Ha.

Shenton's no where near Carmont, Gleeson, Senior or even Bridge at this moment in time. In fact your replacing Gidley with a lesser player in my opinion. Just think back to when you've played against Cas this season, has Shenton stood out? Because we've played Cas twice this year so far and both times Shenton's been anonymous.

Shenton may currently be the best up and coming English centre, but it's a sad reflection on British Rugby League because he just ain't that good.

Has Shenton signed officially ?

to be honest I haven't seen enough of Shenton to really judge, although I've always thought he looks handy and can defend.

He did get picked for england in front of a certain Mr Gleeson, though. Unless there's a factor I don't know about (is Gleeson injured) then that kyboshes your critique somewhat.

Its difficult to see what Shenton will be like in a top team, he does a lot of tackling at cas, but so does everyone!
I dont think he's world class (by some margin) but he's probably the best british centre under 30 around, so will do a job and allow us to pay for people like Perry and retain Jammer, Robes and Kyle etc

McNamara's looking towards building a side for the 2013 world cup, Gleeson's 30 now he'll be 33 come World cup time so that may have something to do with it. Plus for what ever reason while Gleeson's always performed well at club level he's suffered like so many others have at showing what he's capable off on the international stage.

I think McBanana was limited to the number of players he could pick from each team, and Wigan already had 3 called up.

Surely Wheeler would be the other centre. He will probably get a chance at stand-off further down the line, but he's shown plenty of promise at centre.

I can't see soliola playing centre, he aint the quickest of players and hardly played for last 18 month, just dont think he will have the pace. He played his last few years in the backrow in NRL.

I think he is just what we need in our lightweight backrow, flannary, wilkin, dixon, clough and ashurst don't offer enough with the ball.

Graham
Roby
Perry
soliola
flannary
wilkin

Tony p
Maurie
clough
dixon

Thats how i'd like my pack to start, very very big and also pace in graham, roby, flannary and sia would be pretty quick for a forward. It also has power coming off the bench in tony p, maurie and clough.

Shenton will be another good signing, he is big in defence and looks to be getting better every year with ball in hand. I think i read he was the top scoring english centre in super league.

2011 looks good so far, i would like to see us bring in a winger to replace one of our wingers.

I'm a gleeson fan, I've never subscribed to him "losing it" when he left saints as I saw him have too many good games for wire. I also thought [ion occcasion[/i he looked perfectly capable of causing team trouble internationally, albiet not consistantly (he had one really shocking seies IIRC).
The 3 players from one club may have been a factor, but to write him off at 30 is a little harsh, especially given the lack of depth we have there and considering he's picking Morley who's 33+ now, when prop's a position we actually have options at.
He may not be the next Jamie Lyon, but I reckon you're wide of the mark calling Shenton below par.

www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2616 Official.

www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2616 Official.

Shenton is far superior than both carmont and gleeson. Wigan fans have a moan about gleeson everyweek. Shenton impressed me far more this season against us than what gleeson and carmont did. As for the senior comparison LOL.

This will be my last reply to a bitter pie. It doesent matter who we sign Wigan have always got better players and the signings don't improve saints.

At the end of the day it's down to opinions. When Wigan were initially linked with Shenton I made a couple of points on the Wigan board about the pro's and con's of signing Shenton. I wouldn't disagree that he's the best up and coming English centre but I felt this factor would probably cause clubs to pay over the odds for his services because of this, and the fact that he wouldn't count on the quota.

You could have chosen to go overseas to replace Gidley and maybe got a better centre for the money you'll be paying Shenton. But by doing that you'll be taking up a very valuable and ever decreasing quota spot. It's the same old problems again and again that British Rugby League suffers from, we have no problem when it comes to bringing through forwards but for what ever reason when it comes to backs we just don't seem to get it right.

I think you'll find I and all the other Wigan fans have been very complimentary about your signing of Perry. For me you've now got the best starting frontrow in SL.

Will shenton be on more than gidley?