He's a big powerful player and when on his game can be top class. He's actually been very consistent for the past 4/5 years. We all know his weakness.

We should've found a replacement for Meli 2 years ago but looking at our current decisions, we're getting rid of the wrong winger who's out of contract.

IMO we should be getting rid of Meli and Gardner, and perhaps we are?

Wind it back further and assume we never even signed him. We could be at least a couple of Grand Finals wins ahead of where we are now.

Yes, he's made high profile errors, but the mattter of the fact is, in a full strength Saints squad, Francis Meli has been first choice winger for eight seasons. Our top try scorer god knows how many seasons.

Good luck at Salford, Franny.

The matter of fact is he's cost us grand finals. This 'feature' of his game is why he was released from the NRL and was never taken back.

My biggest fear is with us letting Meli go is that instead of getting a replacement in or using Swift who looks very promising we'll sign up Ade and use him and Makinson which would be horrible.

Quote ="Saddened!"Wind it back further and assume we never even signed him. We could be at least a couple of Grand Finals wins ahead of where we are now.'" www.saints.org.uk/home/player.php?num=16630 He scored 140 tries in 215 appearances, without those we might not have even got to the Grand finals.

Quote ="Saddened!"Wind it back further and assume we never even signed him. We could be at least a couple of Grand Finals wins ahead of where we are now.'" www.saints.org.uk/home/player.php?num=16630 He scored 140 tries in 215 appearances, without those we might not have even got to the Grand finals.

Stop speaking sense...

Is Alwx brown from HKR still available?
I'd take a punt on him. Like Meli, he's big and strong, but he's quick,young and british too. From what I've seen, he's got mistakes in his game, but what available winger hasn't?

Just to cheer you all up, today's MEN suggests Dr Koukash has strongly denied offering Paul Wellens a deal for next season. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... et-4862090

Just to cheer you all up, today's MEN suggests Dr Koukash has strongly denied offering Paul Wellens a deal for next season. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... et-4862090

Seriously?

Some people are celebrating the departure of a very good winger in Meli as a liability, I'm not sure we want to bring in a vastly less talented and vastly more error prone replacement.

Scored many crucial tries as well as some crucial errors.

If we were ambitious/ruthless he should never have got a contract renewal and been properly replaced.

It probably an indication of the current squad that he has been our best back for a few years.

And we will miss him.

Cheers Roger, a stalwart you've been. Ive always believed in you even when others didnt. The place won't ever be the same.

Not overly sure on Alex Brown but he'd come cheap and he is younger than Meli with ability. Might be worth a punt?

I'm not celebrating Meli leaving. I'm a big fan.

A wing partnership of Makinson and Gardner looks less than pedestrian. Whilst Makison is a solid pro, he's yet to kick on from that (maybe next year wil be his year). Gardner, whilst an honest toilet, is fairly farcical on the whole when in his "non-catching" periods. Swift looks like he has a bit of magic, but it feels like the club are almost reluctant to involve him at times - perhaps due to his part-time status.

Someone like Brown would at least give us a bit of strike and perhaps we could coach some of the errors out of him (given how terrific our coaching staff are, hey Eamonn?)?

Alex Brown is the sort of player we should stay away from. He's not good enough and never will be. Its those sort of signings that is a major problem.

That pretty much sums him up to be fair.

Alex Brown is the sort of player we should stay away from. He's not good enough and never will be. Its those sort of signings that is a major problem.

Best of luck, Fran

A true loo?

I'm just looking for possibles. Personally I really fancy Swift, but as I say, Brown seems slightly reluctant to involve him.

oooerrrr

Whilst Meli is probably our best winger, this does not mean he should not be replaced. But it also does not mean we should keep Gardner.

Meli is a big unit and can shift people out the way with his runs. So in all likelihood we are going to be getting someone smaller in the team. But this does not mean they will be a less effective winger, just a different type of Winger. Rather biff, bash and barge, they may have to be more of a speedster or an elusive runner.

There have been lots of great wingers, but they are not all built like Meli or have the same style of play. Darren Albert, Jason Robison, Martyn Offiar. Wingers can be all different shapes and sizes. It's the one part of the game where you don't have to be 6ft 6 and charge through people.

If we can get a wingman who can take people on the outside and score as many as Meli then then it's not such a loss or maybe an improvement. It's not the loss of Meli, it how the replacement will be, that is important.

Farewell to the excitement machine.

I fear we won't find anyone as good let alone better than meli.