I really enjoyed listening to those two and the WishFM bloke was good too. It was a refreshing change from Murkeyside!

I thought they were both honest without being disrespectful: that we played poorly, that Simmons was not going to be happy with the ball retention, especially as it is something they had been working on all week, and that Wakey, while working hard, were in a different class - which is simply as it is. Although from the way we played it was hard to appreciate that!

Pryce also mentioned how Wilkin was following the instructions of his coach, the clear implication being that others weren't!

Absolutely brilliant by Leon. His evil genius laugh in the background as Meli went in for his try in the second half was priceless.

I agree. That made me laugh out loud!

He also said post match on Murkeyside that if he's cleared to play next week he would be happy to play anywhere as he doesn't want to disrupt the team, which I thought showed a good team spirit.

He really does seem like he wants to stay at Saints from everything I've seen and heard. He's got a brilliant relationship with the other players according to a couple of people I know. If he has a good few weeks I wouldn't be surprised to see a 1 year deal, after all the contract negotiations are on hold until he proves his worth.

I'm praying he doesn't get injured again, if Meli is out I think we may see him at FB with Eastmond playing in the centres?

Edit: Leon could slot in at centre, he has the necessary attributes and it would cause minimal disruption?

Here's hoping on all fronts.


I think your edit is spot on. We will need centre cover and if he's willing and able to play there then slotting him in would cause minimum disruption. Eastmond could stay at fullback if Wello isn't fit. If he is fit then Eastmond could be flying around the park at loose? Or a kind of loose, since I know TP is officially loose. He could take on a more Wilkin kind of role, is what I'm thinking. Have I just invented a position?



Where we will seriously struggle is up front. We have to bring in an u20s prop or something because we can't function against the big blokes of the Dragons without some beef up front. With both Clough and Perry missing, we will seriously struggle.

Pryce won't sign a 1 year deal. It's prob his last big contract. Other teams will offer him at least two years and I'd expect the bulls to offer him three years.

I think he might sign a two year deal at saints if we offer him one.

Now come on, I know you have a thing for Jon Wilkin but inventing 'position Wilkin' is utterly ridiculous.



Yeah something needs to give on the front row issue, Forster is due back so I'd imagine he will be in with a shout along with Jordan Hand to some extent. We'll probably just throw Magennis in there though I would imagine.

TP, lms, Graham and magennis IMO can match the French upfront with sia and wilkin in backrow.

I expect meli to play in the centre with shenton.

I'd put Leon on the bench for couple of weeks to ease him in. When he's match fit I'd play him at 6. We need him at 6.

With Ferriol suspended and Fakir possibly out I would be inclined to agree.



You had some news on Meli? I won't hear anything until tomorrow probably, perhaps tuesday morning.



I'd agree with this, long term he'll replace Gaskell at 6. Gaskell has done incredibly well for the time he has done, he earned himself a contract extension and a possible future at Saints, but we need Leon back in there. Until we have more bodies back I can see him slotting in where needed a la Eastmond though.

My friend at saints txt me before. He said they don't think meli or wilkin are as bad as they thought.

Yeah, but I'm talking about us playing on Friday with Meli, Clough, Wello and Wilkin out injured. And no way can Magennis cope with the big French blokes.

It is clearly a very attractive position!




I've met Forster. He was at Ade Gardner's ladies night. He's not very big. Jordan Hand looks bigger. We need brawn

I think wilkin will play.

We've played all year without clough and perry so it's nothing new.

Graham
Roby
Lms
Wilkin
Sia
TP

Moore
Magennis
Flannery
Pryce

IMO that pack and bench is more than capable of beating catalans forward pack.

He doesn't look it but he's bloody heavy! Third heaviest in our squad behind Tony P and James Graham i think.

Oh that's good news then!

Perry?

Perry looks very very heavy

But what Pete didn't tell you was that his friend at Saints is his [iimaginary[/i friend.

He spent a lot of time standing/sitting next to me, chatting to someone I was sitting with. He must have a big bone structure then because he didn't look at all heavy.

If my friend didn't exist then saints would be much lower in the league than 4th.

My bad.

TP - 112 kg
Perry - 112 kg
Forster - 110 kg
Jammer - 106 kg

Lighter than Perry but heavier than Jammer.

Nah, I can vouch for it.

Muscle weighs more than fat.

That's what solomoana (sp) keeps telling everyone at Warrington.

He really is a fat dude.

Still, whether muscle weighs more than fat or not, Forster didn't look very big.

I couldn't believe how fat he is. He makes stu Evans look small.