Seems an absolutely sensible idea to me. Why wait till now, when people's minds are wandering off Rugby, in favour of Christmas, or booking next years holidays, or any of the other demands on finances, get people to buy when they have rugby at the front of their priorities. Just becasue it is unusual doens't mean to say that it isn't a very good marketing ploy. If everyone stuck to the tried and tested, we would really stagnate.

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.