Good news that you've extended his contract by a year. I do think he's the sort of player though that you get very very few of per decade, and i'd personally have been trying to get a longer deal even if that meant taking a gamble on his wages.

but we wont be able to match onion's cash

That's a given, but as long as we offered a deal equal to or better than the one he's just signed, we'd be entitled to a fee (that's if the rule applies across sports).

That's an excellent point.

A short-term deal offers us an escape route if his early promise goes unfulfilled. Penny is a great example of where this has happened in the past.

How do you know that?

because they (wire) told everyone because they are stupid

From someone who knew him very well.

I'd like to have seen Kyle sign until the end of 2011, that way we would know just how good he's going to be.

IMO he's pure class. He's a threat everytime he gets the ball and being honest he's our only player that can make a break and finish it himself.

The is a chance he may not be the ball playing scrumhalf we are looking for but why not get a ball playing stand off so Kyle can use his direct running game that causes all sorts of problems for the other team.

The is no doubt the lad is very gifted. In his first year he's scored the winner against Wigan, took warrington apart at there place, scored in the grand final and broke into the England side as first choice number 7!

That's some first year for a young lad

Well, I'm glad Kyle has finally signed. I'm not sure where else he would have gone other than Union since I think every other Superleague team already has a no.7 and that's the position he wants to play and has the chance to play for Saints. Also, I'm not sure that Kyle and Offiah 'hold all the aces' as someone suggested because as yet he is unproven at no.7 at first grade and so I would imagine the playing field was fairly level all around on this occasion. However, if he fulfills some of that potential in the no.7 spot over the coming two years then the next round of negotiations could get interesting!

Sorry Pete, am I missing something here?

If he has signed for 2 years and this is the end of 2009 then he has signed to the end of.......lets see......yeah; 2011!!

Sorry mr perfect I made a mistake.

The end of 2012 is what I should have said.

Good deal and ideal considering he hasn't shown he can be a 7 yet. He has looked very good, but he hasn't shown us that he can control a game and do all of what is needed. So far we have only seen him really in broken play, and admitedly looking good in the centres.

Plus i have my doubts whether he and leon can play together as a pairing.

Union won't pay him a big wedge at 22-23 to play at scrum half, too many players crossing over have failed. They'll concentrate on the wingers and centres that can play on the wing for them. He's 10 years behind the youth players they already have in the halves already.

here's hoping!

This is a deal that has probably worked better for Kyle but also has some benefits for Saints.

For Kyle and Saints it keeps him focussed on the need to continually improve. If he doesnt up the ante then he wont get an improved deal in 18 months. He therefore has to work hard and stay focussed.
In the past many a youngster has been offered a longer deal only to then let it go to their heads. Think they are the real deal then plateau as they sit back and count the money.

Saints of course are rewarding Kyle with an improved deal and are getting the opportunity to see if he works out. It prevents us from throwing all our eggs in a basket that at this stage may not work out.
Of note is the fact that many of our youngsters who re-signed have not been getting long term deals, eg Scott Moore got a 3 year deal, gary Wheeeler a 3 year deal, Matty Ashurst 3 years, Andrew Dixon 3 year contract, Matty Smith 1 year.
No 4 or 5 year deals as some fans have asked for re Kyle.

Kyle himself knows that if everything works out, his value and therefore career options will increase.
Saints also now have time to look at their salary cap projections and then see where they can make room for an improved offer two years down the line. I suspect Kyles rise to international stardom has come slightly earlier than projected.

I personally think if all goes to plan we may see a Saints side in 2012 with Eastmond and Wheeler as the halves.
By this time Pryce will be in the 30+ bracket which is the age we tend to be prepared to let players move on.

I'm not mr perfect. I make all sorts of mistakes a lot worse than your typo.
Apologies from me on this one.

But Saints haven't done that recently and as you know I have had a few quiet words to say about it?

Tell that to
Sean Long Lee Gilmour, Chris Joynt, Paul Newlove, Paul Sculthorpe, Tommy Martyn, Willie Talau etc.

Do you think this was part of reasoning behind Saints agreeing to a shorter term contract?

Oh and Nick Fozzard, Keiron Cunningham, Matt Gidley, Francis Meli, Tony Puletua and Maurie Fa'asavalu who will all be over 30 before the start of the 2010 season. Then add to that Flannery and Wellens who will be 30 before the end of the season.

Get a life!

Life doesn't end at 30, Rogues, you should know that!

Besides, if you're operating by the '30 year' rule, then Wigan are hardly spring chickens - the following players are 30, or turn 30 during 2010 - Deacon, Roberts, Carmont, Fielden, Riddell, Bailey, Coley, Gleeson.

and how many will be at saints in 2011? Tony p (hopefully) , wellens and maybe Fa'asavalu is about it

To put it another way, the average age of Saints 2010 squad is 25.69.

The average age of Wigan's 2010 squad is 25.40.

And that's being kind, as well - it doesn't include Ellis, Magennis, Yates, Foster, Bradbury, Jackson and Johnson for Saints because they haven't played a role in SL yet (they would have brought the average down) but includes Davies, Tuson and Thornley for Wigan.

Lets not forget being over 30 doesn't make you a bad player... Darren Lockyer, Stacey Jones, Steve Price just 3 players who have proven this in recent years.