Good signing for the French that.

Au revoir!

Especially if they sign Todd Carney (as rumoured).

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Eastmond
Graham
Pryce


Wonder if they will bring in 'yet another' Aussie for cover.

If that happens I'd gladly take Dureau off their hands.

That's shedding quite a bit of quality. It would take a signing of major proportions to rebalance that picture.

To be fair though Eastmond and Pryce have been practically non existant this year. Pryce now being fit obviously improves them but Gaskell + Lomax haven't exactly been poor. They've already signed a halfback for next year (despite him being an average fullback) so you would assume it'd be Hohaia + Lomax in the halves with Gaskell as backup. Should leave them with a bit of cap space.

Pryce surprised me in the semi with how effective he was, though it could be argued that was after Wigan had taken their foot off the gas.

He's 30 of course, which may indicate that his best days are behind him, though Hohaia will be 33 when his deal with Saints expires, so whether or not age is a problem depends on what kind of spin you seek to put on the story.

In retrospect though, I think you're right - Graham will be the main loss.

I think most people have now forgotten about Eastmond, even though - laughably - some newspapers tried to make a big deal out of his absence from the semi.

It's a worrying time for the skints, they're going to be relying on youth next season. They need to replace Wellens as well, he's gone from slow to dead slow.

They have this departure covered in the form of Jonny Lomax he is a great talent and in my opinion will be as good as or even better than Pryce. They could do with a massive signing to replace Graham though huge loss for Saints.

Absolutely. Lomax looks a talent, and should be first name on the team sheet after Roby next year. I still think Gaskell looks a decent player, then two in the halves with Hohaia at fullback looks stronger than the alternative.

Lomax looks vastly over-rated to me.

Loosing three good players now and brought no money in. Not thd best but of business if you ask me. They have some good youngsters but if they don't blend youth with experience then they are going to struggle. Three English lads gone not the best advert is it.

Wouldn't imagine they will sign Carney AND Pryce

Play em in the centres.

Depends how highly you think people rate him. He's a threat with ball in hand because he has an incredible step and burst. I don't think he has much more to his attacking game than that though at the moment. However, he is young and almost certainly will develop.

If they did sign Carney they could play him at 13.

I would've taken price on a two year deal to play in the halves or centre. Always looks dangerous with ball in hand.

Not a chance he is to light to be a forward, playing him any where other than in the halves or fullback would be stupid especially 13.

Big loss for Saints. Coupled with the departures of a few others. If SL wasn't so weak Saints might have struggled next year.

One more signing to come in for them though apparently.

Did they not mean Pryce - he has played at 13 before.

Perry will be like a new signing for them next year, that should compensate partly for Graham going, they wont miss Eastmond, lomax and gaskell have shown far more heart and pride wearing their shirt than Eastmond ever did.

They've got Laffranchi too.

Wellens
Gardner
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Lomax
Gaskell
Puletua
Roby
Perry
Flannery
Laffranchi
Wilkin

Moore
Clough
LMS
Soliola

Is a good first 17.

EDIT: And I forgot Hohaia

Remember when there was a 70 page thread on us signing 3 aussies last season?

In.... Lima, Finch, Hoffman

Out.... Feka, Bailey, Phelps, Riddell

Overseas players -1

No way. Greg Bird is the man you are talking about.

I would take Carney for one season at Wigan, opens up defences for fun. Poor when defending his own line though. However, that can be coached.