Agree with this, Lomax has the makings of a Tomkins and the freedom of linking into the play from the FB role could really suit him down to the ground. As the Wigunerrr says, it takes the pressure of a kicking game and directing a team around the park off, allowing him to go on his brilliant individual runs when he sees a chance.

My only concern would be the defensive side as his tackling in the halves isn't all that great.

He'll never be a patch on Sam Tomkins and he's not ready to be our first choice scrumhalf with a inexperienced stand off in hohaia.

Nice to see we are all staying nice and calm then from this hardly shocking news.

Losing Leon is not going to alter much next year from this. He's not played all year and in the critical game against Wigan he was not the Messiah to change the fortunes of the season.

It's always nice to have a panic and flap about, but in the end saying we need this and we need that does not reflect the reality. We need a prop, yes I totally agree, but who? There is little if no one of Grahams quality out there and anyone of similar ilk is tied up for a long time or would need more money than the NRL can offer.

NRL wise there is no chance of getting another Lyon type player, you either need tainted goods like Chase or a player looking to finish but hopefully can be ignited to play. Otherwise you have to look to home.

Leon has gone, good luck to him, he had played well for us, but his days at half back for us where not the golden years, they passed when it was long and /Martyn/Sculthorpe and even Hooper.

There is no reason to think his leaving will cause mid table mediocrity. Same goes for Eastmond, neither have had a massive impact on Saints this year. The Graham situation is far more critical than this as he has carried our front row for many years now.

In the halfbacks you could argue we are stronger next year as along side Gaskell and Lomax there is now Lance. Both the young players will be a year better, and with Eastmond and Pryce missing most of the year the addition of Lance is an improvement on this year in the backs.

And Wigan are linked with players like Ephalme Lauaki and Gil Dudson.

Lance has played 8 times for NZ at stand off and over 50 times in both halfback roles within the NRL

He is more experienced at a high level playing in the halves that Scott Dureau or Rangi Chase were when they were signed to play in SL. They havent dont too badly have they.

Both were 23/24 when they arrived though, not 30.

It's a big risk as no doubt he's on a big contract. Talking of which, his deal is two years too long.

Lance is 28 this year so will be 29 next season.
Dureau is 25 this year and will be 26 next year.
Chase is 25 this year and will be 26 next year

Also Lances 4 year deal takes him upto 32 years of age.

I take it you would be giving the soon to be 30 year old Pryce a 3 year deal, which would have seen him playing to 33. One year older than what Hohoia will be under contract till, and using your logic about Lances deal being 2 years to long, then Pryces would therefore be 3 years too long, which therefore means you actually agree with what Saints have done

He can't get into his club starting 13 though and has had poor reviews.

On the subject of Lafranchi who some people are commenting on as being a backrower to replace Jammer.

I would bare in mind that Frank has actually played 30 games at prop in the NRL so isnt inexperienced in the role. Granted he plays mostly in the backrow and can be pretty devastating as a backrower for example in 2008 he scored 12 trys in 20 appearances playing in the NRL, which is phenomenal.

David Fairleigh the best Saints prop since Ward played mainly in the back row down under, he managed around 27 appearances at prop in his NRL career, which in length and quality is similar to that of Lafranchi's.

If Frank can give the same impact as Fairleigh then we will do ok.

Isn't that my point

He has made 16 appearances this year, granted mainly from the bench, however he has still started 7 of those 16 appearances. From the looks of it the warriors are essentially doing what we have done with Pryce, in that they are getting rid of an older player to allow young players to develop. Only difference is that in the NRL they think 28 is past it, while in the UK its more like 31.

He is rated a far better player than Dureau, Dobson, or Chase who were considered not good enough for the NRL. Hence why they ended up playing in the UK.

People therefore need to get things in perspective.

Still trying to accept the news!! pryce will be a massive loss but i still feel we do have players with enough quality to carry us on for the next few years!

People criticise Wellens at full back for not being creative enough, stating that the role of full back is that of a "3rd Half Back", but then find it unacceptable that an international fullback wants to play in the halves.

