Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:57 am  

Losing Leon is a massive blow to our chances in the next couple of seasons. It isn't a surprise either, this rumour was first brought up around the start of the season, so the club cannot claim they didn't know this was happening. Which worries me greatly as they may have already spent his salary and we may not get a back to replace Leon (Wishful thinking anyway probably).

In taking stock of our recruitment, it is another year (To add to the previous 5 or 6) where you look at it and wince. We are losing 3 of our best 4 players from a side already incapable of keeping pace with the top 2.

We are replacing them with two players who are going to be playing out of position. Laffranchi is no prop and Hohaia is rarely played at half back in the NRL as he's not good enough for it. His has been a disaster in the NRL by all accounts this season.

Losing Leon also adds to the fear that we'll be stuck with Wello at fullback for another 12 months. This is criminal and is going to be very hard to watch.

Now do we go:

1 - Wellens
6 - Lomax
7 - Hohaia (Ouch)

or

1 - Hohaia (Drop ball-tastic)
6 - Gaskell
7 - Lomax

or

1 - Lomax
6 - Gaskell
7 - Hohaia?

Either way, it's not the big bang introduction to the new stadium we expected is it?

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:03 am  

Was it the three year contract?

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:07 am  

I think we'll go with 1. Wellens, 6. Lomax and 7. Hohaia. It's not ideal as Hohaia's had an awful season, but I can't see us not playing him considering he's taking up a quota spot. Keeping Pryce, aside from him being a quality player, would have given us more depth and another option in the halves/at fullback.

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:11 am  

jaybs wrote:

Was it the three year contract?

I don't know. But as mentioned we've given Hohaia a four year deal and he's only a year younger than Leon, so we can't use that as an excuse.

It may not be the club's fault, he may have had his heart set on a change of lifestyle for a while, we don't know.

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:17 am  

jaybs wrote:

Was it the three year contract?

Apparently yes. Apparently Saints were offering two years but he wanted three. If this is a true story, I am happy Saints stuck to two years as he is not worth three.

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:17 am  

Saddened! wrote:

I don't know. But as mentioned we've given Hohaia a four year deal and he's only a year younger than Leon, so we can't use that as an excuse.

Hohaia is a very good utility player as well as being recruited to seven. It means he can be used elsewhere not only to cover injuries but also to enable our young talent to play.

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:20 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

Hohaia is a very good utility player as well as being recruited to seven. It means he can be used elsewhere not only to cover injuries but also to enable our young talent to play.

He's utter rubbish in the NRL. He'll be on a big contract and four years is a joke. He already looks a yard slower than he did a couple of years ago and is starting to add timber to his frame. It's a suspect signing.

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:26 am  

Saddened! wrote:

He's utter rubbish in the NRL. He'll be on a big contract and four years is a joke. He already looks a yard slower than he did a couple of years ago and is starting to add timber to his frame. It's a suspect signing.

Oh don't be so daft.

He's a speedster off the mark, is Hohaia. You must have been watching his twin in another dimension.

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:00 am  

in short backwards.

Hiho is a fullback not a halfback. Gaskell and Lomax are very promising but need time and an experienced partner to progress. Wellens is past his best now and wont be getting much faster next year.

Losing Pryce = very bad for Saints ... unless we bring in some much needed EXPERIENCED quality.

Re: Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here? : Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:02 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

Apparently yes. Apparently Saints were offering two years but he wanted three. If this is a true story, I am happy Saints stuck to two years as he is not worth three.

But giving hiho a 4 year deal was good?