I'm talking over last 5 years. We have had many players leave and not so many come in.

I don't know why the club just don't be honest and say we are doing it on the cheap.

I think you are over reacting slightly, we can't sign waterhouse as we are over the quota on non-federation, Hill seams to be a loss but we did keep TP when Warrington where after him. It's only after TP and Laffranci were secured by Saints and our quota filled, that Warrington sucure Waterhouse. As for Hill the fans where after him, but taking it from another thread about pryce, there was no reports from Saints being after him and Leigh have not mentioned nor the player that any other clubs where in for him.

I think your missing the point slightly. I know we can sign waterhouse as our overseas is full. I'm more concerned that we've not recruited quality players for the last 5 years and next year our recruitment looks to be over.

It looks to be, pryce, Graham, flattery, eastmond and Gardner out and lance and laffranchi in.

Eastmond and Lance I would imagine wage wise maybe a straight swap. But the trut is we don't know. Eastmond was an emerging talent and whilst on a better wage than most youth players whether he was at a level like Long was when he left we just don't know.

Graham was supposedly offered a huge contract, after he has turned that down how much was offered to TP to keep him? Again we don't know. But it's not inconceiveable that what we offered to Graham has been split between TP's top up and Laffranchi. Gardner is not out yet, neither is Leon nor flannery.

I think we'll keep Flannery, we should know soon about Leon as it seams he is looking around given that Saints may have held back on an offer to see if he is fit. Gardner will depend upon how makinson goes?


So at present it's 2 in 2 out a straight swap. I agree maybe we should have signed Hill or some other prop, but we don't know who Saints are looking at? Roby's contract was also increased this year to stop him going to the NRL.

I think we look back say 5 or 6 years we can say we have lost quality, but 5 or 6 years ago, image right payments were possible and Warrington did not have the backing and the stadium they do now. Warrington have increased their quality by now spending at cap which they did not do, our cap has been reduced as image rights have now been ruled illegal at the rate they where used. in the past

It don't matter what backing Warrington have, they still have a salary cap to stay under. We could have bill gates running saints but still can only spend to the cap.

No matter how you try and dress it up, it's obvious saints are trying to do it on the cheap.

Well I shall have to agree to disagree.

So far, Eastmond and Graham are out, Hohaia and Laffranchi in. Two for two. Nobody knows whether Pryce, Flannery or Gardner will be in the team next season. All three have, at one stage or another, stated in the press that they wanted to stay with the Saints. Saints have stated that so far as Pryce is concerned they are waiting for him to get back playing before undergoing negotiations. I think that is extremely wise given that he has been out of action now for a season and a half. Simmons has suggested that Gardner has a chance of a new contract - or did have, before his injury. No word at all on Flannery. In other words, we have no idea what the situation is with regard to ins or outs for next season and so you have no idea whether Saints are doing anything 'on the cheap' or have been beaten in the bidding by Wire or have got people in talks with other people. We have no clue and so why you are assuming the worst I don't know.

I was surprised to hear this news yesterday. I was certainly under the impression that Hill was very much nailed on for you guy's.

Well, you knew more than us! It was just a fans' rumour. Nothing has been said by the club at all.

Man for man

1 Brett Hodgson
Paul Wellens (I reckon these 2 are on comparable money especially with the discount for Wellens)
2 Chris Riley
Gardner (Genuinly no idea who would be on more)
3 Matt King
Shenton (Surely king on more but shenton will not be on peanuts)
4 Chris Bridge
Soliola (Soliola on more)
5 Joel Monaghan
Meli (don't know as Joel was desperate for a move at the time)
6 Lee Briers
Pryce (I'dsay pryce, but Briers will have the discount for the club)
7 Richard Myler
Eastmond (about equal i'd say)
8 Adrian Morley
Perry (not sure but perry would not be cheap)
9 Michael Monaghan
Roby (I think Roby would be on more given the new deal)
10 Garreth Carvell
Graham (Graham on more by far)
11 Louis Anderson
Puletua (TP on more than Anderson)
12 Ben Westwood
Wilkin (not sure, but Wilkin will have a fair chunk)
13 Ben Harrison
Flannery (no idea who would be on more)
14 Mick Higham
Scott Moore ( I imagine higham will be on more, but who knows)
15 Jon Clarke
LMS (probably LMS on more)
16 Paul Wood
CLough (wood I would imagine gets more)
17 Simon Grix
Wheeler (grix maybe?)


