when gidley and senior were in their prime they were as good as each other. From what I've seen of gidley over here week to week on sky and in the big games I have to say he was very good for the last 2/3rds of the 08 Season, in 07 and 09 he was average at best also the little I have see of him this season average again. senior on the whole for me has been the better player in that time. Just to throw gleeson in there, he is more often than not crap since he left saints! obviously he has been transformed for the last dozen or so games under magic madge as has most the Wigan team as phuzzy pointed out to me on the pies board. carmont gleeson gidley? Might be better in some minds but are no way stand out from senior imo.

Gleeson was excellent when I saw him at Wire on many occasion, he's one of the few british players that can create chances (against a proper defence) out of very little. In terms of talent, I'd say he dwarfs Senior. In terms of application, Senior's an example every young player should take note of, which is why he's got the playing record he has.
Before he arrived on these shores, Gidley was an Aussie test centre. I'm afraid, depsite the efforts he's always put in for England and GB, I don't think Senior would have ever have managed that had his birth certificate been different.
I really respect Senior for the career he's carved out, but I've got to say, he's done well with what he's got. In terms of ability, I certainly don't put him up there with centres like Newlove, Connolly, Lyon & Iro, and would even be hesitant with the likes of Tuigamala and Hunte (who was [ioutstanding [/iin 96/97). In his time at Leeds, you've also had the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Brad Godden and Tony Carroll who were all pretty top performers IIRC.
However, you simply can't argue that a man who's got his record in top flight rugby isn't a top class proffessional.

If we can sign Shenton, I can see him developing into a better player than he is now, it would be a similar scenario to when we first signed Martin Gleeson.

So much of a joke that after Roby won man of steel they changed the way it was voted for.
And guess what, had they used the "new" system who would have won it?

James Roby?

The new system is worse than the old one. If a player is truly outstanding, but an absolute 2 @, and a player who didn't perform as well but is liked and respected like a Morley or a Hodgson, who will win? It's nothing more than a glorified popularity contest now and the honour of winning it has diminished dramatically IMO.

*spits wine all over monitor*

Now that made me chortle.

That's a pretty fair summary, however, what it shows is that our best centres are all well past their best, Gidley, Gleeson and Senior are all 3-5 years past their best, the new crop of centres, like Shenton and Atkins are simply not at the races yet, adn the other names in the hat, like Carmont, are simply journey men who never have and never will be class centres. Sad to say that some of Saints top centre performances over the last couple of years have come from the likes of Flannery and Gilmour, memories of Gidley's golden touches are fading fast, and the likes of Talau, Lyon, and Newlove are now consigned to the history files.

No, the players player that year went to Trent Barrett.

Yeah I would agree with most of that!

sorry mate there are quite a few inaccuracies in this post. Gidley was well past playing for oz and nsw when you signed him, tony Carroll wasn't great for Leeds, he played his best rugby after that when he become an Aussie. as far as the opinions, as good as those centres were for leeds I don't think they were as good a senior! I still believe gleeson since leaving saints apart from the odd game has been bobins. Not counting the dozen+ games this season.

I'm not sure about that, he was excellent at times in a poor Dire team, as for his time at Wigan , for me he looks past his best but he's still very solid and sadly probably still one of the best English centre's around.

I'm open to your advice on the leeds players, you obviously saw a lot more of them than me.
My point about Gidley playing rep rugby was to point out that he did come at the end of a very illustrious career, not particulary to demonstrate his current talent.
The Gleeson one I will disagree with you on though. He may not have been consistant, but I saw him look very good for Wire enought times to convince me that he still had [iit[/i.

Gleeson is still a talented player but has been distracted by off field recreational activities too much to ever realise his full potential. He's still good, but you can watch him for a month and he'll do absolutely nothing. He's not a player opposition fans fear and he's not a threat anymore.

Let's look at the facts. Barrett was walking away with MOS when he went AWOL in the 24-37 Challenge Cup defeat to Catalans. THAT was his chance to shine. He blew it.

Roby didn't.

sportal.co.nz/league-news-displa ... cted-91115 Josh Perry should admit to coming to Saints after the Origin games?

sportal.co.nz/league-news-displa ... cted-91115 Josh Perry should admit to coming to Saints after the Origin games?

i just get story not found, what's the gist?

Click on that link and the story is under latest news on the right.

Wigan fan in peace! Sorry if it is on here already, i would read through the other posts but you lot make my skin crawl sportal.co.nz/league-news-displa ... o-go-91115 Good signing if true edit. someone beat me to it ta ra

Wigan fan in peace! Sorry if it is on here already, i would read through the other posts but you lot make my skin crawl sportal.co.nz/league-news-displa ... o-go-91115 Good signing if true edit. someone beat me to it ta ra

Perry is a done deal as is Shenton

Also Potter will be Bradford Bulls coach

i'm happy with that, i couldn't se MP getting a head coach in Oz yet anyway

Good signing saints. Graham and Perry will be awesome props for next season. Just what we need.

I'd wait for some proper confirmation before you start making your welcome banner.

Good signings on paper. Only noticeable weakness would be perhaps a lack of pace with Wellens, Gardner and Meli. Are Gardner and Meli both staying next year?

I reckon most Sts fans would agree our two main weaknesses are pace out wide and a decent front row partner to help graham out.
Perry would definately tick one box, and we doe have a good crop of youngsters to perhaps help the other.

Perry -> St Helens
Graham -> Sydney Roosters

?

One wonders...