Rangi Chase couldn't get a game in the NRL either and look at how good he's doing, same with clint greenshields, understudy at the dragons to probs the best fb in superleague. Why don't people wait to see the guy play a few games first before passing judgement. Also lets not forget that leon pryce was a winger/centre/fullback when he signed for saints.

A lot will depend on injuries, as with a full strength squad I can't see us struggling at all. Whilst losing Graham is the biggest blow, I don't think it will be catastrophic if we can keep all of our props fit. If Wheeler could manage to stay fit, that would also make a huge difference in our attacking ability and pace.

A fully fit side such as this

Lomax
Makinson
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Wheeler
Hohaia
Puletua
Roby
Perry
Soliola
Flanaghan
Wilkin

LMS
Laffranchi
Flannery
Clough

With options such as Gaskell, Wellens, Magennis, Ashurst, Dixon, Ashe, Moore and Gardner (if the last 2 are still around) makes us one of the strongest teams in the league. Again, the biggest factors will be injuries and how far the young players develop.

It's all well and good picking sides that we think look dangerous but will the club REALLY move Wellens from fullback? I'm not at all convinced they will as despite his horrific performances over the last year they haven't shown any signs of moving or dropping him.

It will be 1 - Wellens, 6 Lomax and 7 Lance no doubt.

I have heard that Wellens himself wants to move into the pack after an off season of training with the forwards, that could be nonsense but it is what I have been told. Whether that works for him or not remains to be seen, but he has a much larger frame than Scott Moore and he hasn't struggled physically since beefing up.

But even if he was picked at full-back every week, I was just using an example of the options we have, not the squad that will be picked. I believe that it is one of the best squads in the league.

On a similar note, the likes of Andy Platt, Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley were all props converted from the backrow. I'm not too worried about our front row punch, particularly if we can keep Perry fit.

At the moment we have:

LMS
Perry
Puletua
Laffranchi
Clough

When you list it like that it's enough. But I'd still like to see another added to that list for squad depth. With Saints over the last couple of years we've had probably 2 injured on a consistent basis. We've coped purely because Jammer is a machine and we've often won games with only two genuine props in the 17. That won't happen post Jammer as no one in the squad can even approach his level of work.

Main focus HAS to be signing/introducing a fullback and a prop/big forward.

We have done, t'be sure.

Fine. As I've said, sod playing them in the reserves and dual registering them, get them in against Salford.

I'd get the biggun and Forster on the bench against Solly.

Lance has been injured hence not making the 13 for the Warriors...he had a poor start to the season due to having no real break after the previous season and the 4 nations. Has been playing as hooker/utility of the bench most of the season.

He was 6 when we made the grand final in 02, and looked the goods. He is not a fullback IMO, but played well in that position in the last couple of years. He played at 6 for the Kiwis a couple of years ago in the ANZAC test...he regularly has played at 2nd received when coming off the bench.

He will kill the SL in the halves if he is given a run. His problem at the Warriors is that he was never given an extended run in the halves since 04, and until a couple of years ago we always had a crap pack.

Saints have signed a great player, and he is only 28.

I agree, Lance is a very good signing and I'm not worried about his poor form this year as he's injured and I think he's prob got his eye on next year. I also think he's gone a littl stale and next year will be fresh start for him.

My only worry is the lack of distribution coming from the halves next year. Lomax and lance like to take the line on. I just hope lance can adapt to this.

Laffranchi is another top player and I've been a fan of his for good few years. He's a solid work horse but he likes to play on the edges and being a prop next year will take that away from him.

IMHO saints have made three very good signings in hohaia, laffranchi and Flanagan but my only concern is the change of postion fir them and how they adapt.

Perry is going to be key to saints next year and it's vital he stays fit. He needs to be at his rough and ready best next year as Graham is a massive player to lose.

Jammer will be huge loss. He makes massive amount of meters, tons of defence, 80 mins nearly every week and never takes at backward step, that will be tough to replace!

He should fit in at Saints then with ease!


Now, this can't be right. The oracles on these boards have clearly stated that Lance has never, EVER played at 6 in the whole of his NRL career!

I am really looking forward to seeing him scooting around the place and causing mayhem on our behalf!