Our squad goes to 29, on this site, Warrington only 27.

So when you look at the first 17 of each club I fail to see where we are going cheap. When you look at the rest of the squads, there are mostly youth players apart from Warrington having solimona at 26.

To put it simply though our first 17 are not playing for any length of time as a team. Gardner out for long period this year, as have been or are Pryce, Eastmond, Perry, Flannery, Moore, Clough, Wheeler.

Well you were the only club linked to him, and strongly at that. But evidently not strongly enough.



Are you disappointed that you missed out on him?

Who by though? Sky? The BBC? The Warrington Guardian?




Personally, I don't have feelings about it either way. We do need another prop and he is a prop. But Saints may have someone else in the pipeline or they may not. Who knows?

I doubt we was ever in for him. We will just promote soone young prop and brain wash the fans we are going with youth.

Have you had a bad week Pete?

I'd like to see Jordan Hand given a chance at some point given the rave reviews he has had in the u20s and that he has already been given a first team shirt.

I've no idea if we where in for him or not, there was alot of clamour from the fans for him, but fans are very fickle. There was a lot of clamour that we must keep Roby and TP this year, but then we moan because we can't get waterhouse (never mind that there are quota rules) and that we overpay the current set of players. But we still do it on the cheap.

As fans we argue it all ways. We have promoted no young props since Clough and it was hardly an overnight swap. Oh yeh and there is Graham too another waste of space youth promotion and Roby and Moore and Wellens. All these players just dropped in overnight to replace talent we could have bought in.

Never mind that Lomax and Gaskell are playing because can't play won't play are out.
Makinson for Gardner
Dixon, Ashurst and Megniss have been covering Flannery, Perry, LMS and TP during their injuries.

Sometimes it really frustrates me that fans seam to think we have a right to have 1 -30 world class replacements ready. Put out or first 17 and there is Wheeler who would have been promoted from the youth team this year. Hardly a flood of youngster filling up the team.

The big impact for us has been can't play won't play along, meaning yes shock horror we did not have 2 ready world class halfbacks sitting in the squad to jump in and replace them.

Or maybe you mean foster should not be in the team.

Good post bewareshadows.

You were getting all passionate for a minute there!

No I've had a pretty good week



Im just pi$$ed off with all this youth crap the spin doctors at saints are coming out with. I'd rather them just say, we are skint from building the stadium and doing it on the cheap with the squad.

When sir mac goes public that we will have a team to grace the new stadium I'd have expected us to make a pretty big splash in the transfer Market. I was under the impression are lack of recruitment was to save cap space for the first season in the stadium when big names would arrive.

So far we've let the best young product we've produced for years in Kyle eastmond leave for union, we've let our captain and best player in Graham go the Nrl. We've replaced eastmond with a fullback and Graham with a backrow. It just dont make sense.

I think we will be in big trouble next year and when the novelty of the new stadium wears off and we are fighting for the top eight the new stadium will be empty.

Whoever oversees our recruitment wants shooting! We lack fire power all over the field. What club goes years with one centre at the club?

Next year we need a fullback, winger, centre, halfback and two props.

While I can understand your frustration, it's worth remembering that the 'tapping up' deadline means that any domestic signings we make aren't likely to be announced until September. Just because it's all quiet for a couple of months doesn't necessarily mean nothing is happening. Whether there are any good domestic players available is another issue, mind.

From the list of players off contract listed on here a while back the ain't any worth going for. Mason and griffin would have been ok signings seeing as we will lack props next year.

Unless we pay for anyone ( will never happen ) then our signings for next year are done. IMO our squad for 2012 is done and that's the team to grace our new stadium.

However, I was told a month or so ago by a saints player that we are in the Market for outside back and a prop but can't see it.

I would suggest that your disappointment then is more to do with your own expectations rather than with Saints. They have signed up two big name foreign players. You might not like them or indeed think they are what we need; but both Laffranchi and Hohaia are good players in the NRL. They are well known names with proven ability. So there are your 'big splashes'. Did you want Thurston or Lockyer or Slater? If so, you were always going to be disappointed!


