... at Mike Bennetts Testamonial Forum last night

"What does the future hold for you when your contract finishes at the end of 2011?"

"Well I have this season and next to get something sorted, Im 50/50 as to what I'm going to do I won't lie... Its a life long ambition to play in Australia but I'm also very happy at St.Helens. I wont be going to Wigan or Warrington, I could never play against Saints for another Super League side, IF I left it would be for the NRL. All you should be talking about it the exciting future ahead, new stadium, a great Chairman and all these Superstar kids coming through into the squad. I'll be sitting down with Eamon sooner rather than later to discuss my future"

Give the guy some wraps for his honesty!





He also stated Kyle 50/50 for Sunday, no mention of Gardner when asked if anyone else is back.

He regrets storming off the pitch at Leeds but after seeing Hooper, Sculthorpe and Bennetts careers ended by shoulder injuries he wasn't impressed by a chicken wing tackle.

And finally he owes all his success to his Dad who stopped an advert for Under 8 players for St.Helens Crusaders.

I think he'll stay.

I cant see many Aussie clubs offering him big money. They love their backs and half backs over in OZ. However if he does leave then we will move on.

Like he said we have some wonderfull youngsters comming thru.

Morley, Ellis and Flannagan were all forwards though

It was funny hearing Jammer say all these youngsters with him still only being 24

I also think he'll stay. By saying he doesn't want to play for another super league club shows his loyalty to Saints. I actually can't see him wearing anything other than a Saints shirt.

So 2012 you're saying he's nailed on St.George Illawara?

Hope he does stay but that sounds very much like he's on his way.

As long as we try and get a buy-back agreement to stop him turning out for one of our rivals!

smashing lad, he was very passionate about the fans he said he loves saints and all the fans who get behind the team.

Can we get this posted on the warrington site

Burgess too. I think you may find the Aussies start to realise there may be a few good players to be had from the SL and could take advantage of giving a chance in a (alleged) superior comp in order to save a few bucks on wages.

Next Saints player to the NRL - Paul Clough.

Of course Burgess, was in a rush typing missed him...

At previous Forums the likes of Gids, Flanno and Meli have all said NRL is far to robotic and structured now, no longer enjoyable... Its a business not a sport.

TP said exactly the same last night, hopefully Jammer was listening to him and what the rest have had to say...

Cronulla Sharks want Gary Wheeler when his contract expires. As do a couple of Union clubs.

Sick note?



Hopefully Gaz's injuries sort themselves out and he can have a good run in the side... a very talented kid... Wheeler and Eastmond, Saints future half back combo... Saints should do what they can to keep it that way, unless his injury record worsens

Is that possible? ? ?

He could possibly not play at all... thats the only way it can get worse

Jammers doing the right thing in keeping his options open.

It strengthens his hand in negotiations.

Also if the Aussies raise their salary cap significantly and the british economy continues to tank, with the pound continuing to collapse against the aussie dollar , then i suspect, most of the best British RL players will head down under.

This will then lead to the collapse of the British game and we will end up with a scenario like the late 1960's and early 1970's were the best supported teams were only getting 4k gates after msot of the best players in that era headed down under.

The Superleague clubs voted yesterday NOT to increase the salary cap from it's current level of £1.65 million.
I believe five or six voted for an increase (inflation)

That means that the cap will have remained at the same value for three years.

If salaries don't go up players will start to get organised for a legal challenge.

rumours abound that the NRL are to up their salary cap year on year until they get to $7 million, to stop Ozzie rules and Onion taking players over, thats more than double ours so expect very few ozzies here and a good few players going there. I wouldnt be surprised to see roby and Jammer go in a year or 2

The british game cannot afford to increase its cap.
Especially considering the fact this country is economically bankrupt, with mass unemployment becoming the norm again.

Australias economy on the other hand never entered recession and is growing at something like 3-4 % per annum. As a result their country is awash with cash. The NRL is likely to get a massive new tv deal in a year or two that is going to be further booosted by the increasing strength of the aussie dollar against the £.
For example at the time of world cup in 2008 you could get 2.3 dollars to the pound
now you only get 1.7 dollars to the pound.
Thats an enormous collapse in the value of the pound.

Your full of positives today Chair

If it's his life long ambition to play in the NRL then he's bound to go at some point. And with the previous points being made about our stagnant salary cap and the NRL's ballooning one he might be better off financially as well.

What's better than to fulfill a life long ambition, get paid really well for doing it and at the same time experience a whole new culture and way of life. Not a proposition many could turn down.

Is that what your hoping for mate.

Maybe.

Come on,admit it.

Well let me put it this way, I wish it was Graham instead of Eastmond who wasn't playing on Sunday.

Saint's have some great players, but they probably have the only world class player in SL in James Graham. His departure would be a huge blow for Saints because of his shear workload. I think it's fair to say he's single handedly carried your pack for the last few years.