We're speaking to Luke Bailey, as are St Helens FWIH

Apparently set to sign for St Helens FWIH.

3 years vs 2 years, who would blame him?

3 year deal for a 31 year old? Your having a laugh

Very good player Luke Bailey. Much better than our own version

Thought I had heard Saints were signing Waterhouse?

Oh Well, rather they get Bailey than Waterhouse. Waterhouse is brilliant.

They recon they are getting both?

Jesus. Kind of put's us to shame then. They will be very hard to beat in 2012 if that happens, even with losing Graham.

2 Bailey's??? I will need time to get my head round this.

But there will only be 1 of TMFMISL

Quote ="George Agdgdgwngo®"Apparently set to sign for St Helens FWIH.'" m.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-s ... 1egsa.html? That's that put to bed!

Quote ="George Agdgdgwngo®"Apparently set to sign for St Helens FWIH.'" m.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-s ... 1egsa.html? That's that put to bed!

How does it put us to shame when we don't even know how our squad will look next year?
The new NRL mega tv deal will prevent many top players leaving that comp with rumours of their SC to be increased to $7m a season.

Never heard that Rumour? We are talking to Waterhouse?

Our big signing is Puletua

It would put us to shame if they went out and signed 3 of the best available overseas signings by early May, whilst we are still sat on our arrises pondering over what's left despite a clear need to revamp.

If the NRL mega tv deal was an issue, why are Saints managing to overcome it?

I am not just talking about making a signing here. Christ, I would rather just go with the what we have and promote very early than sign the likes of a Weller Hauraki, a Brett Finch, a Shad Royston, or a Cameron Phelps. But players like Waterhouse and Bailey do not come around that often available, which is what I meant by put to shame.

As it happens since I posted, it is now confirmed Bailey won't be going to them.

Just because Saints ahve been mentioned with a couple of players and signed Laffranchi doesn't mean we aren't doing anything re-recruitment does it?
The current Saints newcomers Hohia and Laffranchi are hardly "marquee" in terms of NRL players and i doubt they'd be able to earn more staying within the NRL despite the new T.V deal.

Quote ="Andy Gilder"If he's a direct replacement for Puletua as believed, they've downgraded.'" www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/850 Not a downgrade then.

Quote ="Andy Gilder"If he's a direct replacement for Puletua as believed, they've downgraded.'" www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/850 Not a downgrade then.

I think you are missing my clear use of the "IF" here. I said "if" they do sign those players, which we already now know since that post that they have missed out on one.

It could be Leeds sign Waterhouse instead, and in which case I will say the same thing that he is a brilliant signing.

What you have to look at is who is available and in what positions. Had saints got Bailey and Waterhouse along with Hohia and Laffranchi, then they would have signed the best "availabe" from overseas that their recruitment needed, and quite clearly in that regard put us to shame.

Ok i missed the "IF" but i still would wait and see who we sign before comparing any other teams transfers with how we are looking squad wise for 2012.

I was more comparing the available talent and positions, rather than whom they were.

willie tonga is out of contract! Great left centre would be a massive signing. Unrealidtic but what is needed to fill keiths spot.

Luke bailey has signed a new contract with Gold Coast news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sp ... 1egsa.html

Luke bailey has signed a new contract with Gold Coast news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sp ... 1egsa.html

Quote ="benduke15"Luke bailey has signed a new contract with Gold Coast news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sp ... 1egsa.html'" Already posted the link

Quote ="benduke15"Luke bailey has signed a new contract with Gold Coast news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sp ... 1egsa.html'" Already posted the link

Saints non-fed quota full now, so no more NRL signings for us, rumour is Chris Hill the Leigh prop will sign as a squad player.

Our overseas 6 for next season are all of the quality you'd want to bring over IMO in Hohaia/Meli/Laffranchi/Perry/Soliola/Puletua.

Good pack on show next year I reckon, with decent depth:

Perry
Roby
LMS
Puletua
Soliola
Wilkin

with Laffranchi/Clough/Moore/Magennis/Dixon/Ashurst as pretty experienced squad forwards plus probably Chris Hill and other youngsters.

Losing Graham is a massive blow, but re-signing TP is huge. The probably departures of Kyle/Pryce looked killers before the start of the season, but with Hohaia coming in and Lomax/Gaskell/Wheeler all performing very well at SL level, I'm quite confident we'll be right up there again in 2012.

Were developing some real quality backs in Foster, Wheeler, Lomax and Makinson and Hohaia will go well in SL. With the strength were assembling in our forward pack with either Waterhouse or Bryce Gibbs to come in were arguably looking stronger next year.

Never been abig fan if I am honest.

Judging from the rumours
we look set to be losing Ali, Webb, Buderus and maybe Senior and Burgess so far
I think we need a Prop, second row and maybe an experienced hooker and/or a centre
i think we could look something like this
1 Jones Bishop, 2 Smith, 3 Delaney, 4 Watkins (new experienced centre?), 5 Hall, 6 McGuire, 7 Burrow, 8 Leuluai, 9 McShane, 10 JP, 11 Jones Buchaanan, 12 Ablett, 13 Sinfield, 14 experienced hooker, 15 Cross, 16 Bailey, 17 Kirke, 18 new second rower, 19 new young prop, 20 Hauraki

I think we should try and sign (3-4 of these)
Props
Ben Gledhill (young wakefield prop)
Brent Kite (experienced, seasoned prop forward if Bailey leaves)
Paul Johnson (young Wakey prop, good replacement for Burgess, but we do have two props on loan, who look good, so may not be necessary.)
Ryan Boyle (in the same boat as Johnson and Gledhill)
Nathan Massey (young player at Cas)
Hookers
Mick Higham (experienced backup for Macca, bit like Millard but better)
Andy Ellis (looked really good when they played us at Headingley)
Chad Randall (experienced hooker, and a good player)
Shaun Lunt (would more than likely want no 9, but good player to play alongside Macca if not)
Ben Fisher (experienced hooker)
Centres
Tony Clubb (if there is a need for a new centre)
Matt Cooper (2 year deal, will allow Watkins to develop fully, and gain more experience)
Second Row
Sika Manu (Melbourne second row/prop, not young but not past it, would be a good solid signing)
Mike Burnett (looks impressive at Quins)
Oliver Wilkes (young, good all round player)
Frankie Mariano (if Wakey get kicked out of SL, young second rower, scored some good tries this season, looks dangerous when on the ball)

As far as ooc players go, i would give these contracts
Ian Kirke (1 Year) - i know some may not agree with me, but i think that he does the job when on the field and drives the team forward, made the transition to prop well.
JP (2 years)
Luke Burgess (3 years)
Callum Casey (3 years)
Kylie (2 years)

I would promote Ward, Wilson and Normington into first team ,all looks promising) and maybe Danny Smith

let go: Webb (going anyway), Ali (quality, but injury prone), Buderus (looks set to join Newcastle for swansong), Keith Senior (retired, allows younger players in), Bailey (maybe?? he might want to leave, im neither here or there with him)

I seem to remember last year GH went to Aus, and said he was looking at players for both 2011 and 2012, so i think that he has a player signed or set to be signed from Aus.