Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:41 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

Paul Wellens - Release, replaced by Lomax.
Ade Gardner - Release, replaced by Keiron Dixon. Dixon stated he would consider a move if it was right for his career.
Meli - Getting on a bit now, release. Promote to the squad from within, Swift / Percival are most likely.
Gaskell - Keep.
Perry - Release, replace with someone like Mace the Ace or Paul Wood who are realistic targets.
Laffranchi - Has a year option in favour of the club, keep as he is good to have around.
Puletua - Depends on form this year, if not up to scratch replace with a powerful SSI. There's plenty around.
Flanagan - Definitely keep, massively underrated IMO.
Swift - Keep.
Greenwood - Keep.

I'd then target a couple of new signings and bin off Wilkin so our lineup would be similar to this next year:

1. Jonny Lomax
2. Kieron Dixon
3. Jordan Turner
4. Josh Jones
5. Tommy Makinson

6. Lee Gaskell
7. Rhys Hanbury

8. LMS
9. James Roby
10. Anthony Laffranchi
11. Sia Soliola
12. Willie Manu
13. Mark Flanagan

14. Lance Hohaia
15. New SSI prop / TP.
16. Alex Walmsley
17. Joe Greenwood

Obviously the bench could change up a lot, depends upon the progression and development of a couple of players, we also may bring in another prop if both Perry and TP are released. It's also worth noting that Swift could put in a challenge for either Full Back or 7. I also expect Percival, a very classy centre, to be pushing for a spot in the next couple of years.

Sorry if I'm being thick, but SSI??

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:47 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Sorry if I'm being thick, but SSI??

Sorry should have stated, South Sea Islander.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:50 pm  

Albion wrote:

4) Doubt Salford would want to let Broughton go tbh considering their new big plans. But I'd love us to sign someone with pace like that.

I'm surprised he's stayed for this season to be honest, in the situation there are/were in. If he's out of contract, I can see him moving on. Hopefully to us!

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:07 pm  

Does anyone else find it quite depressing when you look at the team of old, Scully, KC, Long, Newlove etc...

Full of top players.

Will that ever happen in English Rugby League again. (not just talking about saints by the way)

Was talking with a friend today about the older players, the big derby's the player rivalries etc..
Mid 90s to earls 00s was great to watch RL

Wigan - Warrington still entertain and show how its done but I'm losing the love for RL.
Not trying to come across a whining northerner here. I know there are plenty, Just seems a bit sad.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:22 pm  

saintcj wrote:

Does anyone else find it quite depressing when you look at the team of old, Scully, KC, Long, Newlove etc...

Full of top players.

I was looking back at the 2006 team before and wishing we had them back.
Wellens
Gardner
Lyon
Talau
Meli
Pryce
Long
Anderson
Cunningham
Cayless
Gilmour
Wilkin
Sculthorpe

Roby
Graham
Hooper
Fa'asavalu

And Vinnie and Fozzard too. What a team!

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:42 pm  

St. Rughead wrote:

I was looking back at the 2006 team before and wishing we had them back.
Wellens
Gardner
Lyon
Talau
Meli
Pryce
Long
Anderson
Cunningham
Cayless
Gilmour
Wilkin
Sculthorpe

Roby
Graham
Hooper
Fa'asavalu

And Vinnie and Fozzard too. What a team!

What score do we reckon that team would beat today's team? Assuming we could do it in some fantasy world, I reckon at least 30, even on a bad day for the 06 team.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:05 am  

saintcj wrote:

Was talking with a friend today about the older players, the big derby's the player rivalries etc..
Mid 90s to earls 00s was great to watch RL

I don't mean to be cynical, but is it more than a coincidence that the mid '90s to early '00s was the exact period during which we were the top club in the country? Is it just more fun watching a winning side?

I remember during the same period Wigan fans were always banging on about how the standard of the game had dereriorated when the reality was that it was just Wigan who were on the slide. When you watch the same team every week it's easy to extrapolate their fortunes to those of the game as a whole.

Not that I'm saying the game is getting better every year, mind. Last season was the poorest for a while, and with the drying up of the import market there's bound to be a hit in quality. But I think the general pessimism about the state of the game amongst Saints fans is as much to do with how Saints have played for the last few years as it is about anything else.

Back on topic, I think Offside Monkey and Backrow Saint have it pretty much right. We'll probably have to accept that players like TP will not be replaced by players of equivalent standing, but the squad does need freshening up with some young blood and enthusiasm. Given that there are so many senior players off contract this year it seems like the right time to clear the decks. Perhaps signing some players who have something to prove will be exactly what we need.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:10 am  

Dux wrote:

Back on topic, I think Offside Monkey and Backrow Saint have it pretty much right. We'll probably have to accept that players like TP will not be replaced by players of equivalent standing, but the squad does need freshening up with some young blood and enthusiasm. Given that there are so many senior players off contract this year it seems like the right time to clear the decks. Perhaps signing some players who have something to prove will be exactly what we need.

We'll struggle to find a player like TP, but, to be honest, us brits can produce good, hard forwards. Backs and half back are more of a stuggle, but we can produce some really top notch forwards.
Whilst it would take saints quite an effort to replace Boof, Perry and TP in the same batch, the Superleague as a whole shouldn't suffer too much from having to fill their pack with brits.

Regarding new signings, I think the bit I've highlighted in bold is very important. Whilst its important to have some experience, perhaps we've got a few too many players that have been there, done that and don't have the personality type to still crank it up for a big game or title challenge anymore.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:09 pm  

Get shut of the lot; not just those out of contract either. They were so bad against the giants and not much better against Widnes I am thinking of going over the hill to watch a good team.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:24 am  

I know what you mean, and obviously a fall from grace i'snt great when we where at one time the best team in the world, but you said it, and I completely agree.
Last season was the worst I've even seen. Some games where boring to watch.
Saints are fast becoming one of the most boring to watch too which is the hardest thing to take as a saints fan.