I think TP's heart has gone, but I agree with you about Ashe if he was going to make it, he'd be a 1st team regular by now

Keep Flanagan, Greenwood, Hand, Percival, Swift, Tilley, Walker. Let the rest go.

Greenwood and Percival are the only ones I'd give deals to. The rest haven't really done anything to suggest they are worth keeping, including Swift. I just don't see where he'll ever cement a first team spot.

Would you not keep Flanaghan?

Out of the more senior players/ first team regulars flash is the only one I'd keep here

OOC: Nathan Ashe, Mark Flanagan, Adrian Gardner, Joe Greenwood, Jordan Hand, Anthony Laffranchi, Francis Meli, Mark Percival, Josh Perry, Tony Puletua, Dominic Speakman, Adam Swift, James Tilley, Anthony Walker, Paul Wellens, Dan Yates

The keepers from that list: Mark Percival, Anthony Walker, Joe Greenwood

I'd assume Laffranchi will get another year as it's in his favour.
I'd assume that TP is retiring

These I'd only keep depending on circumstances. Swift as a wing replacement. Meli if we did not get another winger.

Yates and Speakman I'd assume it's too early to tell. So they can't be on a lot. Probably 2 more years.

Although Flanaghan has been a decent performer with Wilkin contracted to 2015 I think, for me it's a case of we already have one of those and come 2015, I can see us getting a tackling 2nd rower from within. I'd also say if Laffranchi has a year in his favour, that gives us 4 2nd rowers. Sia, Manu, Laffranchi and Wilkin, before we even hit the reserves.

Laffranchi 's extra year is in our favour and we'd be mad to take it up

I thought it was in the players favour. My bad if that's not the case, but I still think the length of Wilkins contract makes keeping both Wilkin and Flash a bad choice.

Turner and Percival have now signed extensions: Turner to the end of 2016 and Percival to the end of 2015. So Saints have just said on Twitter. Article on website.

Great news! Just saw that on twitter myself.

OOC list: Nathan Ashe, Mark Flanagan, Adrian Gardner, Joe Greenwood, Jordan Hand, Anthony Laffranchi, Francis Meli, Josh Perry, Tony Puletua, Dominic Speakman, Adam Swift, James Tilley, Anthony Walker, Paul Wellens, Dan Yates

I'd look to retain all the youngsters (Ashe included, depth is good as we are finding out now!)

I'd only give an extension (out of the senior players) to Flanagan. The rest can go IMO. Unless we cannot find another winger, then I'd be ok with giving Meli another season.

I'd dump: Garnder, Laffranchi, Perry, Puletua and Wellens (and possibly Meli, if we can find another winger)

Good news on both counts. Percival has obviously shown plenty of promise, and I think Turner has done alright considering how we're playing overall. I'd like to get a look at him playing for us under better circumstances.


Are you sure? I'd read read other posts which have said it was in the player's favour. I'll be pleased if you're right about that.

When you think about it, though, the concept of the third year option being in the employees favour would be a little bizarre, wouldn't it?

Yes, it did strike me as slightly odd.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/20716844 Found it. Seams to be in the clubs favour. As a 2nd rower I'd keep him over Flash, but not as a prop.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/20716844 Found it. Seams to be in the clubs favour. As a 2nd rower I'd keep him over Flash, but not as a prop.

He's a better all round player than Flash, I'd say, but we've got too many second rowers to justify using up a quota spot and a big wage on another one. Flash offers better value for money and doesn't take up an overseas spot. We should let Boof go and get ourselves a big, nasty, 'orrible prop.

From what I read when he signed the extra year was in Laffranchi's favour, I suppose it depends on what the club offers a player for another year that makes the decision to stay or not.

I disagree.

Flash will give us far more service and is English so does not take a quota spot. I'd also assume that he will be on less money. I actually think he is a better player too (more importantly!).

I'm not overly concerned with quota spots as I doubt most teams will fill the 5 spots anymore.

The money issue is a fair point, although I've not idea of the wage difference between Boof and Flash.

For me it's a straight toss up between them and I just think Laffranchi is the better player and only a short term measure.

Between Flanagan and Laffranchi, it would be Flanagan for me. Money and quota spots aside, I think he's a better player all round.

Quota spots are going to be absolutely crucial. If we're getting Walsh then we'll need someone other than Perry to leave if we're going to sign anyone like Paea or Hanbury.

Puletua most likely?

TP is due to retire this year as well!

St ruger beat me to it

Don't be surprised if TP has a swansong in the NRL.

Either way, I can't see the point of filling a quota spot with a well paid and underforming player when we have a cheaper, British player who can do a similar job. Being up to the quota limit has really held us back over the last 18 months.

yup, better leaving a spot open for a midseason swoop of someone truely good who becomes availiable