I still consider him to be a second rower and I think he would be brilliant in his natural position, but considering that Brown played Gilly at prop and the fact we've got several back rowers I can't see him being played there.

Certainly not the type we should be releasing if we can help it.

I would have been happy with Mason as a replacement for Perry, but we can't replace players who are under contract.

Adam Sidlow, from what I've seen, is bottom 4 SL club fodder.

Who knows ... maybe Perry will pull his finger out this year.

Whilst i accept the criticism that Laffranchi has look too small to prop against some of the top sides that have come after losses, in the games against the same oppo that we won, he always looked handy.
I do think that his best role would be as the big 13, meaning he'd have 2 starting props to support him.
If Walmsley develops and/or if Brown whips Perry into a consistant performer, then that is a realistic destination for him.

If Brown cant whip Perry into shape then no-one can.

Incidentally, Laffranchi is interviewed on the latest Saints podcast. He reckons we play really expansive football and can score from anywhere, but need to learn to be a little more patient.

Perhaps we should only offer him a contract if he promises to lay off the acid.

Meli isn't a quota player.

In terms of a new deal for Laffranchi: I have it down that he has a one year option on his deal so he'll just get that, won't he?

Deserves new contract and if we could have signed another front rower I personally would have moved Laffranchi to Loose Forward as Offside Monkey suggests.

We do pass the ball wide , sadly just trying to ship the ball as fast as possible (apart from Lance who passes slower than a North West counties prop) doesnt work at amateur level never mind Superleague

I think we should wait a little before throwing money at Laffranchi, see how his form and fitness is this year.

The "second class" was in inverted commas for a reason, meaning that is what used to be commonly said at the start of the SL era.

However, there is an element of truth in this now.
You cannot compare Laffranchi and Perry and especially Flanders with some of the great Aussie players we have had in the last decade. I believe the standard of Aus players prepared to come over to the UK has gone down and will continue to do so as the NRL SC increases.

He's no prop. He made absolutely no impact last season and if he's going to be playing prop going forward, it's another lazy recruitment decision.

As a backrower he might do better, he wouldn't be bullied as much as he is at prop.

Why?
If he can't hack it at prop he isn't going to get any tougher by changing his number.