So how have Saints been beaten to the signing of anyone?

Finch was always a non-starter due to the overseas/quota thing. Doesn't stop the press and the Nosey Parkers of this world making stuff up though.

As for Matty Smith - Wigan are welcome to him. It seems to me this idea that Matty Smith turned down Saints to sign for Wigan is - once again - another myth created in Wigan in order to "sell" to the Wigan fans the replacing of a New Zealand international with Matty Smith. It works every time. The Wiganers become so fixated on the idea of getting 'one up' on Saints they end up ignoring the fact that its actually a rubbish signing. Its happened before. It'll happen again. Whats more i can guarantee if Saints announced the signing of Matty Smith all i'd see on this board is 'lack of ambition' and 'poor recuritment policy'.

Finally, how has Gaskell been frozen out when he was a sub at the Hull game last week, and came on at some point during the 2nd half?

Bobbie Goulding just tweeted something about wilkin to Widnes?!

It's looking like Bobbies Barman saw him going into Widnes then put 2 and 2 together and got 85.

Could be any number of reasons for Wilkin to be at Widnes. But I suppose it gives that little spark for those who where complaining about a lack of Saints RL news.

I wouldn't be unhappy with that news.

I'm not the greatest of Wilkins fans on here as most know, I've been critical of him since 2008 but I think he's had two ok seasons.

I also think we'd miss him, he does 40 + tackles each week and if you take that out of our team we'd be 40+ tackles down, not many can put a shift in like that in world rugby league.

His kicking game has been vital for us this season, even tho its not the greatest kicking game but is better than lomax and hohaia.

My only concern with him, he's on big contract and doesn't warrant it.

That's the key for me. His workrate is commendable, but Tim Jonkers used to do a similar stint on probably half the cash and while his kicking game became more established through the season and did a job for us, 2nd rows aren't there for kicking (that should be done by the half backs). This, together with him trying to "take the pressure off" our halves meant his go forward was practically none existant. Last year, I think we may have been better off playing him 6 full time.

If he left, I reckon Flanaghan could take on the defensive work (and hit a lot harder). We've got manu and walmsley coming in, so numbers in the forwards arent a concern for me.

I think Wilkin leaving wouldn't be such a bad thing for Saints.