My understanding is that Laffranchis contract is up, but we have an option for a further year. I haven't seen any announcements, has he signed an extension? I'm taking it from there also being no announcement that he is leaving, that he will still be here next season? Professional player, who hasn't really set the world alight for us. Id sooner let him go and free up a quota spot for another more deserving player, like a S/O or centre.

I agree with that, and if Wilkin is moving back to the pack then I don't see where we can fit all our back rowers in(he's never a prop that's why we've just signed up 3 more!) big wedge, better used on a quality 6

I presume his contract renewal will be substantially less than his current package.

He announced himself in the lounge at LP that he had his renewal sorted, but the club have not mentioned anything.
His declaration was also before the public rocket that McManus gave out and our run of terrible form. Perhaps our squad has been re-evaluated since then?

I'd get shut. We've got plenty of depth in the forwards, he's not as good in the back row as Sia, Manu, Jones or even Flash. That's even before we consider developing the likes of Thompson and Greenwood. He's proved kind of ineffective at prop, playing well when we dominate but struggling otherwise.
He's not as good a prop as Paul Clough imo and even the likes of Thompson and, dare I say it Sia would be better choices at prop.

Totally agree. He offers no more than Clough and I imagine gets paid significantly more. I would prefer to leave an overseas spot empty in case someone comes available through the season . Even if the quota is extended I would get shut unless he is very cheap, which I can't imagine.

He's lined up for a coaching role at Gold Coast when he's finished with us. Given the money sloshing about over there, if we only offer him washers, he'd be better moving home.

Tony clubb would be an improvement on laffranchi in my opinion.
Clubb will be hungry to succeed In a bigger and better team.

He could also fill in at centre if needed.

And has signed for Wigan...

If the non-fed quota is increasing from 5-7, as Boof has an Italian passport he would count on this and not on overseas quota. Massively underrated imo playing in an undersized pack and think he will go better next year with the likes of Masoe & Amor added (possibly moving him to back row). I think signing him again would be a decent move

If he was leaving I think it would have been announced for the last home game as the others were.

If we can afford to keep him, and there are no 6's available of sufficient quality, then we should keep him.

We need depth in the forwards, and like LMS I imagine we will see an improvement when he is not playing in a pack full of back rowers.

I'd be happy to keep him as a back rower, but where then does Wilkin go?

I really don't think Wilkin will be the issue. He'll find a spot even if that's from the bench, or at 6. LMS may just end up back as a normal prop even though I like the idea of him at 13.

I think Wellens is the position really under threat as a regualar starter.
With injuries you can see him getting some bench starts, or if Lomax was taken out then he could play FB, rather than shuffle the wingers, but for a top game there is just no space.

I ran through a couple of packs on a different thread that you could feasably put out. I had even forgotten Amor and Wellens did not fit in.

It just feels to be a bit of a luxury (strange to say) to have so many pack players. Yet no 6.

Would it be better to hedge our bets and run without a Laffranchi in the hope of getting a 6 mid-year?

Or does the club have a target 6 in mind who will not be available till 2015 and so we may as well spend the money on Laffranchi. Better to have the luxury than run below cap????

I'd rather keep Laffranchi than Wellens to be honest. Laffranchi can at least tackle properly, Wellens offers literally nothing at all. He's too slow to make any contribution in attack or defense in the backs and is too lightweight and slow to play in the forwards. His appearance on the bench for the last couple of months has been nothing more than sentimental folly. If we actually decide to extend his contract, the club is a joke.

My bet? We'll wait till season ticket early bird renewal period is over, then drop the bombshell that we've resigned both and the recruitment is over.

Best case is that the club hasn't put pen to paper with either and is scouring the globe for a stand off, the signing of whom will mean we don't give the two corpses new deals.

Well I never!

With the sheer amount of back rowers and props now I'd be tempted to leave his undoubtedly big salary available if a quality 6 does come up half way through the season

he's not powerful enough to be a prop and he's not quick enough to be a 2nd row

should have got rid

His stats are comparable to Manu, Soliola, Puletua and LMS, so he isn't doing too bad a job (this is without minutes played per game and how many games missed of course). If he's doing a lot with the kids on the training ground in regard to coaching then I'm not sure another 12 months is that bad an idea.

I'd be tempted to go that way too, but like I said it maybe that the club has already identified a 6, but can't sign till 2015. In which case, there is an arguement for not letting the money just sit around.

His stats are a myth. He makes almost all of his metres running kick offs back, he's very keen to put his hand up for that.

He's good defensively, but he's been a total waste of an overseas spot.

He'd be on my list players to exit the playing roster this year along with Wellens and Gardner. All 3 are well past their sell by dates and would not be first choice in there 'actual' positions next year. Even if we cant pick up a 6 in the off season I'd still let them go and see if anyone becomes available mid season, you never know if any world class stand off in Aus will do something dumb and get himself sacked.

That's my quote of the day!!!!

It's true. Laffranchi makes most of his metres with the ball half heartedly carting the ball back from kick offs. So you can't look at his stats and say he does as well as Manu or Walmsley, as their yards are made where it hurts.