: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:37 am  

LovesToSpooge wrote: Also I see on the Saints board that they seem to be interested in Kite, surely if available or there willing to release him we should be going for him afterall the guy still plays SOO and for the Aussies so must be on to form. http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/fears-that-kite-may-fly/2009/05/31/1243708350759.html If Saints sign up Brent Kite - a clive churchall medal winner, 15 games for Australia, 10 origin representative games, 28 year old 6 foot three 110kg top quality prop forward it would prove that what IL has said is total and utter complete rubbish. I would be seething if Saints got Kite.

LovesToSpooge wrote: Also I see on the Saints board that they seem to be interested in Kite, surely if available or there willing to release him we should be going for him afterall the guy still plays SOO and for the Aussies so must be on to form. http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/fears-that-kite-may-fly/2009/05/31/1243708350759.html If Saints sign up Brent Kite - a clive churchall medal winner, 15 games for Australia, 10 origin representative games, 28 year old 6 foot three 110kg top quality prop forward it would prove that what IL has said is total and utter complete rubbish. I would be seething if Saints got Kite.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:41 am  

cadoo wrote:

It's not bickering it's debate.

The players he is paying the most who aren't performing you mention aren't off contract. So unless we agree a compensation package there is little we can do. I don't think Feka is doing anything different to what he usually does. People criticse his fitness but that is up to Mike Forshaw to get Feka to slim down. I think he gives us great go forward in his short spells. I would like to see these spells extended but that is up the the club and the management.

IL has to spend a healthy amount on the pack. It's our area of weakness and the area in which we need vast improvement to compete with the top two. We can have Trent Barrett back in the side but behind a beaten pack his talent was wasted. Same with Sam Tomkins and Thomas Leuluai. IL does not have to spend a fortune IMO to improve the pack. Saints aren't doing with Tony Puletua so why can't we with Frank Puletua? The wages of Gareth Hock must be six figures plus Smith and Coleys wages should be enough to bring in Carl Webb you would imagine. Easily.

Feka is protected from crtisism imo too much. Great go forward but shaky defence. Forshaw should spend less time on his own fitness and more on fekas and the others.
I disagree about your trent comment. He played poorly last year but dont blame the pack. he wanted to go home.

rl : Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:58 am  

Now IL is saying he only wants the best, so where are they?
Last time he went to press he was suggesting that perhaps top line high profile players were not what we might be after but younger quality players may provide better value for money.
Now he's changed his views, we are again after the very best!
The right price IL talks about is his price. Top class players are in demand and can get the salary they want not what someone else wants to pay!
ie Jason Ryles.
This also tells us that so far IL hasn't signed anyone.
He probably hasn't signed a coach either.
So for next season Noble to be in charge and perhaps one signing.
It won't be one of "the best" either. More like "next best".

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:05 pm  

cadoo wrote: http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/fears-that-kite-may-fly/2009/05/31/1243708350759.html If Saints sign up Brent Kite - a clive churchall medal winner, 15 games for Australia, 10 origin representative games, 28 year old 6 foot three 110kg top quality prop forward it would prove that what IL has said is total and utter complete rubbish. I would be seething if Saints got Kite. We should use the money from both Bailey, Coley and Smith if needs to be to get ourselves an absolute top class prop for next year, then when it comes to the end of 2010 we should use Fieldens huge wage to get another top class prop whether he's British or an Aussie to form are starting frontrow. Then come 2011 we can have two top class starting props and follow that up with Presscot and Feka off the bench. With the backrow made up off Tomkins, Mossop and O'Loughlin with Farrel on the bench. As for O'Carrol I'd loan him out ans see how he progresses away from the pressures of Wigan. Now obviously this is somewhat hypothetical but very much achievable and although it's two years from now, don't tell me that both saints and Leeds aren't already planning that far ahead, cause I bet they are, and we need to as well.

cadoo wrote: http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/fears-that-kite-may-fly/2009/05/31/1243708350759.html If Saints sign up Brent Kite - a clive churchall medal winner, 15 games for Australia, 10 origin representative games, 28 year old 6 foot three 110kg top quality prop forward it would prove that what IL has said is total and utter complete rubbish. I would be seething if Saints got Kite. We should use the money from both Bailey, Coley and Smith if needs to be to get ourselves an absolute top class prop for next year, then when it comes to the end of 2010 we should use Fieldens huge wage to get another top class prop whether he's British or an Aussie to form are starting frontrow. Then come 2011 we can have two top class starting props and follow that up with Presscot and Feka off the bench. With the backrow made up off Tomkins, Mossop and O'Loughlin with Farrel on the bench. As for O'Carrol I'd loan him out ans see how he progresses away from the pressures of Wigan. Now obviously this is somewhat hypothetical but very much achievable and although it's two years from now, don't tell me that both saints and Leeds aren't already planning that far ahead, cause I bet they are, and we need to as well.

