I've not, I agree that in an ideal world we would have replaced Jammer with a player of a similar ability, but the simple fact is there was no-one like him available within our means. Who was the best prop available on the market doesn't necessarily equate to who we would able to attract and sign, its not like picking sides in the playground or in a fantasy league.

Looking at last season (& this year so far) the ideal replacement from the UK would have been Andy Lynch but he signed for Hull FC in September on a two year deal for a "significant six figure deal". Assuming that we could match the deal offered (which I seriously doubt we could), there are any number of other variables that might lead to him choosing to sign for Hull instead, we can't just assume he'd want to come to Saints because we're Saints.

What I'm saying about Laffranchi is we needed a forward who could play prop, he has played prop in the past (including Wests Tigers' 2005 NRL Grand Final victory) and clearly the club felt he had the attributes to play as an out and out prop for his time here in much the same way TP has. His stats this season are comparable to those of the props at Wigan and Warrington.

Purely as an example (and I'm not directly comparing their level) look at players such as Willie Mason, Petero Civoniceva and Craig Fitzgibbon - on their day they were often considered some of the best players in the world, all capable of and regularly switching between prop and second row.

I've said for a whole that sia will end up prop but I think it's a few years off yet and could offer much more if was used proper a little wider.

Stupid, short sighted decision by Saints board. You'll come to regret it when you get the uber talented young English coach that is Rich Agar from Wakey when they bin him off...lmfao
Seriously, all things considered I can't think of any logical reason to get of Simmons now. Sure you've lost some games, a pretty poor points haul so far but you'd have been there or thereabouts come the end of the season. You've been seriously unlucky (The Cats wonder try that shouldn't have been for one) and some players just switching off/underperforming (this happens in sport no matter how good a coach you are)
with the squad you had at your disposal this year it would have been a big ask to win silverware IMO but rebuilding and bringing on the youngsters so they make fewer and fewer mistakes was a priority for you this season. As others have said you are in transition after having had a huge amount of success with some mainstay players that are no longer there.
IF you lose the next 3 games then I think you'll be lucky to make the 8 personally

If we lose the next 3 games we can still easily make the 8.

It's a cert. I'd give him a new contract with the intention of moving him there next year.

I'm glad others can see it too. All I hear around me at the ground are morons who clearly dont understand Rugby screaming for us to 'throw it wide' which we do and go nowhere because of the lack of options to make a defence work.