This i do have some concerns with, versatility, multi-skilled, adaptable - we'll hear that a lot next year lol!!

Meli is being utilised where he is best (for the team) he is far more effective for us at 4 rather than 5 even when he had good partners.

You are quite in the know, can you say if possible if the player we are looking at is a prop?

I know Royce has said it previously but I'm just wondering with Perry, LMS, Puletua, Clough, AN Other in the squad as props, do you see Laffranchi as an out and out prop or more likely LF?

This isn't a time for jokes



Today is the day we've become a club with no ambition!

I've had this on my chest for past two weeks and not been able to let my anger out due to saints moaning at me!

The player I was told we was talking to isn't a prop but another backrow. I've heard since that Wigan and hudds are front runners for him now.

I spoke to my mates who play for the firsts and they told me they was looming at a outside back ( hope to god it's not the player they said) and a forward. That was few month ago now so maybe things have changed.

Please PM me the names. I'm in need of some truth.

And risk the wrath of saints?

I'll pm you after.

No wonder you feel depressed!

I don't think we are particularly doing it on the cheap, however we could show a little more ambition

He's been a fixture for the Kiwis for a few years and isn't past it, age wise.
We picked Meli up from the Warriors when he was languihing in the reserves after a loss of form (only a couple of seasons after winning their Player of the year) and, apart from the odd dropped ball, he's worked out a good signing. A new club can invigourate a player.

Perhaps full back isn't the best idea, but we need to get some kicking into th halves.

I reckon next year we may look better with lomax at 1 and Gaskell at 7 than Wellens at 1 and Lomax at 7.

Well Wigan are supposedly chasing Gil Duson. But seeing as Dudson's classed as a prop it's probably not him. I can't see Wigan pursuing another backrower, to say we're flush in that area would be an understatement. Perhaps if he has the ability to play frontrow then Wigan may well be interested.

I've no problem with any of the signings as players, hohaia is a good player and laffranchi is a very good player but it's the fact we've not replaced the out going players.

So that's a first team of seven overseas players, and only five who have come through the clubs academy (I'm discounting Moore as I expect him to be elsewhere)

Where are all these fantastic juniors that Saints supporters keep telling us about?

Do people think we're entering the NRL next season or something? We've finished 3rd this year without Pryce/Eastmond/Perry/Clough (NB both half backs and two props!) for most of the season, but because Pryce/Eastmond/Graham are off, we'll suddenly finish 5th despite adding Lance/Laffranchi/Flanagan to the squad and having Perry, Clough and Gardner back fit?

This team is EASILY good enough to compete for honours at a lovely new stadium in front of big crowds:

Lomax
Gardner
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Wheeler
Lance
Perry
Roby
Puletua
Soliola
Flannery
Wilkin

LMS
Laffranchi
Clough
Flanagan

Likes of Wellens, Makinson, Moore, Gaskell, Armstrong, Magennis, Dixon, Ashurst as pretty experienced back up, plus any of the kids that can step up.

Will there be a better pack and bench than that in SL? I'm not so sure. And in Lomax/Wheeler/Lance/Roby/Wilkin we have a very talented and exciting spine to the team.

I personally can't wait for 2012. What's to be down about? Not that we've finished with 2011 yet!