[quote="[Gareth]":20k6zbqy]Im on the fence On one hand, i hope he goes to: a. screw Saints over b. have other teams lose players like we seeminly do regularly c. improve the England team as he will be playing ina much stronger comp but i agree with what your saying about SL[/quote:20k6zbqy] I'm in the hope-he-goes camp. Or at least that I don't mind if he goes. I'm as concerned as the next fan about the loss of talent to the NRL, but he'll be 29 by then and would have already won everything he can in this country. Much less of a kick in the teeth than when you've developed a player until their early twenties and they clear off as soon as they're starting to blossom. Still a massive loss for Saints though, obviously.

[quote="Zig":1f7ckf9x]There is a guy ITK on the other Wigan forum, who is very well connected, and he is saying that Knowles to Dolphins and Lees to Wire are done deals.[/quote:1f7ckf9x] I'll believe it when I see it but Lees to Wire makes a lot more sense than us signing him, prop is where they are lacking IMO and bringing in him and Byrne would be perfect. I just can't see Saints letting this happen.

[quote="WWste":4eps3ncm]Jeez that a lot of players. Possibly looking at a further rebuild. What’s McManus said on all this, has he lost interest?[/quote:4eps3ncm] I don't think it's a bad thing, especially considering some of the recent performances from those that are OOC. Should drive some better performances out of those that are playing to secure their future and put us in a position of strength in the market if we are/have been proactive enough to get things done. There are a lot of highly-regarded young players waiting in the wings for an opportunity too, in particular the second year professionals who all impressed with their brief game time last year. Could be quite a bit of transition but that's not to say we shouldn't be competitive if the squad we do have stays fit. Whether the coaching is up to managing all this is another matter entirely however.

[quote="SFW":1d04pbbn]I don't think it's a bad thing, especially considering some of the recent performances from those that are OOC. Should drive some better performances out of those that are playing to secure their future and put us in a position of strength in the market if we are/have been proactive enough to get things done. There are a lot of highly-regarded young players waiting in the wings for an opportunity too, in particular the second year professionals who all impressed with their brief game time last year. Could be quite a bit of transition but that's not to say we shouldn't be competitive if the squad we do have stays fit. Whether the coaching is up to managing all this is another matter entirely however.[/quote:1d04pbbn] Getting underperforming/over the hill players out is great but replacing them is another matter and is even harder if Knowles or Lees (or both left). Every time I think of Wigan signing a player and then look at an OOC list from Superleague, It's startling the lack of British talent that could be available. The best players are already tied up at other clubs. Saints could have plenty of quota spots but that market is far tougher than it's been in the past as well. In short, it's probably the most difficult time I can remember to be going through a major rebuild and I'd imagine the agents of Knowles/Lees probably know that and will be pushing for every last pound they can get for them.

Looking increasingly like Knowles is off to the Dolphins. I don't begrudge him that at all. He's given great service, been here 11 years, won everything there is to win and has the chance to earn some serious wedge and team up with a decent coach again. Lees I believe is definitely being chased by Warrington but Saints are offering him a lucrative deal to keep him.

[quote="Stu M":21ppbj1i]Looking increasingly like Knowles is off to the Dolphins. I don't begrudge him that at all. He's given great service, been here 11 years, won everything there is to win and has the chance to earn some serious wedge and team up with a decent coach again. Lees I believe is definitely being chased by Warrington but Saints are offering him a lucrative deal to keep him.[/quote:21ppbj1i] They would be mad not to. If he goes where does a replacement come from? They will need to offer him marquee money.