We probably haven't used it all yet. I've no idea. But obviously we have been using it because we've recruited three new players.

Well yes but the fact is there can't be many more players available to sign, with the outgoings the incomings don't look as good and it seems to me if we are at full cap after the next signing then we must be paying some players a touch over the odds

Simmons also "indicated" we would win our last 3 league games, the man is clutching at straws.

No he didn't. He said he didn't want to lose another game. That some of his senior players were too lazy to be bothered sharing that objective then that isn't the fault of the coach.

Don't recall Potter being afforded such a defence? I think it was good performance = "they're ignoring Potter", bad performance = "Potter is useless". How come bad performances are all down to the players all of a sudden?

I would love to have seen your reaction to us playing with 15/16 players rather than 17 had Potter been employing that little tactic, I think you might have exploded compared to your vigorous defence of Royce.

Are we sure? Are we to take the word of the club literally? Perhaps when they say we spend up to the cap, that actually includes a reserve amount for an emergency signing? Or perhaps they assign a portion incase of hastey contract negotiations if one of our youngsters becomes a world beater overnight?

I've said it before, no way we are spending to the cap and doing things on the cheap as we are broke.

Saints should just be honest and tell us this instead of making silly comments like " we will have a team to grace the new stadium ".

When you make a bold statement like that and let pryce, Graham and go ( three highest paid players) and replace them with hohaia, laffranchi and Flanagan just makes sir mac look silly.

Is this the coach that responds to the situation you outlined by giving them 4 days off, knowing ( I assume) that they have no game the following week.

In terms of spending up to the cap. That is in regards to this year not next.

There is no possibility of us spending up to the cap next year at the moment. Because if we where looking to offer pryce something whatever that was is still available. The question is, is there anyone of quality we can get? Personally I don't think we need to replace pryce unless we intend to offload lomax. Prop would be key for me. I know others say a fullback but I think we have plenty of cover in the backs.

Our backs are awful IMO. We lack pace and creativity.

I do agree tho, prop is a must.

I know you think that but I disagree even though I can list the following I do not expect you to agree.

If you want to sign a back you have to boot someone out.

I would not sell Foster. Proven try scorer. Safe in defence also offers a goal kicking ability we have not have for as long as I can recall.

I would not sell Meli he is a better centre than any other federation centre and is in the top 2 of non federation centres.

I would not sell shenton he has had a quite year but is no slouch and still has quality. one season does not make or break a career. it would be an expensive guy to have sat in the stands.

Lomax has had a great season and given there are no overseas spots left there is no half back federation trained who is available and better.

Lance has not even touched a ball and so why would we replace him?

So in the backs that leaves fullback and a wing spot. I reckon Wellens will have one more year and Lomax or Lance can fill that spot. Again would be expensive to have Wello sat in the stands. Can't see anyone who would sign at FB for 1 season. Any longer and we may as well offload ashe gaskell wheeleer. As for signing a winger well I cant justify that ahead of a prop any day of the week. Would rather have two props and play a under 20s on the wing.

The whole beat a man arguement just does not work for me. There are plenty of wingers who can beat a man but cant defend or score for toffee. Id go with an average paced top scorer over a one wonder try a season player who panics under the high ball,cant defend and drops balls and trys like its going out of fashion.

We need a fullback, centre and a creative halfback.

It's no great shock that in the Wigan games (apart from home) we've been in the game and mostly for large parts of the game camped on their line but failed to break them down due to IMO no creative flair backs.

Sure enough, Wigan have a good defence but in that semi we should have put points on the board.

The forwards are doing the job of getting us up field but the backs ain't doing anything with the field position.

But in that very game we had Pryce playing who was supposed to be our most creative player. The lomax Pryce combo proved less effective than the Wheeler Lomax combo.

For me next year is the year where we either see Wheeler break through or get shipped out along with several others. If Gaskell Makinson Wheeler Ashe cant replace Wellens at FB then we'll buy in and an overseas would not surprise me.

I thought you had become sensible in recent times. Turns out not to be the case. The Potter bollox is boring and so excuse me if I don't respond to it. It's also incredibly childish.

They beat Hudds. They got four days off. They lost to Hull KR. Daniel Anderson used to give the team time off during the season. Most teams do it so far as I know.