We're not going to be able to buy Smith or Farah so no point selling him, it would be far better if he saw out his contract.

Even if we got a million quid for him what would be the point? There's nobody around we could find to replace him with with that money - just the same as your lot will find when Tomkins is on his way. I'd rather we kept him for as long as humanly possible and then got newt' rather than have a big pile of cash and a weaker team for a few years.

I would rather Roby saw out his contract because there are no better options available to us at present. Roby could take Dom Speakman under his wing as a tutor like Keiron Cunningham did with Robes. It would be disastrous if we sold Roby now without a replacement lined up or someone in line at the club to take over.

I suppose the point is, if (and this is purely hypothetical) we knew he was definitely going to leave in a year's time anyway, then we'd be in a much better position to find a replacement if we sold one year early for a fee than if we held on for one last year. We're never going to get a like-for-like replacement, but we might, for example, be able to pick up someone like Daryl Clarke if we had a fee to play with, whereas if we held on for another year we'd be trawling the bargain bucket for a freebie.

As it happens, I think we're lucky in that Roby is a pretty homespun sort of guy whose first instict will be to stay with his hometown club. I may be wrong, of course, but that's the impression I get - he could quite easily have left us last time his contract was up for renewal (and wouldn't we up the creek now if he had).

It just depends on how you spend the money though.
Plough it back into youth development, sports science, scouting systems etc, buy two or more players to strengthen the squad.
We've been having this "discussion" on the Wigan site, and I'm in the get the money in and use it wisely camp. There are others who think that it's better to make the player see out his contract then leave for nothing.

Good one.

No more please, chain em, take their passports from em, excommunicate them, but keep them here.

According to Stuart Pyke on Twitter Roby is in talks with Saints over a new contract.

Saints?

St George?

Robes is loyal to the club (i reckon).
We should renegotiate a good long contract with a NRL transfer clause.
That would mean he would have the security of a long contract at saints and the knowledge that any reasonable offer from the NRL would be available for him to consider.
From the clubs point of veiw, we know that if he does ever leave, we'll be well compensated.

Micky Higham?????????

Believe me, Robes will be a one club man. It would have to take more than money to get him away from saints.

He's turned down big money moves over and over again. He's a saints lad and will stay a saint. (Unless he has Massive fall out with the club)

However, we do have a player that is being targeted by NRL clubs and from what I hear, he's happy to see what's on offer and already spoke to souths.

Lance Hohaia? Ade Gardner? Paul Wellens?

Lomax or Walmsley? Or Sia?

Just tell us who is being targeted. It's annoying when people do that.

I told you all the rumour I made up about chase.
Fairs fair

Lomax will definitely be a target.
Him and roby are the only players I can think worthy from saints.

Walmsley and sia are worthy.

Not sure NRL standards yet!! the numbers they can choose from!

Sia has plenty of NRL experience

When people say any player with ambitions will play in the NRL it's a tad simplistic. Players have families. Wives. Kids. These all bring different factors to bear. Whilst the typical stereotype of a Wag is a talentless airhead. It's not always the case. So a career minded WAG would not be as eager to give it all up for her fellas three or four years in the sun. Add kids to that mix and it's a big barrier to just upping sticks. Of course some WAGs will be up fir a move. But it's not a given. If you want loyalty encourage marriage and sex in your players. Although preferably with the same girl. Otherwise running off to oz to escape the CSA would become quite attractive.

I suspect once Roby joins the World Cup Squad he will be influenced by the english players already in the NRL, Jammer is already advising him to give it a go in Oz.
McManus needs to up his salary otherwise Roby will see the big money in Oz difficult to resist and the challenge to play in the NRL before his career finshes is another factor.
I reckon if he puts in good performances in the World Cup most of the NRL will be in a bidding war for him and we lose our only world class player at the club.

Roby will not go the NRL, that's for sure. He loves playing for saints and loves st Helens.

i believe he was offered as much if not more than Jammer to go before he signed his current deal. Thanks but no thanks came the reply

+1

And me!

I don't think I'd renew my ST if we lost him what would be the point!

I wish! Glad that Roby wants to stay, losing him would've been a disaster.