More than a bit annoyed with him TBH and not optimistic we are going forward as a club on the playing front.
It seems that for the next few years at least Eammon is happy to repair the finances even if this means us being a top 6 team and not a top 2 team.

Pryce was quoted this morning as saying"They were patient with me when I was out injured and their support when I came back will be something I will always remember."[/i

Its a strange way of repaying this loyality/support.
Its bit "thank you now feck off".

But to be fair you are a fawning, gushing shower of positivity. You were one of the people telling us we'd win trophies this season.

The cold, harsh truth is we're out of the running, not just for this season, but probably for the next two or three. The club put a lot of faith in the young players, but bar Lomax they aren't good enough. Solid SL level players yes, but SL winners, no.

We're noticably behind this season and are losing our best forward and our best back. We've not replaced either of them yet.

In context we're the 3rd best team. With this news today and the poor (And it is poor) recruitment for next season, we face a battle for 3rd/4th/5th.

We've gone from being a club that demanded success to one that is totally willing to accept mediocrity. Once you get into that frame of mind it is very difficult to get out of, look at Bradford.

I'm sure I read he played in the halves as a junior but not in senior. By halves I mean 6 or 7. I played fullback when I was 10 , that doesnt make me a fullback now. As far as I can tell Hohaia has played pretty much all his professional Rugby as a fullback and a succession of coaches have picked him there .. does he even have a kicking game?

Well, I don't accept mediocrity easily - never have done and I don't dress things up for what they are not but the good thing about this board is that we all have a different view.

If your definition of OTT is my view of the facts then I respect your opinion.

In my view, Saints have prepared for letting go our one and only recognised halfback (as you say, not a secret) by recruiting a full back of some years standing regardless of his long term history to bring on the youngsters at half back. A full back who wants to be a half back. And one who, from the commentaries in the NRL , has had a very very poor few seasons indeed. That's not a good reference. It doesn't make him a bad player but he's out of form and we're gonna play him out of position.

Do you think that's well prepared, astute or well planned recruitment in one of the most important positions on the field?

We have ZERO recognised half backs at the club next season save for Gaskell who I think we all agree the jury's out on.

So - with no recognised half backs, a second rower recruited to replace probably the UK's number one prop and our pack leader, and a solid workhorse second rower recruited for next season you still think we're gonna 'be fine'? Thats not a side that has a strong spine; indeed the only strong component part of our side's spine is Roby. I'm not being negative - just calling it how I see it and I'd actually be over the moon if I am wrong.

In addition and as I have said many times, we don't have an 'A' coach who can get the best out of the same crop of players. I am not sure that I trust Royce's judgement enough yet on player positioning and ability.

In my 40 years of watching, playing and coaching this game I have never seen a side win anything without recognised half backs or a pack short of front rowers.

I admire your optimism - just don't quite see where you get it from in the face of seemingly overwhelming opinion, professional and message board alike, that we are taking retrograde steps at a time when we should be kicking on.

I'm willing to have you a fair bet if you are up for it?

We all want the club to have the best players and be competing for championships and cups, but the harsh reality is we lost £1.3m in 2009 and it is probably going to be at least £2m in 2010 at Widnes.

Leon is probably our second highest earner behind Roby at the moment ( I think we really had to break the bank to keep Roby) and his contribution is great when he is fit and available. When he is injured he is nothing more than a financial millstone round our necks. I think we offered him what we felt he was worth and Catalans offered him more and a longer contract so good luck to him. It is more than likely his last pro contract so he needs to get the most money he can.

In my view I am a little dissapointed as I really rate him, but what is the chances next year Catalan fans are saying "what a waste of money Leon Pryce was, he is always injured"

How? I'm stuggling to think of a way we could have done this worse! We lose Eastmond , Graham and Pryce and replace them with a couple of second rowers (one we will try to convert to a prop) and a fullback who fancies himself as a halfback (but with no pedigree there at all). AWESOME planning .

Wasn't Leon Pryce a winger when you signed him? He seemed to do ok in the halves.

He wasn't 30 by the time he arrived though and he had Sean Long, the greatest half back that ever played in Super League with him as well.

Hohaia has, at 30 when he arrives, just decided he fancies playing in the halves. If he turns out to be rubbish, we're stuck with him for FOUR YEARS. Utterly stupid from the club when you consider how they treated players like Long, Martyn, Gilmour and Pryce.

very very true. No halfbacks = FAIL

Wigan brought in Deacon to add some knowhow , we will need something similar

He was a utility player, he'd played pretty much everywhere in the backline for Bradford but wanted to settle as a 6. Also we had Longy at the time so he had time to settle in the team

Season ticket burning at the Salford game in protest anyone

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