I'd have to agree were I a Saints fan. But seeing as I'm a Wigan fan I'm chuffed to bit's.

No surprise, I heard that all 3 youngsters (Foster, Lomax and Wheeler) are earning a similar amount, which incidentally is more than Jammer was earning as a regular first teamer and GB international (in his first season).

I was looking forward to hear of new signings.

However this news do not inspire any confidence nevermind
excitement.

Meli - 2 years What the what ? Should have been released.
Would have been adequate at centre for the last two years
but to sign him again. Disaster.

Flannery - Good year this year but not worth a quota spot.
I hope he is cheap.

Wellens - If he is going to play LF on non superstar terms then fair enough but
two years at FB no way.

2 Years MELI I still can't comprehend this.

Ah well another cc semi blowout and GF runners up spot then to look forward
to in 2011.

One has to assume that Meli and Flannery have come cheap and thats why we re-signed. Wellens was a no brainer for the £50k we will save on the cap.

Flannery being cheap is one thing but for me its a valuable quota spot lost. Thats the biggest issue IMO.

If we've not got the money to fill that spot adequately, that isn't an issue though.

Thats what im thinking. We probably couldnt afford a marquee quota spot signing so if Flannery comes cheap for another season I suppose its the better the devil you know until a better quote player becomes available on a wage we can afford.

I agree that him taking up a quota space is an issue, I also wonder how cheap he is? Do you think Saints would have been his only offer?

I guess thats why there is only one head coach, everyone has differences of opinion.

Having a dependable Flannery taking up a quota spot - how much is this impacting on the development of Ashurst and Dixon in particular who have come on leaps and bounds this year. Maybe it was Flannerys "experience" that tipped the balance and got him a new deal.

I thought April fools day had come early...

Meli on a two year deal?!?!?!? Wtf

I thought we only offered one year deals to over 30s! I hope he is going to be playing at prop or something, should be nowhere near a wing. Should have been time to say goodbye and sign a lightning quick winger, especially with Gardner going.

Flannery is good cover for the centres and back row, so I can see the logic there.

Wellens was never in doubt, should probably see him retire after these next two/three years.

I believe Jamie Lyon is on contract at Manly until 2013. It is documented that he may return to super league and if so would like to return to St Helens. Could we be saving funds and a centre spot for him? I know 2 full seasons is a long way off but it fits in with the Meli contract?

In an ideal world, yes. However, its highly unlikely, IMO but you can never say never.

All three players have had good seasons and have played a major part in us getting 2nd place, a semi-final and a cup final, despite massive injuries. Although, i'm not overly keen on Meli having 2 years, he deserved a new deal, as did Flannery and Wellens.

If Lyon was coming back, I think he would have come at the end of his 4 year Manly deal. Having re-signed for them and taken on the captaincy, I cant see him ever appearing in the Red V again......shame though.

Isn't it interesting how one week before the GF people were saying how good our 2011 squad looks; we lose one game and now it's poor.

Saints have an excellent squad assembled for 2011 which is more than capable for challenging on all fronts, which is precisely what it will do.

I think the context is more about Meli. The decision to sign him for two years IS poor.

I've no issues with any of the re-signings to be honest. Wellens was worthy of a two year deal and it's not just his ability but his experience and leadership that helps. Flannery is worth an extra year if no-one else is available, although I'd definitely be looking at signing an outside back to replace Flannery in 12 months time. I am surprised with 2 years for Meli, I'd have given him 1 year and looked at replacing him.

I think our board worship him. He's never dropped and now, when most players of his age would be offered a one year deal, he gets two. And that's regardless of how many tries he lets through with his decidedly dodgy defence. I think the club have been dumb signing him up for two years but Wello and Flannery I have no problem with at all.

Not if we've re signed him to play at centre it isn't. Centres are somewhat thin on the ground these days, and i've no problem signing Meli for 2 years IF it is to play centre. Take a good look at our 'rivals' left centres - Wigan keep resigning Carmont on an annual basis; Leeds have re signed a 34 year old Senior; and Warrington went out and bought one (a luxury Saints don't have right now). Add in the fact that Meli is Saints top try scorer, and its no wonder the club wanted to keep him.

I like Meli, he comes up with the odd brain fart but his try scoring record is outstanding and I'm not sure we could've replaced him with anything better. My problem is the 2 years, surely 1 year would've made sense and then look at our options 12 months down the line? If both he and Flannery left in 12 months time (providing we re-signed Roby, Graham, Pryce etc) it would give us flexibility on the quota and with the salary cap.

I was going to ask the question about who was going as only yesterday I had read that saints would have to release a player due to salary cap restrictions and everyone expected it to be meli. I take it now it will be Ade Gardener who will be released from his final year ?

I,ve no problems with the signing so far, just hope Meli is playing Centre and not on the wing. Not seen him have a bad game game at centre so this is where he belongs. At some stage Wellens will probably play at loose forward, he's got the right rugby brain for it.
My biggest worry is Wilkin, he's not really performed to his potential for the past 2 seasons, this might be why we have resigned Flannery because this bloke has outplayed him these last 2 years.

The try Meli scored on Saturday was a great finish. That shows what he is capable of. Unfortunately we remember him for his errors.

Probably because they usually lead to a try for the opposition.

No probs with wello's new deal - but meli and flannery?
These were the two guys (not entirely on their own) who were found to be embarrassingly out of position (and in flanno's case too slow as well) in letting in three tries last week.

Good work guys!
Play crap and get a new contract!
(Meli's has some really good moments this year but flanno is just way too mr average).

I can't believe we had a lot of competition to retain these two.

Next thing wilkin will be awarded a new enhanced deal and also be described as "the consummate professional".

I don't think Meli warranted his LAST contract. That said, for all my criticisms of him, if it came to a choice between him and Gardner to get rid of I'd probably pick Ade. He's been living life on easy street for far too long.

The thing is, wing is a luxury position. Sure, it's great to have a Martin Offiah or an Anthony Sullivan - but those kind of players are few and far between. Barring some miracle deal (like Lyon) I doubt we could afford to bring in a barnstorming winger without having to shave cash off of the forwards (which I certainly don't wish to do). And the game has moved on a lot since the times when you could simply sling the ball out quickly and your man would cruise around the fullback and score. The modern winger must also possess far greater skills in defence. No, as things stand in SL I think the next magician we see on the wing at Saints will be one we have grown ourselves (perhaps a long time off).

If we had shown Meli the door we wouldn't be in a position to buy a better replacement. Sure, we may have gotten a more solid player. But would he pose as great a threat in attack? Probably not.

Besides, Wheeler and Armstrong will both be fully mature next season. Without checking his age I think Lomax might need another season (but he will have improved significantly). Gaskill is hovering about the fringes and he has pretty good credentials.

I'm quite happy. Of course, I'd prefer another centre to partner Shenton - but with the constraints imposed by the salary cap I imagine every club will be thinking they are short in some position or other. It's the nature of the beast.