I'd say they are getting rid of the dead wood, those players who joined the club for a fat salary rather than to play with heart. I'd probably exclude Fages from that. I think he may have been lead up the garden path by his agent, who I think is also the agent for Locke (who lost his case against Salford today).

Theo will 100% be joining Saints. I expect the deal to be announced by the end of the week. Saints will be required to pay a fee, due to his age and for development costs incurred by Salford.

Is this the rfl sanctioned transfer fee tribunal? If so, it works out at just over 22k - I wouldn't be displeased at that price.

Also heard there was a saints player going on loan the other way to sweeten the deal, no idea who though

Dawson hopefully!

Redvee discussion board suggest Flash will go the other way.

Isn't Flash out of contract anyway? So I can't see how that's a sweetener for Fages unless McManus has suddenly become really good at negotiating?

Could it be Charnock?

Salford have offered flash a contract, but he's holding out in the hope to get an extension from Saints.

It may be possible we agree a new deal with flash and then loan him to Salford immediately?

I think that would depend on anything happening with Tommy Lee, Logan Tomkins and Liam Hood.

I think I remember reading that Logan Tomkins is going elsewhere, if I'm not mistaken. If they're losing Fages and Chase they'll be needing backup in the halves, and Charnock will be further down the pecking order here if Fages is joining us. It wouldn't be a bad move, actually - he'd get some SL experience and then be ready to come back when Burns's contract is up.

Should we be in for Chase ? Superbly talented, and you'd have to hope that his maturity might improve now he's nearly 30.

Would only work if we could offload Burns I'd imagine.

I thought that as well. He'd be class at Saints but I imagine he's on silly money that only a NRL club could pay now.

No way would McManus have him.

Chase has the talent but he is a disruptive presence around anywhere he goes, mostly to himself. You need a man-manager that can work miracles to keep him happy. As for Fages, well I think personally he has the chance to be a great HB, but isn't the finished article by a long way just yet. Saints could be the making of him. Or the ruin. Time will tell.