wrote:

Keeping Bodene is a total waste of an overseas quota place. The guy is not top 5 team ability any more, if he ever was. A really poor decision to keep him.Would rather try another young prop from the Championship.

I find the attacks on our non first choice squad players bizarre, we’ve no idea what Thompson is earning, he may be very good value on the salary cap, having signed from the disbanded Toronto side I expect this to be the case.

He’s covered at prop, but is behind, Oledzki, Prior, Tetezano, Holroyd and may even be behind Muizz Mustapha in 2022, so he’s 5th or 6th choice at prop. In the back row he’s behind, Martin, Mellor, Bentley, Tetevano, Smith and probably now Gannon. So he’s a 5th/6th choice player, do people expect to have Internationals as 5th/6th choice?

He provides us reasonable quality cover, something that was much needed in 2021. Yes he’s a quota player but if he was released it would not free up the salary cap space to sign a 1st choice NRL player, Agar said we have a little room but are restricted by the salary cap, you need some good value salary cap players in the squad.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:39 am  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

I find the attacks on our non first choice squad players bizarre, we’ve no idea what Thompson is earning, he may be very good value on the salary cap, having signed from the disbanded Toronto side I expect this to be the case.

He’s covered at prop, but is behind, Oledzki, Prior, Tetezano, Holroyd and may even be behind Muizz Mustapha in 2022, so he’s 5th or 6th choice at prop. In the back row he’s behind, Martin, Mellor, Bentley, Tetevano, Smith and probably now Gannon. So he’s a 5th/6th choice player, do people expect to have Internationals as 5th/6th choice?

He provides us reasonable quality cover, something that was much needed in 2021. Yes he’s a quota player but if he was released it would not free up the salary cap space to sign a 1st choice NRL player, Agar said we have a little room but are restricted by the salary cap, you need some good value salary cap players in the squad.

I totally agree with every word of that. In this salary cap era you need solid pro's like Thompson who can do a job when required.

Hes a dependable and reliable squad man.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 9:55 am  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

I find the attacks on our non first choice squad players bizarre, we’ve no idea what Thompson is earning, he may be very good value on the salary cap, having signed from the disbanded Toronto side I expect this to be the case.

He’s covered at prop, but is behind, Oledzki, Prior, Tetezano, Holroyd and may even be behind Muizz Mustapha in 2022, so he’s 5th or 6th choice at prop. In the back row he’s behind, Martin, Mellor, Bentley, Tetevano, Smith and probably now Gannon. So he’s a 5th/6th choice player, do people expect to have Internationals as 5th/6th choice?

He provides us reasonable quality cover, something that was much needed in 2021. Yes he’s a quota player but if he was released it would not free up the salary cap space to sign a 1st choice NRL player, Agar said we have a little room but are restricted by the salary cap, you need some good value salary cap players in the squad.

You forgot Donaldson, who should be playing the 5/6th choice role. Thompson was what we needed when we signed him, and unfortunately the contract length reflects that. I can’t see him being retained next year so I’d be telling him he can go if he gets a better deal for longer elsewhere. I’d guess the club have told him this too.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 12:17 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

You forgot Donaldson, who should be playing the 5/6th choice role. Thompson was what we needed when we signed him, and unfortunately the contract length reflects that. I can’t see him being retained next year so I’d be telling him he can go if he gets a better deal for longer elsewhere. I’d guess the club have told him this too.

With 14 players off contract at the end of the coming season there is no way Thompson should be offered a new deal.Looking down the list of these players they are some very good younger players who will be after contract upgrades

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 12:54 pm  

I don’t think anyone is having a go at Thompson as such, he’s a steady pro. The decision to sign him as an OS spot for 3 years is the head scratcher.

Anyway next season we’ll have plenty of cap and an OS spot or two available again.

By the way is Newman actually contracted beyond next season?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:17 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I don’t think anyone is having a go at Thompson as such, he’s a steady pro. The decision to sign him as an OS spot for 3 years is the head scratcher.

Anyway next season we’ll have plenty of cap and an OS spot or two available again.

By the way is Newman actually contracted beyond next season?

According to player roster Newman off contract end of of 2022 as are 13 others.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:51 pm  

Newman will need a hefty upgrade, depending how he goes he might be marquee for 2023?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:51 pm  

Claims being made that Koni has signed a one year deal with Saints.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V3 : Fri Oct 22, 2021 4:41 pm  

batleyrhino wrote: Claims being made that Koni has signed a one year deal with Saints. Not so much claims as announced; https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2021/10/22/c ... -for-2022/

batleyrhino wrote: Claims being made that Koni has signed a one year deal with Saints. Not so much claims as announced; https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2021/10/22/c ... -for-2022/