Laffranchi is in talks for a new contract beyond next season? Is he worth another contract so early or would you see how he goes next year? www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/20716844

Laffranchi is in talks for a new contract beyond next season? Is he worth another contract so early or would you see how he goes next year? www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/20716844

Yes. Please!

Definitely. We won't be getting players of his pedigree over from Aus for the foreseeable future, so if he's happy to stay we should get him signed up.

I'm not a massive fan of him but put him ahead of perry.

Still, I suppose we need to get used to the idea that with the apparent forthcoming salary explosion in the NRL we are now back in the realm of "second rate aussies" again and that they still appear to be as good as than any home grown talent we can develop and/or hire (and keep).
Our best bets seem to NZ (e.g. Soliola not lance!) or SSI's like Willie Manu.

I don't see how you can class Laffranchi as a second rate player.

I think Laffranchi had a ok first season. I'm not so sure he's a top rate prop and struggled against the likes of Wigan and Warrington who have big aggressive forwards.

I'd like to see how he goes this year and maybe talk about new contract around June/July. That way we can see if he's worthy of a new deal.

I'd also like to see what else is a available as we could do with two real props to replace perry and Laffranchi.

If he shows up now until July then I'd give him new deal.

I'd sign him up now...he has a fantastic work rate and makes a lot of yards going forward. Was told by a mate in Oz when we signed him that I wouldnt be disappointed and I think he was one of our top 3 players in 2012. Sign him up and get rid of Perry and I would be happy

I'd like to see him used in the back row. Then I think we'd really get the best out of him. But even at prop he's worth a contract IMO. As you say, he doesn't make a massive impact against the best packs, but on the whole he's steady, experienced and is a leader.

Rumours currently circulating suggest that the challenge being raised by players over wages in Aus could see the NRL salary cap rise to $7m, with a minimum wage increase of 40%. If that happens we're not going to get anyone, of any standard, to up sticks and come over from the NRL. I don't see too many SL props of Boof's standard knocking about, and given that we're already going to have to find one to replace Perry, we'd need to find two if we let Laffranchi go. If he wants to stay let's get him signed up.

Could have had Mason and Sidlow for his money plus freeing a quota spot.

In those terms not good value.

That said they have gone , there are a lots of other exits at the end of 2013 and the reserves
keep tuning out Mike Bennett clones with a lack of physique.

Under these circumstances then a 1 year extension looks pragmatic

A great player - getting him to extend his contract in the current climate would be a fantastic move.

We could release TP, Meli and Sia and sign up me and half a dozen random strangers off the street too to save even more money and quota spaces and increase the depth of the squad.

Well, you started the silly suggestions, not me...

Whilst Northampton is using his well known tact, I can see the point. There is very little point in having a free quota spot if there is little chance of filling it with quality.

Sidlow? Meh!

Mason whilst I'd have him as an additional prop, I would not say he was ripping it up last year enough to consider replacing Laffranchi. Also we have to remember we are talking contract extention, so actually we could not have signed anyone to replace him as he has a full year left anyway. If he gets an extention, you have to balance that against who we could get at the end of 2013 not 2012.

I still consider him to be a second rower and I think he would be brilliant in his natural position, but considering that Brown played Gilly at prop and the fact we've got several back rowers I can't see him being played there.

Certainly not the type we should be releasing if we can help it.

I would have been happy with Mason as a replacement for Perry, but we can't replace players who are under contract.

Adam Sidlow, from what I've seen, is bottom 4 SL club fodder.

Who knows ... maybe Perry will pull his finger out this year.

Whilst i accept the criticism that Laffranchi has look too small to prop against some of the top sides that have come after losses, in the games against the same oppo that we won, he always looked handy.
I do think that his best role would be as the big 13, meaning he'd have 2 starting props to support him.
If Walmsley develops and/or if Brown whips Perry into a consistant performer, then that is a realistic destination for him.

If Brown cant whip Perry into shape then no-one can.

Incidentally, Laffranchi is interviewed on the latest Saints podcast. He reckons we play really expansive football and can score from anywhere, but need to learn to be a little more patient.

Perhaps we should only offer him a contract if he promises to lay off the acid.

Meli isn't a quota player.

In terms of a new deal for Laffranchi: I have it down that he has a one year option on his deal so he'll just get that, won't he?

Deserves new contract and if we could have signed another front rower I personally would have moved Laffranchi to Loose Forward as Offside Monkey suggests.

We do pass the ball wide , sadly just trying to ship the ball as fast as possible (apart from Lance who passes slower than a North West counties prop) doesnt work at amateur level never mind Superleague

I think we should wait a little before throwing money at Laffranchi, see how his form and fitness is this year.

The "second class" was in inverted commas for a reason, meaning that is what used to be commonly said at the start of the SL era.

However, there is an element of truth in this now.
You cannot compare Laffranchi and Perry and especially Flanders with some of the great Aussie players we have had in the last decade. I believe the standard of Aus players prepared to come over to the UK has gone down and will continue to do so as the NRL SC increases.

He's no prop. He made absolutely no impact last season and if he's going to be playing prop going forward, it's another lazy recruitment decision.

As a backrower he might do better, he wouldn't be bullied as much as he is at prop.

Why?
If he can't hack it at prop he isn't going to get any tougher by changing his number.

I think the point saddened is making is the fact Laffranchi can be dominated by big physical packs, if he was in the backrow, he'd be running wide.

Laffranchi had played his career in the backrow and IMO he's not a out and out prop but a solid hard working prop.