www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/2292 Wellens and Meli - one year Paul Clough three years

www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/2292 Wellens and Meli - one year Paul Clough three years

I predict it won't be long before this thread implodes and descends into chaos!

Happy with Clough's and Meli's been playing well recently and brings experience to the three quarters.

I still think Wello will hold us back offensively though.

Saddened! to enter in 3... 2... 1....

Hope Saddo avoids seeing this

If he's not already jumped off the West stand roof that is!

All I'll say is this doesn't necessarily mean Wellens is going to start and play every single game at fullback next season.

To be honest the guy's done it all in the game so the longer he can be around as a mentor to our younger lads the better. We're loaded with young kids and every successful team has a good mix of youth and experience.

We do need to change it up in the #1 shirt and hopefully we'll start that transition gradually in the new year.

^^^^^^^^^^ THIS

I'd be happy of we approached it like Wire have with Brett Hodgson and Stefan Ratchford/Chris Riley this year

I notice the club hasn't allowed comments on the article. Can I just put it on record here, it's absolute sentimental folly and as a rugby decision it's one of the most retarded I've seen in years and that's saying something given McManus' horrendous record with recruitment and squad building over recent years.



Have they. Who? Do tell.



I don't doubt he is. If I ever want to show my kids a beaten player impersonating an ostrich and swearing at the referee until he's purple I'll show him Wello. If I want to show my kids how to sprint at jogging pace whilst a player scores 12 feet away from you, before turning to moan at someone else, I show them Wello. If I want to show the kids how to be a black hole in attacking, I'll show them Wello. If I want to show them how to be shown up by lumbering props, I will show them Wello. He's inspirational. If we want to be all gushy and sentimental for once (When it wasn't needed for other ageing players like Gilly and Leon) give him an ambassadorial role, a community role or a coaching role. Why waste salary cap money on a player that is holding us back?



Wellens, Gardner, Meli. Youthful Eamon? Really? He offers an unbreakable record for Grand Final losing gaffes more like. I don't mind him staying to be honest, we're unlikely to be in any Grand Finals for him to lose, and he's pretty good generally in the other matches.



In terms of tries he's been successful. Defensively and in the role a fullback should play in attack he's been poor and is holding the club back massively. Why not just admit that?



Is it? Is it really? It's given the fans of other sides a good giggle, but that's about it.

Retaining Wellens is nothing short of a disaster unless he's signed for peanuts .. and I mean literally

With who exactly? The likes of Makinson, Gaskell, Lomax and Hohaia are so experienced now they don't need their hands holding. The time to do that was 2 or 3 years ago when Wello was showing obvious signs of decline.

We don't need him around 'mentoring' the kids either, have you seen his body language on the field? He sulks round shouting at people and swearing at the ref.

Meli.

For crying out loud.

Swift would be my choice. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have retained him at all myself but wouldn't be too distraught if it was worked with mentoring someone through.

Is he the only player at the club at the moment who qualifies for the £50k exemption due to 10 year service...??...

Ade Gardner also qualifies as does Jon Wilkin.