Unlikely, Manly probably couldn't wait to get rid of him he was useless in his last season there. Lyon still has it though he one of the best about still.

I would love to see him back even if he was half as good as he was, im sure we would improve with him in our squad.

When sia signs a new deal we will have no quota spots available so it's a non starter.

That got mentioned on page 1 but people just wont take it on board.

People are still under the impression that Meli and flannery are on quota and when they leave we will have two spots but they don't count.

I know some are confused, but others who are not confused, are hoping Lance or Perry et al will do a runner, or are concerned that Sia took a hell uva beating and that may have dimmed his view of the town.

Personally I see it as the back wash of a busy day. Bit like when there were changes in previous regimes and Meniga was always coming back.

Ps Pete on a previous thread you asked which coach was last sacked for on field performances. I thought Big sean had 1 year left to go on his contract, before hanley. Before him was it not Murphy???

Fair enough it was just a 'pre season' game, but he didn't cause young Hardaker or Watkins much trouble in the WCC. I think the expectations of what he can do now would be far more than what he can deliver. He would still be one of the best centre's in the league but he wouldn't turn around the club like some seem to think imo.

I think saints just didn't offer McRae a new deal.

Still think it was Eric Hughes.

Depends what you think he will bring. For me it will be as a half guiding the team around the park, which Lomax, Gaskell and Wheeler are struggling to do at present. He would give our halfs the chance to play along side an experienced half where as at the moment, if it's not in their bag of tricks they don't know it.

If we signed him at centre that would be a mistake as we would still lack the leadership we need to direct the play and shut down tight games.

this is all hyperthetical talk though.

I wouldn't sign Lyon as a halfback. If its Lyon or a out and out halfback id give Lyon a miss. We need a proper halfback and not a centre who makes a decent stand off.

I'm with you on that. I don't understand the fixation people seem to have with Lyon playing at stand off. To me he didn't look comfortable in that position the couple of times he played there for us, and Manly didn't persist with playing him there for long.

He's a very talented guy, so I'm sure he'd make a decent stand off, but why anyone would want to move him from centre, where he is exquisite, is beyond me.

Exactly. I'd love him to be back as he was brilliant to watch and worth the gate money alone but as a centre and at the moment we are in urgent need for a proper halfback.

Watts the stand off at Widnes (he's injured) would have been just the signing we need as the ain't many top class halves available.

I'd love brown to bring brough with him or if we signed Catalan #7.

You're quite right but it doesn't mean that everybody retains the same level of quality as they age. I daresay one of the reasons that Menzies is over here is to prolong his career for a couple more years. How old was Gidley when he came over because I remember people complaining about his final year saying that time had caught with up or rather Super League had. Lyon would probably cost us megabucks and if we could guarantee he came over with the same sort of quality as first time he would probably be worth it but what happens if he doesn't? I'd rather chance our arm on someone else if we're talking about a big chunk of our salary cap.

Look what many said about Craig Gowers when the Broncos signed him aged 34, yesterday at the JJB he was
running the game and he is improving with every match, so Jamie should have no problems.

that's fair comment mate - it will be interesting to see the kind of ideas the new coach will advocate

But when will that new coach be in position? or do you mean the caretakers? or does the coach really make the final decisions any more, name signings may be approached quietly now for next season, we know it goes on or you may miss out.

Surely a club like Saints would give the coach the full rein to try to get the players in he wants if at all possible

Mr Guasch at Catalans is a difficult guy to please and Robinson knows his job is on the line if a few games are lost but at least Guasch gave him the responsability of approaching and signing future players - the Pryce deal was done halfway through last season for example cos' Robinson wanted him

the catretaker or new coach at Saints will have to use what he has available to him this seson which, if you look at the squad still isn't a bad set of players it just needs the right coach to instill the confidence - the team will turn around, even with someone like KC in charge

As our quota is full and lack of British players available the only solution is to withdraw sia contract offer and sign gaz Ellis.

That way we have a quota spot free.

Thoughts?

It's a possible, but I'd be more tempted to move Sia forwards and sign Gareth Ellis and a british prop.

I wasn't saying if do that but it's a option.

I think sia will end up in the front row and said it last year but I think it's a good few years off yet.

British prop?

Sorry not every site is as friendly as ours and put contracts on a sticky.

Larne Patrick Huddersfield
Mark O meley - Hull FC
Sam Moa - Hull FC, but not sure if he is pre-2008.
Bryn Hargreaves - Bradford
Micheal Koredas - bit left field, but basically you get the gist, you look and you can find OOC props for next year.

Tom and George Burgess are also off contract at Bradford and Souths respectively. If Souths aren't keeping George, it might reduce the likelihood of Tom going there as well.

Any chance of a BOGOF Burgess offer?

thats what we need a HUGE monster of a player in the pack, the sort that were only fed raw meat for the last 10 years

Lyon on a two year deal - fine. Anything else - no.

Look, I'm sure the spirit is willing and all. But thirty-year flesh is notoriously weak. And I'm guessing Lyon will be on far, far more than his initial contract (which even McManus accepts was modest).

In any case, the main priority MUST be a scrum half. Let's see how much is left in the pot before we go hiring expensive players teetering on the edge of their prime.

I know people want to sign a prop, but we have 5 capable senior props and 3 young props in the squad (Hand, Forster & Walker).
I would say that making sure the props we've got perform should be the priority over signing new ones.