Only partly agree with that because you can be quite average and be an England player but if Clough was going to be recognised at international level it would have happened by now

Quite happy if they (Meli and Flannery) have signed extensions as it will give our younger players more time to bed into the first team next season when we will have no Gidley and no KC. They will have a more settled side to get extra game time and cover for injuries etc. especially with the injury crisis we have had this season.

Hargreaves is going. Mcarthy Scarsbrook to be his replacement. And even though Puletua was signed to play second row, he will play continue to play prop next season. Combine those two with Graham and Perry and Id say thats a strong front row. With Gaz Frodsham and also Cloughy who could fill in when needed to. I think Magennis will also end up at prop in the long term

I rate him highly and appreciate his input this season, not just as a youngster, as a player full stop. I was just indicating that we have a lot of players who are still young enough to have not reached their potential.

slightly disappointed in the signing of Flannery. Its a position we are well served in, and we certainly dont need an Aussie taking up a squad place.

Meli - no surprise that he has perked up recently during contract negotiation time. Not entirely delighted with him re-signing, but not devastated. It all depends on what other options are out there for a similar salary.

Meli I'd be happy with, particularly if he can make a go of it in the centres. Flannery I like as a player, but I wonder about the wisdom of renewing his contract when we have so many young players of a similar(ish) mould ready to play in the back row, especially when I expect Soliola to be playing in the back row next season.

Flannery may play a utility role a bit more next year. His squad value is excellent when injuries occur as he can play in several different positions. For one season I've not got an issue especially if we haven't got anybody lined up.

Meli may be worth switching to Centre full time next season and giving the likes of Foster and Lomax more game time on the wing. It could also mean Wheeler plays more games in the halves should we pick up injuries and he actually manages to stay fit.

I only partly agree with that, sure not international quaility yet but in the future (should he stay fit etc etc) he almost certainly will be, the guys still young, we can't expect all young forwards to be representing England before 22 such as Burgess, Tomkins et al.

Flannery is the best of a avg bunch of backrows we have at saints, he also fills in at centre.

IMO he's played his best rugby playing centre for us this year, i find it strange that he can make breaks when he's in the centre but can't beat a man when he's running out wide in the 2nd row.

He ain't great but he's our best backrow.

Flannery has done a pretty good job this season, we need his experience to help the younger players to develop. Great news about Meli, hope he plays centre all next season, it seems the positional switch has given him a new lease of life .

I'm not sure about Meli, but I think Flannery is a very good RL player. I suppose as you get older you tend to look at the game a little differently. When you are young you really love the flash Harry's of the game, but as you grow older, and hopefully wiser, you realise for all these "clever players" there are the workers who do the dirty, hard jobs on the field. They rarely get the praise from the supporters, but ask the players, and they will tell you.

Then when you listen to those players, you start to look at the game a little differently, and appreciate "the workers"

Sorry if this comes across as a lecture.


For every Sam Tomkins / Kyle Eastmond/ Ritchie Myler there has to be a Harrison Hanson/ Paul Clough/ Ben Westwood.