Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:48 pm  

Dux wrote:

http://forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=497140

Doesnt exactly make exhilerating reading, although I think it would be worth signing Ryan Bailey just to see the response on here. I wonder if we're looking at Championship players.

The thing is he's never held down a position in the halves. He considers himself a halfback, but he's never played as one at the top level for any sustained period of time. Before he was a full back at NZ Warriors he was a utility. Signing him as a half back on a four year contract is a major gamble IMO, particularly as he's not noted for having a kicking game. I'm pretty confident that Laffranchi will be a success, though.

On the topic of lance, that's exactly true!

Galea would be worth a shout, I know he's a backrow but he's a very good player. Not sure if he's off quota like flannery but IMO would be Ideal replacement for flannery.

Ratchford is the other name that stands out and could do a very good job in the centre as he has attacking skills.

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:20 pm  

I give a lot of credit to McManus for securing the new stadium (not to mention rescuing us from the previous chairman). But his recruitment policy over the last five years has been mediocre.

Things started to go wrong when we re-signed Meli for the first time (when he warranted no such offer). And there have been mistakes (that have cost us) season after season.

It's not that we lack quality players. Far from it. But the squad's balance is all wrong and instead of buying the best coaching talent we are conceding it to rivals and settling for second best.

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:14 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

I give a lot of credit to McManus for securing the new stadium (not to mention rescuing us from the previous chairman). But his recruitment policy over the last five years has been mediocre.

Things started to go wrong when we re-signed Meli for the first time (when he warranted no such offer). And there have been mistakes (that have cost us) season after season.

It's not that we lack quality players. Far from it. But the squad's balance is all wrong and instead of buying the best coaching talent we are conceding it to rivals and settling for second best.

Very true, the years of poor recruiting and sometimes lack of recruitment is now catching up with us.

Just a shame we've been a good team in a crap stadium and now we are going to be a crap team in a good stadium.

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:30 pm  

Dux wrote:

The thing is he's never held down a position in the halves. He considers himself a halfback, but he's never played as one at the top level for any sustained period of time.

In that he is just like Jonny Lomax, isn't he? As Simmons has just said about Lomax's possible call up to the England squad, he could play in any of a number of positions in the future at that level. Given the opportunity to address areas of his game that may need addressing, Hohaia could be a very good halfback. Jonny Lomax might not have played in the halves either had Eastmond not decided to leave and Pryce been fit all season but would he have automatically been poor at halfback? He has no kicking game either. (I have seen Hohaia kick, as I think I've said already - lovely little chip kicks in fact, just the kind of thing we are missing at present) Lance is incredibly quick from a standing start and an illusive runner. He is also very experienced and valuable as a utility player, something we have needed over the past few seasons due to injuries. I think he is a good acquisition.

I'm pretty confident that Laffranchi will be a success, though.

I haven't seen Laffranchi play at all so I have no idea whether he will be any good or not. He'll probably take a season to settle in. I wonder whether it will be his hamstring or groin that will get him in the end?

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:36 pm  

St pete wrote:

Ratchford is the other name that stands out and could do a very good job in the centre as he has attacking skills.

I don't think he is any better or worse than what we have at present.

I think some people are forgetting that this season we have had few of our strike players on the pitch at any one time and quite often the ones that have been on the pitch have been playing busted (Roby and his infected eye against Hull being a case in point). We need a few weeks of stability with the majority of our first team playing together to judge just how good or otherwise our recruitment has been.

Either way, Saints priority has been to get the new stadium up and running and secure the financial future of the club. That Warrington are awash with cash just now is in part because they have a good turnout of fans and numerous income streams into the club. We have had neither for years and why should the directors keep plugging the gaps? The club has to be self-sustaining and that has to take priority. If that means no flashy imports for a few years then I'm all for it. Encourage rugby league in the town by showing the local lads that there is actually a possibility of them getting their moment of glory at Saints if they have the talent and commitment to go for it rather than looking at a bunch of imports blocking their chances.

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:38 pm  

It will be the ankle that will get laffranchi.

Saintsfan, you say lance will be a good halfback and I agree he most prob will be in terms of running and taking the line on but who do you vision being the other halfback with lance?

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:42 pm  

St pete wrote:

Saintsfan, you say lance will be a good halfback and I agree he most prob will be in terms of running and taking the line on but who do you vision being the other halfback with lance?

Pryce or Wheeler or Lomax or Gaskell!

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:44 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Pryce or Wheeler or Lomax or Gaskell!

I'm glad you said that. We agree on something.

I don't think lomax and lance will work.

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:58 pm  

Chris wanted to sign for Saints. Had his agent approach the club, but we didn't show any interest. Warrington came in in early this week and the rest as they say is history.

From a personal view, we have lost out on a good British front rower, with good ball handling skills (started his playing career as Stand Off) Warringtons gain our loss.

Re: Chris Hill ???? : Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:05 pm  

Lobby wrote:

Chris wanted to sign for Saints. Had his agent approach the club, but we didn't show any interest. Warrington came in in early this week and the rest as they say is history.

From a personal view, we have lost out on a good British front rower, with good ball handling skills (started his playing career as Stand Off) Warringtons gain our loss.

The min another club comes in for a player we are after en that's it as we won't battle for a player as we won't pay the money.