Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Wed May 25, 2011 5:01 pm  

You'd have to buy him out of his current contract at Quins which runs until the end of 2014.

Wigan were linked with Clubb earlier this season. Having kept a close eye on him since then he's very, very weak in defense. When we played them a couple of weeks ago he was just a turnstile. Very slow to react and adjust in defense. Even offensively he was pretty anonymous. That's been the case when ever I've seen him this year.

Thankfully the rumors of him joining Wigan have died down.

We're on the look out for a centre next year, and to be honest there's very few British players who'd make the grade IMO, and the one's that do look promising aren't out of contract.

I've got a sneaky feeling that it's only a matter of time before Briscoe leaves Hull FC. If FC don't start to challenge for honors soon, rival clubs are going to start sniffing. He has to be worth £200,000 of anyone's money.

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Wed May 25, 2011 5:28 pm  

Briscoe would be an excellent signing for any team challenging.

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Wed May 25, 2011 6:10 pm  

I think for a few years, this is going to be the case, with not a huge amount of quality out there.

For years and years we have been paying over the hill aussies to cover slots in every team. Yes even at Saints on occasion. So there is not a sudden splurge of people ready to step up and cover those positions.
Every team is going to have to look within and put time and effort into development as the quota players retire and the new federation rules start to bite.

There has been a noticable upsurge in youth across all clubs, but I think alot will be hit and miss, so trying to poach of other clubs will be increasingly difficult. Until all clubs are looking to get 8 - 10 first teamers from all sections of the team. Naturally as GB have been very poor at developing centres. Then when clubs start to look for replacements all at the same time for the centre position, all will find a lack of quality.

Saints have always had very good centre's but we've tended to buy in most of them during SL and our main source ie overseas has dried up.

I think that maybe why we keep the likes of Meli as he is a quota spot that allows us to get another federation player on top.
We know TP has 2 years, Lance has 4, Perry has 2 more, Lafanachi 2 years, I think Soliola only has 1 left.

So the club has 1 more year to develop their own centre before having to chose between offering soliola 1 more year, or going shopping in Oz for a centre.

I can't see any centre's much better than Meli becoming available from other clubs. If they are any good, they are going to get a good offer from their current club.

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Wed May 25, 2011 7:34 pm  

Does anyone see Makinson as a long term option in the threequarters? He certainly has pace.

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Wed May 25, 2011 7:37 pm  

From what I've seen of Makinson he certainly does have potential. I would suggest that he should be challenging for a starting place in the next 2 years or so. Especially if Gardner leaves this year with Meli following the year after.

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Wed May 25, 2011 7:46 pm  

Anyone with pace has a chance, but he (Makinson) needs to develop his game particularly his awareness and defence.

He's a good back up option and he's already played in 3 backline positions.

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Wed May 25, 2011 8:37 pm  

Dux wrote:

Does anyone see Makinson as a long term option in the threequarters? He certainly has pace.

It's way to early to predict. I bet hes only played 4 games.

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Thu May 26, 2011 8:15 am  

Mackinson looks like a centre to me, he's got the right size and shape and he's billy whiz as well.

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Thu May 26, 2011 9:04 am  

Hows the lad we got from Onion doing?

Re: 2012 in's and out's. : Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:48 pm  

Retention and signings at the moment are pointing towards us having a stronger depth in squad for next season which is something we have been lacking in for a couple of years now.