MadDogg wrote:
Don't know where they'll end up but if they do go to Saints, its shouldn't be construed as Lenagan missing out on the big names again. We have a large group of quality, hungry, young players and any new recruits have to be right in every way for us to consider paying decent money for them. Saints probably need to recruit from outside more than we do.
Yes I agree to this. Michael Shenton is at the moment the best young British centre in Super League. However this is no real significant achievement in my eyes because there aren't many (if any) quality British centres in Super League. It is one area that this country struggles to produce in terms of quality. So what I fear with Shenton is that because he is one of the few of any quality who are British then his wage demands might be very high and I don't think he is worth that much. I bet he demands more than George Carmont if he were to come to Wigan. This for me wouldn't be worth it for us.
Saints are desperate for a centre - we're not. They are bound to offer more money than us for him given the departure of Matt Gidley. If I'm honest I wouldn't be too concerned if they were to sign him. It's certainly a massive step down in terms of quality - Matt Gidley is twice the player Shenton is - and I was under the impression they were after Jamie Lyon. So I am very happy for them to sign Shenton.
As for us centre is not a position I am too worried about at the moment. Martin Gleeson is down for a few years yet and is doing a fine job. Darrell Goulding has tightened his defence from previous seasons and looks a fantastic prospect. We have two very talented lads in Ian Thornley (who attracted interest from Brisbane scouts I believe) and Stefan Marsh. I wouldn't want to sign someone like Shenton, long term, without seeing how Thornley and Marsh develop. I believe that both could be a far greater prospect.
So for that reason - I'm out.
