Unfortunately it's more likely saints will be paying the transfer fee for someone to take him off our hands rather than the other way round

Only happy with this if we have a replacement lined up. We finally have a squad with options. We can play Lance to give Lomax, Wheeler or Walsh a rest. Lets run with the squad we have if. Blake Ferguson would a dream signing for 1 or 2 years, he could be used as a running stand off.

Cheap option could be Ryan Brierly from Leigh to cover Gary Wheeler. Loves a try this bloke.

with no promotion this year, Leigh might go for it if we compensate them.

Cracking news this. Hope it's true. If he does go we need to use the money to bring in a back up hooker. Clarke at Cas would be nice but he seems to be off to the wolfs.

Things appear to be going too well at saints atm!

@RLW_Mole: For those asking, yes former @NZWarriors Lance Hohaia a chance to replace Lachlan Coote @nthqldcowboys

Would definitely go for Clarke at cas, just the type we need for Roby to train, like Kieran did him. Warrington have a lad (Dwyer I think) whom they all seem to rate as their successor, so if we got in quick there's a chance.

With regard Blake ferguson - I don't know if he was ever found guilty or how that would impact visa applications? Would obviously be an incredible signing and cover arguably our 2 weakest positions (centre and stand off) but we don't usually go for "disruptive" types - that said a 10 month play your way back deal would probably work out well for all!

This season just gets better
Transfer fee for lance would be a dream come true.
If saints could get a quality hooker to spell robes.
Bring Higham back (I know that won't happen)

For those jumping with glee at the thought of Hohaia moving on (and I would agree that things haven't worked out with him although I can't help feeling sorry for the bloke as he has had to put up with all kinds of rubbish partnerships when operating at halfback), when Wheeler gets his inevitable season ending injury, who then replaces him?

If he stays I hope it's not him.

Lance has has plenty of opportunities at 6 and its just not worked out. He's a 1 or maybe an interchange 9 but his lack of ability/desire to take on the line and having no recognisable kicking game doesnt really help him

Charnock if he's ready, try and poach someone from the championship (Ryan Millard had a good World Cup at 6, and we have ties to Rochdale), buy gob (I reckon wire would sell him for 25k), take someone on loan similar to last year, Wilkin or saddened.

All of the above options are preferable to lance at 6 (and in that order)

(I also feel sorry for him in a way of I want it to work out ... But I felt the same about perry - but that doesn't make him a stand off)

Can cover 1, 6 and 9 in case of an injury or resting a star, therefore unless we have a ready replacement or get a fee we would be crazy to let him go for the sake of it.

Been talking to a few people on the other hemisphere. By the sounds of it, cowboys are hoping to sign josh Hoffman from the broncos as their replacement full back, but lance is seen as the best option if they can't convince broncos for a release.

Bulldogs have been pestering broncos to release Hoffman the entire off season, so I can't see why cowboys will have more luck.

yes, but terribly!

Had Brisbane been able to get Anthony Milford for 2014 and not 2015 then I could see Hoffman going, but as it is I think Brisbane will want to keep hold of him.

I'm 50/50 on this. I don't think Lance is a bad hooker at all. If he were used consistently as an interchange 9 then I think he could finally make a positive impact at Saints. I'd also worry about the lack of cover at 9 if he were to leave suddenly. So if he was guaranteed to only play hooker then I'd be alright with him staying.

On the other hand, I get the impression Brown has no intention of using him consistently as an interchange 9. If he's still in the running to play 6 for us then I'd be happy to see the back of him - I'd prefer to see Wilkin or Charnock in that role if/when Wheeler takes a knock.

So if we get an injury we want to pay a bloke top money as cover , when;

1. Wellens or Makinson better option - with Gardner or Dawson covering wing.

6 Turner probably a better option - with Jones to centre. Dare say Wilkin a better 6 too.

9. Brown preferred Howarth first ??? . Personally feel Lance is our current best option as back up 9 . If not , when we signed Flanagan , it was mentioned he could cover 9.

Let him go NQC and hope it works out for all parties

Didn't Royce bring Mark Flanagan over because he could play/cover hooker?

But for me we need cover in the halves

He did say that, but then he also brought Lance over to play scrum half. Personally I can't see Flanagan as a hooker at all.

i just dont see how we can justify a quota spot and a £100k + wage for just a backup utility player. That sort of money should be for a first team star.

Correct. If we can get rid of him it makes pure business sense to do so. From a rugby point of view it makes less sense, as it would clearly weaken the overall strength of the squad - but it would open up the option of making a mid-season signing should something come available.

Probably best for everyone concerned if the move happened. It may be good for his pension pot to be sat over here in the stands, but it cant be great for his state of mind and family life.

Players who werent in the 17 that could be brought in for injuries

Full back - plenty options
move Tommy Mak there and bring in Dawson or Ade, alternatively put percival on the wing outside turner and play Jones as Swifts centre.

Stand off - harder to fill
Wilkin, or even bring in Charnock playing next to Walsh can only help his game. He has also played Fullback

Hooker - probably the toughest to fill
This is probably were Lance would be the best option. Royce thought Flash could play there, im not overly convinced by that. Lomax would make a good 9 but would you want to move him from fullback?
All this said, Robes has had 1 injury hit season in 10 yrs, hes hardly injury prone so touch wood we wont need any cover there

All in all Lance is a good player, but theres just no way of justifying his wages in our squad

Not to forget laffranchi as prop.

I can totally understand the argument that we can't justify paying Lance's wage for him to sit on the bench. My worry, though, is that ditching him at this point would be the kind of risk that could end up costing us silverware at a time when we're finally right back in there. I'm not suggesting that Lance is going to win the title for us, of course, but Roby getting injured and us having to play a season without a hooker is the kind of thing that could put us out of contention. If we could line up a decent replacement hooker (not a star but someone better than Howarth) then I'm all for it. If not, then I think it's a risk best avoided.