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FORUMS > St. Helens > Au reviour Leon - Where do we go from here?
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Losing Leon is a massive blow to our chances in the next couple of seasons. It isn't a surprise either, this rumour was first brought up around the start of the season, so the club cannot claim they didn't know this was happening. Which worries me greatly as they may have already spent his salary and we may not get a back to replace Leon (Wishful thinking anyway probably).

In taking stock of our recruitment, it is another year (To add to the previous 5 or 6) where you look at it and wince. We are losing 3 of our best 4 players from a side already incapable of keeping pace with the top 2.

We are replacing them with two players who are going to be playing out of position. Laffranchi is no prop and Hohaia is rarely played at half back in the NRL as he's not good enough for it. His has been a disaster in the NRL by all accounts this season.

Losing Leon also adds to the fear that we'll be stuck with Wello at fullback for another 12 months. This is criminal and is going to be very hard to watch.

Now do we go:

1 - Wellens
6 - Lomax
7 - Hohaia (Ouch)

or

1 - Hohaia (Drop ball-tastic)
6 - Gaskell
7 - Lomax

or

1 - Lomax
6 - Gaskell
7 - Hohaia?

Either way, it's not the big bang introduction to the new stadium we expected is it?

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Was it the three year contract?

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I think we'll go with 1. Wellens, 6. Lomax and 7. Hohaia. It's not ideal as Hohaia's had an awful season, but I can't see us not playing him considering he's taking up a quota spot. Keeping Pryce, aside from him being a quality player, would have given us more depth and another option in the halves/at fullback. icon_neutral.gif

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Quote: jaybs "Was it the three year contract?'"


I don't know. But as mentioned we've given Hohaia a four year deal and he's only a year younger than Leon, so we can't use that as an excuse.

It may not be the club's fault, he may have had his heart set on a change of lifestyle for a while, we don't know.

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Quote: jaybs "Was it the three year contract?'"

Apparently yes. Apparently Saints were offering two years but he wanted three. If this is a true story, I am happy Saints stuck to two years as he is not worth three.

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Quote: Saddened! "I don't know. But as mentioned we've given Hohaia a four year deal and he's only a year younger than Leon, so we can't use that as an excuse.
'"

Hohaia is a very good utility player as well as being recruited to seven. It means he can be used elsewhere not only to cover injuries but also to enable our young talent to play.

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Quote: SaintsFan "Hohaia is a very good utility player as well as being recruited to seven. It means he can be used elsewhere not only to cover injuries but also to enable our young talent to play.'"


He's utter rubbish in the NRL. He'll be on a big contract and four years is a joke. He already looks a yard slower than he did a couple of years ago and is starting to add timber to his frame. It's a suspect signing.

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Quote: Saddened! "He's utter rubbish in the NRL. He'll be on a big contract and four years is a joke. He already looks a yard slower than he did a couple of years ago and is starting to add timber to his frame. It's a suspect signing.'"

Oh don't be so daft.

He's a speedster off the mark, is Hohaia. You must have been watching his twin in another dimension.

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in short backwards.

Hiho is a fullback not a halfback. Gaskell and Lomax are very promising but need time and an experienced partner to progress. Wellens is past his best now and wont be getting much faster next year.

Losing Pryce = very bad for Saints ... unless we bring in some much needed EXPERIENCED quality.

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Quote: SaintsFan "Apparently yes. Apparently Saints were offering two years but he wanted three. If this is a true story, I am happy Saints stuck to two years as he is not worth three.'"



But giving hiho a 4 year deal was good?

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With Leon, jammer and Kyle gone we simply must be way under the cap next year unless we have been reckless with our new signings wages. That said we will still be comfortably top 4 IMO

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Quote: No1 Saint "But giving hiho a 4 year deal was good?'"

We won't know that until he settles in here I guess.

Some people on here I think were saying that Hohaia looked like a panic buy at one stage. That's kind of not looking the case now I guess!

We'll be fine. It's always better having players at the club who want to be at the club. Leon didn't want to be here so he is better gone.

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Quote: No1 Saint "in short backwards.

Hiho is a fullback not a halfback. Gaskell and Lomax are very promising but need time and an experienced partner to progress. Wellens is past his best now and wont be getting much faster next year.

Losing Pryce

Correct on all counts. I can't believe some of the utter crap I read on here by people who think we are playing fantasy rugby and that 'anything goes' and 'we'll be fine' We maight be bloody fine but we ain't gonna win anything. We need recognised specialists in their strongest positions. Laffranchi ain't a prop - we need a prop. Hohaia ain't a half back and boy do we need a half back. Before anyone flames me they are both good players but not what we need right now.

I am more excited by the Flanagan signing than any of the others and that tells you something.

More than anything we need an on field leader in a key position - we ain't got one.

And we need a top coach if we are gonna be competitive.

We are back to buying and being second rate and trying to dress it up that it is ok. It's not.

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Quote: Rughead "I think we'll go with 1. Wellens, 6. Lomax and 7. Hohaia. It's not ideal as Hohaia's had an awful season, but I can't see us not playing him considering he's taking up a quota spot. Keeping Pryce, aside from him being a quality player, would have given us more depth and another option in the halves/at fullback. Thing is hiho isn't a halfback he just fancies playing there. I always fancied playing scrumhalf but that doesn't mean it would be a good idea ... For context I ended up as a prop icon_wink.gif

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Quote: Allez "Correct on all counts. I can't believe some of the utter crap I read on here by people who think we are playing fantasy rugby and that 'anything goes' and 'we'll be fine' We maight be bloody fine but we ain't gonna win anything. We need recognised specialists in their strongest positions. Laffranchi ain't a prop - we need a prop. Hohaia ain't a half back and boy do we need a half back. Before anyone flames me they are both good players but not what we need right now.

I am more excited by the Flanagan signing than any of the others and that tells you something.

More than anything we need an on field leader in a key position - we ain't got one.

And we need a top coach if we are gonna be competitive.

We are back to buying and being second rate and trying to dress it up that it is ok. It's not.'"

Blimey.

OTT response or what!

It's not like Leon going was a bolt out of the blue. Saints have prepared for the eventuality by recruiting Hohaia and by putting faith in Gaskell and Lomax and Wheeler. Gaskell and Lomax will be that much better next season with the experience of this season behind them, and Simmons has worked with Hohaia down under so knows what the lad will bring to us.

I think Saints have approached this very well. They can't force a player to stay and so they have recruited and planned to take account of key positions becoming vacant. There is nothing to indicate that we will be worse next season than this. What will make a difference IMO is whether our backroom staff plus the players themselves can retain their fitness.

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Subscribe | Moderators: Admin, Billinge_Lump , Saint Simon , BackrowSaint



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