I know there as been a post somewhere about this kid before, but with the story of O'Brien going to Salford does this open the door to him coming here. Is he a player that fits with current recruitment.

Fages has lots of pace is young with a good eye for the gap could be a good signing, I've just mentioned on the Bridge post GOB tweeting to looking forward to playing against Bridge next season, so it could be Salford? wherever all the best to GOB.

I would take him, a Very talented youngster who could be a star given the right environment.
Some regard him and George Williams as the best young half backs in European rugby league.

If we can play him and Dec Patton at halves in the new reserve grade and gradually give the pair first team football, then "I'm In".

nah, can't see that, that'd mean a fourth body for the halfback spots, 5th if you include ratch as well as gidley sandow and patton

Then just play the best two, we've had far too many changes at half so I hope Smith gets the best two an sticks with them, if one turns out to be Fages I wouldn't complain.

Dont get me wrong, i can see potential in the lad, and he's been screwed over to some extent by salford this year, but i would imagine overall, he's another myler, possibly slightly better than him though.

Rumours of Fages to Saints being announced this week, provided he's successful in departing from Salford without it implicating us.

Not sure how true any of it is though, but I know there was a clear PR campaign by Sean Long and KC immediately prior to him becoming unsettled at Salford.

So why move O'Brien on in the first place when he could be brought on in the reserves by no less than Lee Briers ?

He's going Saints ..........Nailed on FACT.....well that's the rumour I heard........

I'm not that fussed on him to be honest...I'd rather we get somebody who is good....... for a change.

I agree and that's what I think will happen also TFB, I mean who could resist being 'buttered up' by Long and Cunningham? (ooooerr missus)

Fages seems to be a talent with potential who wasn't happy not starting as he was behind Dobson and Chase, so don't see why he would fit with us and FWIW I'd have kept Myler as I think he'd do well with Sandow

Screwed over by salford just like kevin locke who made a similar claim and is not looking happy after today's tribunal at red hall

Would be very pleased with Fages but doubt it. Can cover hooker as well which would come in handy.

Gidley full back
Fages and Sandow in the halves
and Ratchford at centre

Fages is joining St Helens.

Undisclosed fee reluctantly accepted.

I'm reading Fages Carney Chase...we don't need any of them?!

Westerman I would see a good signing...2 years back he was the hottest property. Wheeler too, he's had a lousy injury season, very disappointing, but he still has the talent to play to play centre at the highest level. I'd be happy to put him as 1st choice while we have a talent like Toby we can fall back on.

For me, I not convinced over the depth of weight and quality in the front row. Looks vastly shy of biff.
We need teams to worry about our pack, when looking at Saints Warmsley Masoe and LMS I worry.
That is the difference. We haven't had that solid threat since Morley and Carvell were here.

I can see where you are coming from with regards to pack size, I'm not sure I see us adding to the front row though now. We have the following capable of playing prop/3rd prop for us contracted for next year, with contract expiry date:
(I'm expecting an announcement in this weeks Guardian with all the contract renewals, so these will change)

Hill 2019
Sims 2016
Dodds 2016
Harrison 2017
Westwood 2016

England 2016
B Evans 2017
G King 2016
Philbin 2015 (I assume his contract will be renewed)

That's a lot of players capable of playing front row, I'm not sure in a salary capped competition we can afford another? The first 5 will probably be playing every week, the bottom four in reserve.

Centre for me is a far more important position for us to bring in at present, with the front row evolving as we have players come off contract. The one nagging doubt I have about that, is that if Smith was expecting to play Ratch at 6 or full back next season, wouldn't he be playing him there now, so he can gel with Sandow? Instead he has him out in the centre. Maybe he has a new half to come in for 2016 and expects Ratch to be playing right centre next year....?

I'd also keep Wheeler, but only if his contract was minimal, he can't be relied upon to be a first choice anything following his injury record or performances this year.

What's going on with Wheeler for you guys next year? I expected him to be chopped after another injury ravaged season but has he been offered another deal? He's a good lad is Gary but I have never ever known a player so injury prone as he is in all my years of watching.

I think everyone bar RD wants rid of the biscuit.

Its not just his injuries. His performances weren't even good when he was fit (which seemed like never)

Can only assume he's on pittance.

it's not looking good at the moment, if he was going, i'm sure he would have been part of the send off last saturday.

Smith said a few weeks ago that he had the rest of the season to prove himself. He doesn't appear to have done that. I expect him to be announced as leaving next week, the same time as KP is hopefully given a new contract.

Pretty much my thinking, if he was going, think it would have been announced by now.

I'm not devastated by it, he can do a job for ten games a year covering at either centre or half back when pushed. Although I probably would prefer to give King or Patton the game time if I'm being honest.

His contract just needs to reflect his position in the squad.

"Although I probably would prefer to give King or Patton the game time if I'm being honest".

Never mind his contract reflecting anything, with up coming talent why do we need to keep a dead leg like Wheeler at the club? The above quote says it all.

The current clear out reflects what we need to know and that is players at the end of careers, injury prone players and those with little talent and/or showing no talent have to be released, there is no place for sentiment in a professional set up. Some of these guys may have been great servants, may have broken scoring records but when its time its time. that's why great teams win and continue winning for long periods. We on the other always have next year!

Here's a question, who goes into a game when wheeler is playing A; hoping he doesn't get injured today and B; wondering WHEN he will get injured.

I've never EVER had that mindset with any other player in my twenty odd years of watching, maybe woody and mark hilton when they were having specific shoulder issues but apart from that, no.

100% as soon as you see him in the 17