Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:50 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

Thats exactly what I've been told by TP! Yet some people don't believe it.

Some people prefer to indulge in meaningless gossip. If we believe everything said by desperate Warrington fans, half of Superleague would be playing for them by now!

TP himself has said that he is sorting out issues back home and hopes to stay with Saints. He was given compassionate leave in relation to those issues during the off season. That much has been revealed by the club, as has the fact that having been offered a one year deal he asked for two, and was granted two. But he needs to make up his mind so that we can get on with our season. Aside from Leon, whose negotiations have been put to one side while he recovers from injury, TP is the only outstanding contract of importance to the squad. We need to know where we stand with him, especially given the confirmation of Jammer's departure.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:55 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Some people prefer to indulge in meaningless gossip. If we believe everything said by desperate Warrington fans, half of Superleague would be playing for them by now!

TP himself has said that he is sorting out issues back home and hopes to stay with Saints. He was given compassionate leave in relation to those issues during the off season. That much has been revealed by the club, as has the fact that having been offered a one year deal he asked for two, and was granted two. But he needs to make up his mind so that we can get on with our season. Aside from Leon, whose negotiations have been put to one side while he recovers from injury, TP is the only outstanding contract of importance to the squad. We need to know where we stand with him, especially given the confirmation of Jammer's departure.

In all honesty, the impression I got is that if a good enough deal from the NRL comes along he will bite their hand off. We've just got to hope that he caves in and signs before it does!

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:01 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

In all honesty, the impression I got is that if a good enough deal from the NRL comes along he will bite their hand off. We've just got to hope that he caves in and signs before it does!

I can't see an NRL team taking him. Why would they? He's 32 and has been over here for a few years. Neither will go in his favour. I just hope McManus gives him a deadline. We can always revist the South Pacific as I am sure there will be other TP's around. We seem to like making trips to the South Pacific!

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:03 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I can't see an NRL team taking him. Why would they? He's 32 and has been over here for a few years. Neither will go in his favour. I just hope McManus gives him a deadline. We can always revist the South Pacific as I am sure there will be other TP's around. We seem to like making trips to the South Pacific!

It's Eamonn's favourite holiday spot! You could look at the TP situation two ways.

1.) If an NRL club were going to offer a big contract, surely it would have been signed, sealed and delivered by now.
2.) He's taking too long to re sign for us which makes the chances of him staying smaller.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:07 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

It's Eamonn's favourite holiday spot! You could look at the TP situation two ways.

1.) If an NRL club were going to offer a big contract, surely it would have been signed, sealed and delivered by now.
2.) He's taking too long to re sign for us which makes the chances of him staying smaller.

A third way is that he is genuine in what he says: he wants to play for Saints but needs to resolve something at home.

While TP is a good player for us, he isn't Jammer. I'm getting so tired of players taking the mick that I would be perfectly comfortable with Saints giving him a deadline which if not met then the offer is withdrawn and we go shopping to the South Pacific again.

But on one condition. McManus takes me with him! I've always wanted to go to the South Pacific islands ...

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:08 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

A third way is that he is genuine in what he says: he wants to play for Saints but needs to resolve something at home.

While TP is a good player for us, he isn't Jammer. I'm getting so tired of players taking the mick that I would be perfectly comfortable with Saints giving him a deadline which if not met then the offer is withdrawn and we go shopping to the South Pacific again.

But on one condition. McManus takes me with him! I've always wanted to go to the South Pacific islands ...

In all honesty, I think he's holding out for the NRL, rather than hoping he can stay with Saints.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:09 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

In all honesty, I think he's holding out for the NRL, rather than hoping he can stay with Saints.

That's how it seems to me, and I'd be amazed if an offer doesn't come - he is top drawer, without doubt.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:24 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

In all honesty, I think he's holding out for the NRL, rather than hoping he can stay with Saints.

If that is the case, and I'm not convinced, then McManus should give him a deadline and kick him into touch if he doesn't give a response by that deadline. Saints have been reasonable. Time to stop being reasonable IMO. Time to rebuild the team for next season. TP may be quality but that isn't to say there isn't equal quality out there to replace him. He isn't Jammer.

Re: Rumours thread. : Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:05 am  

St pete wrote:

I don't think we could moan with the likes of perry, LMS, TP, Gibbs, laffranchi, roby, waterhouse and Sia.

That pack would take some beating.

I agree tho, it would be great to have a centre partnership which we've not had for a long time but we couldn't moan if we brought in laffranchi, Gibbs, waterhouse and hohiaia.

For sure that would be a really fearsome pack, however it would inevitably be st the expense of the rest of the squad. Salary cap space must be earmarked for improvements to the kids contracts. Foster will need a new contract soon, as will lomax and gaskell and maybe wheeler. Can see us getting is one of lafranchi or waterhouse as replacement for tp, and a prop such as gibbs, maybe with hill coming at the expense of frodsham, ashurst and Dixon. Remainder of the cap saved for contract upgrades. That with hohaia would be a good bit of business.

Re: Rumours thread. : Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:28 am  

SomersetSaint wrote:

For sure that would be a really fearsome pack, however it would inevitably be st the expense of the rest of the squad. Salary cap space must be earmarked for improvements to the kids contracts. Foster will need a new contract soon, as will lomax and gaskell and maybe wheeler. Can see us getting is one of lafranchi or waterhouse as replacement for tp, and a prop such as gibbs, maybe with hill coming at the expense of frodsham, ashurst and Dixon. Remainder of the cap saved for contract upgrades. That with hohaia would be a good bit of business.

I don't think mac is so stupid not to plan ahead for contract improvements. Don't forget we will prob have Gardner, flannery, Pryce join jammer and eastmond in leaving saints and maybe TP.

That's a serious amount of cash to throw around. Eastmond, Graham, Pryce and TP will be among the highest paid at the club.

Also, meli is off contract at the end of 2012 which could be used to give foster more money if he carries on his development in the way he is now.

With the loss of above players it's Defo possible for saints to bring in laffranchi, waterhouse, hohiai and maybe two props (if TP goes). We have a ready made replacement for ade now in foster.