It's obvious the reasons Leon left saints and it's nothing to do with lance coming.

Pryce went for the money, we offered him a two year deal that wasn't in the same league as catalans 3 year deal. Same reasons eastmond and Graham have left. As I've said we do things on the cheap and expect players to say "this is saints and I'll stay for thousands of pounds a year less"

I seriously doubt Leon had any fear of Gaskell taking his place, Gaskell will never ever be as good as Leon even when Leon is 33.

Royce said Hohaia would play at 7 with Pryce at 6, as he thinks teams need four halfbacks. We can't rely on Wheeler, sadly, so Hohaia and Pryce with Gaskell and Lomax makes four halves. Royce was very clear about that when Hohaia was recruited.

Was it your contact at the club who told you this? It's just that we haven't seen anything in the press or on the Saints site to suggest that Leon was even offered a contract. The last update was that talks were on hold awaiting his return to fitness.

I don't agree that Jammer has gone to Aus for the money. The money will have been a bonus but I think he wants the experience. He's won everything there is to win here. Interestingly, he's been the only one of the three who has shown any degree of professionalism since making his decision.

Leon was offered a reduced two year deal by saints. Leon wanted 3 year deal at saints but we only out a two year deal on the table (I agree with a two year deal) but it wasn't in the same league as Catalan.

Saints have a habit of not telling the fans the true details in offering contracts to older players.

It's strange that certain players in the past have only been offered 1/2 year deals when they hit 30 but few overseas players get longer deals and will be older when their deals expire.

Leon has cost us a lot of money over the last year or so. He hasn't played and since coming back from his injury, he still hasn't played. I don't blame Saints offering him a reduced two year offer, if that is indeed what they offered him. He isn't worth anything more than that. Let the Dragons have all the risk.


I don't know of any overseas players who have been offered more than two years when they hit 30. Which ones are you referring to?

Gaskell will never be as good as Pryce? Sorry Pete thats OTT. Gaskell has more skills at 19 than Pryce did at that same age. Pryce was not even a quality standoff when he came to Saints. Took him a good two years. If gaskell is a better half now than Pryce was when he got here. What makes you think Gaskell has gone as far as he can when he's one year into the professional game. Where as Leon could go further from a lower base.

I think even you have said before that Prcye is a runner not a creative talent in the natural half back sence.

I'm gradually changing my mind about Gaskell, I think there is a lot of improvement/development to come, but his style of play will be the Gaskell way and not how Longy, Pryce, Eastmond played there half back roles.
I still think Lomax future will be fullback, so Gaskell will be 7, I thought Royce said that Lance was coming in at 6. If Lance proves an influential one at 6, then there will be less pressure on Gaskell next season, Gaskell will be playing from a very experienced international player something he,s not had this season.

What you say is partly right. For 15 years we have been able to sell saints as a club that is virtually guaranteed silverware, and so am sure players will have settled for a lower wage than for instance Wigan or Warrington. Now the tables are turned, saints are less likely to won medals and so we hVe to pay than before.

Which is exactly as it should be. I think Gaskell could be one of those underrated players. He isn't flash, like Eastmond. But he can be very effective. While he's made some basic errors - to be expected in your rookie year - he's also pulled off some fabulous stuff. To me a turning point for him was kicking that drop goal, just when we needed to drive the nail in the coffin of Hudds' challenge. That shows a growth in confidence and also a familiarity with the role which has enabled him to think beyond the basics and into the realms of directing the game. I think he will be a good foil to some flash in the other halfback spot. He also seems to be pretty resilient physically. He damaged his ankle when we had that rash of damaged ankles (all seemed to be at one game) but other than that he's been available. I think his 10 minute spells at the end of games have helped to keep him in the loop too as he did a fine job at the Quins, slipping back into the role he hadn't played for a few weeks thanks to Leon's (disappointing) return.


Nope. He stated on the Saints site and I think in the press too that Lance had been recruited as our 7.

Laffranchi will he 33 when his contract expires, TP will be about 34, hohaia will be 33 so you can see pryce not being happy when a 3yr deal would see him bring 33 also.

I have no issues losing Pryce. If he stayed fair enough but we could hardly match Catalan based on his come back this year. Pitty but not crucial. We got this far with two half backs with near zero first grade experience at half back. Next year they will both be a year better a year bigger and ayear stronger. They will also have a half back with experience to help.

Compared to this year our halfbacks are not a worry. Next year its FB and prop for me that will be tested.

Stand offs come in different styles and Leon is a runner which fitted with saints as longy was his ball player and the creative one of the two.

Gaskell and lomax at this current time ain't creative and I can't see Gaskell or lomax providing creativity or leadership skills for a team like saints.

I'll stand by my statement, gaskell will never be as good as pryce, will never make a top class stand off and certainly will never play for England.

However, I do think Gaskell will be a ok player but not top class.

It's a little tiresome listening to how good all our young players are, yes they have done a terrific job but IMO only eastmond and possibly lomax will make top players.

Stick to bowls Pete

Two games don't make a great player but I thought he was fantastic today as he was in the other play off game at DW.

I'd love to admit I'm wrong and I'd have no problem admitting I'm wrong buy it's still to early yet.

It's still early to tell, as you say, but he is a year younger than Lomax and Wheeler. I imagine noone will be happier than Pete if he beats Robes and Tomkins to MOS next year

Put him in against Thurston Mac!

Id love Gaskell to become the best player in the world. It's strange that someone like McClennan thinks 2 good games makes him bette than Leon pryce, he must have short memory.

It's great seeing Gaskell playing with so much confidence and taking the line on , something pryce hasn't done for long time.

Pryce at his best is better than Gaskell. However we havent seen Pryce at his best for the last 16 months due to injury.

I personally think Gaskell is potentially the most creative player we have had at the club since Tommy Martyn.
For someone so young he reads the game really well.
He has a lot to learn though. However if he keeps progressing at his current rate, then he will be a really really good player in two years time. By then he will be bigger, stronger, faster, and have far more big game experience, yet be only 22 years old.

Put it this way at 20 years old Sam Tomkins hadnt played a first team game for Wigan and look how he has progressed.

Other clubs must be really envious at the production line of half back talent we have coming through at Saints.

The thing is, if Saints can do it then why cant other clubs? Its not like we are a big city, but we are developing local kids into really good players. It just shows the talent is out there.

I think it's a tough call for Royce who'll play in the halves next year.

Gaskell is an [ioutstanding[/i prospect. Easily one of the best I've seen at the club. There is an effortless fluidity about his movement and he glides across the pitch (very reminiscent of a young Darren Lockyer). He has good hands, a genuine rugby brain and a kicking game which is beyond his years. He is nowhere near physically developed and yet he is threatening to break the line regularly whilst sharing a telepathic understanding with Lomax. When he fleshes out he will trash opposing defences.

That said, I'm not absolutely convinced that the stand-off position gives him the freedom his talent demands. If he fills out and gains an extra half a yard as expected I would be tempted to experiment with him at fullback. It's a hunch but I think Gaskell injecting himself into the backline as he chooses could be a lethal proposition.

No. He's got the ability to control the game as a half back and we would negate that by playing him at full back. Even if he puts half a yard of pace on he'll still be too slow for full back.

He is reputedly the second fastest player in Saints first team squad.

He can play fullback very well and has done so many times in the under 20's, however personally I would play Lomax in that position, as not only is Lomax quick, but he has fantastic agility and strength.

Yet we have Wello there giving another great performance and proving that if your quick in thought you dont need to be a flyer on the pitch.Also Gaskel isnt slow at all.

We've had this discussion all season long and that is not true.