Best of luck to him, I think it's the right time to let him go though, too many injuroes and losses of form, hope he screws the union lot for a wedge

Actually one of my best memories of him, got up and congratulated lulu, as one professional to an other

Maurie hasn't done anything for a year or so. All I seem to remember is him getting constantly floored every time I saw him on my tv, I remember Thomas Leulai shoulder charging him to the floor once and haven't seen him really get back since.

Maurie has been a top forward for Saints and unfortunatley injuries have caught up with him. I have fond memories and wish him all the best luck in the world in the new chapter in his life!

TBH, I forgot we had him.

Am I gutted? No. He was a cult figure on the back of bursting out in 2006. Defences couldn't handle him at first, and his effectiveness was overplayed.

Over the last few seasons, he has been a luxury, one we can ill afford. He is a penalty machine, spends very little time on the park, and coughs up more balls than a Vietnamese porn star.

Best of luck Maurie. You were a giggle, for a while.

You're obsessed judder, just let it go, it was a fair challenge by TMFMISL. To be honest, if we are ever lucky enough to meet in a GF again 'The mighty s' will be a much tougher prospect. Now that Long and Mary have gone and meli cant have long to go we wont be able to rely on their traditional Old trafford brain farts to ease us to another championship!

Agreed....he has give us a good two years...I think he will suit the union game better!

Which suggests - sans further signings - in order not to be three props shy of a top front row we'll be using Puletua (who isn't as effective at prop).

(No) Props mean pots(/not a lot).

Puletua has been extremely effective at prop this season IMO. He's more valuable to us as a prop than a back rower.

I agree we need another prop though and I'm certain we'll sign one.

We'll be adding further signings. McManus confirmed such on the radio a few weeks back. I'd expect two or three further signings on top of Perry. One will be a prop I think (LMS has been heavily linked), the others outside backs (Centre - Shenton? And a Winger?).

LMS would be a quality signing. I believe from sources Shenton has allready signed and a winger to replace Meli who I believe is leaving!

LMS stats make interesting reading. Only half the go forward of Graham but more busts and would appear to be a tackling machine. As to a winger - how about a bid for Jodie Broughton at Salford - Try on TV last night showed a passing resemblance to one Anthony Sullivan.

I was trying to see how LMS played yesterday, but considering he was limping about all the time, he never got involved that much.

But does it, really. Wigan are looking likely to finish top of the table and they have absolutely bob all in the way of props.

They are a joke in the front row and are still top. So perhaps aggression and a negative style of play based on gang tackles and holding down can neutralise the need for all-conquering prop forwards?

Picked up a leg injury from that tackle from Jammer early on. Showed a good fend on Wilkin and good strength for some offloads in the second half, but I agree, he was queit.

I think you're doing him a disservice. 2006 was his first big season, but he got his GB caps at the end of 2007 and (iirc) the run where he scored in 7 consecutive games came in 2008. It was only the last two season (or season and a half, really) where he's dropped off.

Wigan wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the league if they had no props. The yardage deficit alone would crucify them.

You seem to have an antiquated understanding of what makes a good prop valuing the ability to break the defensive line often and deep - with all other attributes seemingly nowhere.

Whilst it's fair to say they don't have a genuinely penetrating prop (say, a Peacock), they are very solid across the board (like Leeds). Their props make good (not great) yards, stay on the pitch for a healthy amount of time (with the notable exception of Feka), are well drilled, disciplined, hit the ball running and, most importantly, work as a cohesive defensive unit to block up the holes.

With such a front row you may not be spectacular, but you will always be competitive.

I agree that tony p Is better at prop, I've said that since he got here, he gives us massive go forward.

Graham, perry, tony p and LMS(if true he's signed) would be very good. They are all big and mobile.

Is jamie Langley still out of contract at the end of the year?

He would be a very good signing for us.

I think we were all enamoured with the idea of Puletua as a wide running 2nd row, as we don't have a lot of size in that area. In a different team, he may well be better there, but unfortunatley when he's not at prop, the team struggles as we rely too heavily on Graham for yards.

Next season that could change if Soliola is fit though.

But Soliola is not a running forward. He's a superb defensive player, but from what I have seen of him in the NRL has very little pace.

He must have [isome[/i running if he's spend a decent time in the centre, shirley?

Only if he had signed for the goons.

He's not lightening but he does have some pace - I'd say he is quicker than David Vaealiki was for instance ...