There has been no 'letting' about it. What do you expect clubs to do? Chain players at the end of their contracts to the pitchside? Both are free agents for next season. Kyle had already once hinted at a union move and Saints clearly worked hard to keep him a further season. In the end though he decided union was what he wanted. Saints had no option there. They can't create an international game that is competitive and attracts 90,000 speccies, which is what he said he wanted! Jammer was offered the best deal the club has ever offered any player, but he wanted to go to the NRL and there is no stopping him (goodluck to him with all that seems to be happening at the Doggies at present!). So Saints did NOT let them go. They chose not to stay. Roby and TP chose TO stay, and they areboth mighty fine players who I think reflect the standard the club wants all the players to aspire to.


If you are talking about Hohaia, he was a stand off throughout his career until his club told him to play at fullback two years ago. If you are meaning Lomax, he was a stand off in the u20s who played at centre, briefly fullback and now plays at 7. And has done a fine job of it for a 21 year old.


Now you're just being silly.

I know all about lance and laffranchi, in fact half the saints fans was asking who he was. I think lance is a good player and will do a job at halfback but he's a runner, he takes the line on and ain't a ball player and we lack a leader who can move us around the field.

Laffranchi is a player I've liked for a long time, he's hard working, good in defence but he's not a prop.

Saintsfan, your just being silly bringing thurston, slater into this because we all know they won't come until they are 30 or older.

Can I point out, I'm talking about our recruitment over the past 5 years when we've lost very important quality players.

While watching the Warrington game on sky last night, Clarke was talking about why Warrington have the edge this year. He referred to Warrington having better strike players, players with the x factor all over the park which is true, they have go to players all over the park.

Look at out team, we lack "goto" players, we lack strike players and x factor players.

Quote ="St pete"From the list of players off contract listed on here a while back the ain't any worth going for. Mason and griffin would have been ok signings seeing as we will lack props next year.'" viewtopic.php?f=2&t=497140 Doesnt exactly make exhilerating reading, although I think it would be worth signing Ryan Bailey just to see the response on here. I wonder if we're looking at Championship players. Quote ="SaintsFan"If you are talking about Hohaia, he was a stand off throughout his career until his club told him to play at fullback two years ago.'" The thing is he's never held down a position in the halves. He considers himself a halfback, but he's never played as one at the top level for any sustained period of time. Before he was a full back at NZ Warriors he was a utility. Signing him as a half back on a four year contract is a major gamble IMO, particularly as he's not noted for having a kicking game. I'm pretty confident that Laffranchi will be a success, though.

Quote ="St pete"From the list of players off contract listed on here a while back the ain't any worth going for. Mason and griffin would have been ok signings seeing as we will lack props next year.'" viewtopic.php?f=2&t=497140 Doesnt exactly make exhilerating reading, although I think it would be worth signing Ryan Bailey just to see the response on here. I wonder if we're looking at Championship players. Quote ="SaintsFan"If you are talking about Hohaia, he was a stand off throughout his career until his club told him to play at fullback two years ago.'" The thing is he's never held down a position in the halves. He considers himself a halfback, but he's never played as one at the top level for any sustained period of time. Before he was a full back at NZ Warriors he was a utility. Signing him as a half back on a four year contract is a major gamble IMO, particularly as he's not noted for having a kicking game. I'm pretty confident that Laffranchi will be a success, though.

On the topic of lance, that's exactly true!

Galea would be worth a shout, I know he's a backrow but he's a very good player. Not sure if he's off quota like flannery but IMO would be Ideal replacement for flannery.

Ratchford is the other name that stands out and could do a very good job in the centre as he has attacking skills.

I give a lot of credit to McManus for securing the new stadium (not to mention rescuing us from the previous chairman). But his recruitment policy over the last five years has been mediocre.

Things started to go wrong when we re-signed Meli for the first time (when he warranted no such offer). And there have been mistakes (that have cost us) season after season.

It's not that we lack quality players. Far from it. But the squad's balance is all wrong and instead of buying the best coaching talent we are conceding it to rivals and settling for second best.