2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:13 am  

Saints are in a pretty tough position. We have so many established players off contract this season. Eastmond, Pryce, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, and Gardner (Plus Armstrong who will obviously be released) I believe. That means we are very, very likely to have to replace Jammer from the NRL as there just aren't enough decent English props about and I don't think the few that are good enough are off contract anyway. With Tony P also possibly going, that would leave us having to sign two big forwards. I expect Wilkin, Gardner and Flannery to get new deals if they want them as they are all solid first teamers and actually bettering them would be a tough ask and an expensive one.

That leaves us with the problem of Lomaskell. About a month ago when Kyle confirmed he was selling his soul I think most people would have advocated going and recruiting a top class NRL half back. Stevo and a few more in the rugby league press were convinced at the time that we'd already signed a replacement for Eastmond and that he was an international half back. Royce also came out with a statement numbering the players on the shortlist to replace Kyle.

Now, having seen the buds of life emerging in Lomax and Gaskell will the club still push on with that and spend a big chunk of the cap on a half back? Or has either or both of the young guns shown enough promise to shelve that idea? Leaving it until later in the season probably isn't an option as most players worth signing would have sorted their futures out by then.

Personally I would like to see some effort to align the number of outgoing senior players with an equal amount coming in. But knowing Saints that isn't very likely. In an ideal world I'd like to see us sign at least 2 big forwards (1 if TP doesn't leave) and a proper centre for once so we actually have two in the side like you are meant to. I would also like to see Leon signing for another year or two. This would mean Lomaskell would get enough game time but with an old head about the place. How likely is it that Pryce will stay?

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:58 am  

My gut feeling is that Pryce will stay, if he does then I would like to see him operating at loose forward. This means keeping the Lomaskell half back pairing.
We need a world class 2nd row and prop. I,m sure McManus will have 2 top signings to accompany the new stadium next year.
I would also like to see Richard Owen alongside Shenton next year. Also I reckon TP will stay.

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:44 pm  

ive got a feeling graham will stay with us and not bother going to australia.

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:53 pm  

Blair
Ratchford
Owen

3 signings i would love at Saints next year.

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:20 pm  

Flannery and Gardner can go
If Graham and tony P go, that'll be a major problem but I think puletua will say, the jammer saga has gone on too long, if he was going to resign, he'd have done it by now.
Wilkin will re-sign but pryce will probably go for a big last payday at Bradford
A replacement for Graham and pryce will be the priorities, Gaskell isn't quite ready for 6 full time IMO.

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:27 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

Flannery and Gardner can go

Hasn't Gardner been granted a testimonial? That's next year, isn't it? Would we be able to replace Flannery from within our youth structure?

If Graham and tony P go, that'll be a major problem but I think puletua will say, the jammer saga has gone on too long, if he was going to resign, he'd have done it by now.

Not so. According to Simmons on the Saints site Saints have made him a massive offer but he hasn't yet made up his mind. It seems they are not rushing him. As for Tony P, he is a big, mobile man with a telescopic arm. I think we will still need him next year for those times when he busts through twenty defenders to score a try.

Wilkin will re-sign but pryce will probably go for a big last payday at Bradford

Why will Pryce go back to Bradford? Just because he is from there doesn't mean he wants to finish his career there. However, I think Pryce's future with the club may well depend on whether he is able to play for more than three minutes during this season.

A replacement for Graham and pryce will be the priorities, Gaskell isn't quite ready for 6 full time IMO.

We cannot judge whether Gaskell is ready for the no.6 fulltime when he has not yet played 10 games at first grade. I would imagine we will get a better idea of whether he is our future no.6 towards the end of the season when he has found fitness and experience at this level.

The centre spot remains a concern. We have Meli with us for next season and so he could always play there but whether Wheeler can really make the spot his own depends upon whether he can stay fit. I noticed one arm was bandaged up good style on Friday night.

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:03 pm  

I'd let flannery, Gardner join eastmond in leaving the club.

Flannery is solid enough but takes up a overseas spot and I don't think he warrants a overseas spot.

Gardner IMO is just not good enough. We have foster now who is better player and is a points machine.

Eastmond can fook off now!

I'd like to get Tony p tied down and would give him a two year deal. Props in the mould of tony p. Still worth at least one year.

Pryce is well worth a two year deal, he is pure class and the main man In attack.

I'd love jammer to stay but it's not the end of the world if he goes. We are no longer a one man pack that jammer once was. Perry, tony p, LMS and cough provide him with more than enough support. I'd love him to sign for life but if not we need a good quality prop to replace him.

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:23 pm  

This is gardeners testimonial year, have a nice game at the end of the year for a few quid, then go and ruin another teams wing for a few years!
It's just my opinion, but I do think jammer has gone. And I fully expect us to offer Leon two years max and Bradford to offer him up to 4, and he'll go. HKR may try to tempt wilkin, but he's too young and too good not to be with a team that at least has a realistic chance of trophies
All this of course is just my opinion of the situation

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:38 pm  

Judder Man wrote:

My gut feeling is that Pryce will stay, if he does then I would like to see him operating at loose forward. This means keeping the Lomaskell half back pairing.
We need a world class 2nd row and prop. I,m sure McManus will have 2 top signings to accompany the new stadium next year.
I would also like to see Richard Owen alongside Shenton next year. Also I reckon TP will stay.

If Pryce stays and does play at 13, where does wilkin play? Wilkin is far better at 13 than 2nd row.

Foster could easily replace Gardner.

I'd like a good quality number 7 to replace eastmond. I know lomax is playing well but I think we need a 7 that runs the show and moves us around the park and got good kicking game.

If Tony P and jammer leave, we will need two good qulity props to replace them.

I'd let flannery go and replace him with a younger and better backrow.

Re: 2012 - What would you do? : Sun Apr 03, 2011 5:44 pm  

Personally I would like to see Tony Puletua given a fresh deal along with Gardner. Chris Flannery is a waste of a overseas quota spot and surely we could replace him with one of our own youngsters like Dixon, Ashurst or Magennis. If Jammer leaves then a big Prop will obviously have to come in to replace him. I would also like to see a top quality left centre signed up because we have never replaced Willie Talau since he left the club.