Re: Fans Forum last night : Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:43 am  

TheVee wrote:

McManus did say he was getting offered a new deal but there is nothing to say that it wont be massively reduced and nothing is forcing Wello to accept so he may want to look elsewhere.

To be honest, I think it will be 1 year rolling contract.

Don't forget, that how KC finished the last 3 years at saints with 1 year rolling contract.

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:30 pm  

Re: Gaskell inexplicable absence from the team I do wonder whether McManus has put his foot down and made the call. After all, there were numerous reports of Lance being offered assurances with respect to his role in the team prior to agreeing terms. Bear in mind that under Simmons Lance was shunted through several positions - including the bench. It's entirely possible that Lance kicked up a stink and reminded McManus of those assurances and bye-bye Gaskell. I mean, purely on the strength of team selection it seems as though Simmons preferred Gaskell to Hohaia all along. Which is certainly NOT the kind of behaviour you'd expect from a coach who busted a gut to make the signing. Or was Hohaia McManus' man from the very beginning?

Very odd indeed.

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:51 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

Re: Gaskell inexplicable absence from the team I do wonder whether McManus has put his foot down and made the call. After all, there were numerous reports of Lance being offered assurances with respect to his role in the team prior to agreeing terms. Bear in mind that under Simmons Lance was shunted through several positions - including the bench. It's entirely possible that Lance kicked up a stink and reminded McManus of those assurances and bye-bye Gaskell. I mean, purely on the strength of team selection it seems as though Simmons preferred Gaskell to Hohaia all along. Which is certainly NOT the kind of behaviour you'd expect from a coach who busted a gut to make the signing. Or was Hohaia McManus' man from the very beginning?

Very odd indeed.

I don't think it is. Hohaia was just a panic buy. Saints had been hit by the news of Kyle and Leon both leaving and with Gaskell and Lomax then untried he just went out and got any NRL halfback he could. No doubt Hohaia's main stipulation was playing in the halves. It was a joke of a signing and one that will hamper our squad until he leaves.

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sat Jun 16, 2012 1:03 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

I mean, purely on the strength of team selection it seems as though Simmons preferred Gaskell to Hohaia all along.

He certainly seemed to.

At the time of signing Lance, Simmons said that he had been asked to give options on who was available, bearing in mind neither Kyle nor Leon were looking like our future halfback pairing. However, the one player Royce did fight tooth and nail over getting was Laffranchi. I only know this because Laffranchi said in an interview that Royce had worked very hard to get him over here.

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sat Jun 16, 2012 4:01 pm  

TheVee wrote:

McManus did say he was getting offered a new deal but there is nothing to say that it wont be massively reduced and nothing is forcing Wello to accept so he may want to look elsewhere.

Snooker? Crown green bowling?

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:15 pm  

Geoff wrote:

Snooker? Crown green bowling?

What no Chess????

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:41 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

He certainly seemed to.

I don't remember Simmons waxing lyrical about Hohaia's abilities and the impact he'd have on team organisation. I'm not saying he didn't say nice things about the guy. But I'd expect any good coach to say the same about one of his players.

Of course, he may have wished to leave Gaskell at six initially as a reward for his efforts the season prior. But if Simmons had absolute confidence in Hohaia's abilities I'd expect him to start from game one. Especially as he would need as much game time as possible in order for him to be completely up to speed by the business end of the season.

Purely by body language you could tell Hohaia was at best uncomfortable, at worst downright unhappy. IMO, something was said around the time of Royce's departure which precipitated a string of events (perhaps even playing a role in Simmons' downfall) that led to Gaskell being put on ice permanently and Hohaia handed the six jersey.

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:44 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

I don't remember Simmons waxing lyrical about Hohaia's abilities and the impact he'd have on team organisation.

Nor do I. I only know what Simmons himself said and that was he had been asked for options by the club. Presumably Hohaia was one of those options but he might not have been.

IMO, something was said around the time of Royce's departure which precipitated a string of events (perhaps even playing a role in Simmons' downfall) that led to Gaskell being put on ice permanently and Hohaia handed the six jersey.

It wouldn't surprise me.

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:07 am  

But then the appointment of Brown by McManus would be a strange one given that Brown has made it clear he doesn't see Hohaiah as a 6.

Re: Fans Forum last night : Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:08 am  

Cragganmore Kid wrote:

But then the appointment of Brown by McManus would be a strange one given that Brown has made it clear he doesn't see Hohaiah as a 6.

Exactly,theres no way Lance will be close to first choice stand off next season.