Re: rl : Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:15 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

Now IL is saying he only wants the best, so where are they?
Last time he went to press he was suggesting that perhaps top line high profile players were not what we might be after but younger quality players may provide better value for money.
Now he's changed his views, we are again after the very best!
The right price IL talks about is his price. Top class players are in demand and can get the salary they want not what someone else wants to pay!
ie Jason Ryles.
This also tells us that so far IL hasn't signed anyone.
He probably hasn't signed a coach either.
So for next season Noble to be in charge and perhaps one signing.
It won't be one of "the best" either. More like "next best".

I'm not disagreeing with that view however what I would say is that the positions we are in need of the frontrow, good frontrowers are few and far between as most clubs already looking for them and coming up short, what's even rarer is to get a young prop forward who's available and already playing brilliantly. It's my view that good quality props are in short supply and if we want one were gonna have to pay a hefty price, as for Lenegan signing younger players thats acceptable for other positions in the team because there not in need of the physical maturity that playing in the frontrow demands.
I agree with you that we probably haven't signed anyone yet even a coach, but I'm reassured or hopefully I am that those Lenegan does sign will be off the highest quality, surely the mans not a liar, then again the term quality is open to interpretation.

rl : Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:10 pm  

I certainly don't think IL is lying. I believe he's totally honest with great integrity.
It just isn't working out the way he wants it to.
Quality props are in great demand and short in supply which immediately says that the price will be very high.
This will not be the "right price" IL refers to but the price the player demands which I was getting at in the previous reply.
In the end IL won't pay the right price for anything he'll have to pay the market price. Which in terms of quality props will be very high.
Either IL pays the going rate or the players we need will sign for our opponents who will be paying the going rate.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:42 pm  

IL said the first time he went to Aus what must be nearly 18 months ago that it was for quality signings for the 2010 season, we still havnt got any in the bag. Unless IL delievers some quality im going to be convinced hes just a PR specialist who blows hot air and delivers little. Hes brought in good numbers but little quality, our best players are either ex academy players or players who was at the club before IL himself.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:07 pm  

Bill_Barlow wrote:

IL said the first time he went to Aus what must be nearly 18 months ago that it was for quality signings for the 2010 season, we still havnt got any in the bag. Unless IL delievers some quality im going to be convinced hes just a PR specialist who blows hot air and delivers little. Hes brought in good numbers but little quality, our best players are either ex academy players or players who was at the club before IL himself.

Do you see the irony in this post given that you've got a picture of Martin Gleeson for your avatar?

Bear in mind that he's also re-signed several quality youngsters on improved, longer term contracts.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:15 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote: http://www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Lenagan-after-the-best.5460025.jp I agree with what he says, what about yourselves? At the bottom of the article it states that Leeds have signed Gregg Eastwood, is that a mistake or are they trying agian with the visa application?

LovesToSpooge wrote: http://www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Lenagan-after-the-best.5460025.jp I agree with what he says, what about yourselves? At the bottom of the article it states that Leeds have signed Gregg Eastwood, is that a mistake or are they trying agian with the visa application?

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:05 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

Do you see the irony in this post given that you've got a picture of Martin Gleeson for your avatar?

Bear in mind that he's also re-signed several quality youngsters on improved, longer term contracts.

The process he's put in place overall since coming to the club in terms of getting a squad together has been very good. He seems to know that we won't win anything without compatition for places or without producing and keeping our own players. He also seems to acknowledge unlike Lindsay that you won't build a good team just by throwing huge money at any player with a 'name'.

In saying all that i think a few fans get frustrated at how long things seem to take and at the minute because i think alot of people including me believe we're only 2 players short of having a very good side.

Overall i'm happy with what Lenagans doing but i'll be a whole heap happier if he can just get us those 2 players we crave.