He's going to Australia.

Is he really ?

Is he? There's a lot that can happen between now and then...

At this moment in time, he is looking for two years there when his contract is up with Saints.

And so if every other young kid in super league.

A lot can happen between now and then.

If he decides to go (and it's a big IF) I would expect it to be at the end of the 2015 or 2016 season.
I wouldn't blame him or any player for making that move.

Me neither but seems crazy we talking about something that won't happen for at least another season and half.

From what you've said about Johnny and his family, there is a chance that he'd fall into the James Roby category of not fancying moving across the globe.

Anyone know where Percival is? Scapegoat or another with Wheeler's phantom injury problem?

After reading Brown's comment in the Q&A in last week's Star, I'd believe scapegoat rather than phantom injury. It's easy to criticise the young players but not, say, Soliola who has become a liability in recent weeks and can't seem to keep hold of a ball or an opposition player yet gets to play regardless. Gets me annoyed, that does.

Percival wasn't available for selection.

I do think there is a certain amount of doom mongering amoungst Saints fans at present.

It's almost like we have got used to moaning season in season out.

This year we are doing far better than the previous 3 or 4 years and it seems as though the first thing to go wrong for us (losing to Wigan and we are all ready to relax and return to normal. ) Players get injured, sides have poor runs of form. In the end we just need to relax.

The league looks rather health and I don't hear Wigan fans pushing the panic button after losing 3 matches.

We are not even halfway through the season. But we are doing ok. We just need to stay a little cool and get used to the fact that there will be ups and downs.

I've heard a few times now he had a niggle, Percival is a cracking prospect who just needs some time and good coaching.

I think you make some good points but there is a slightly different way of looking at it. Wigan fans are quite chilled because they have just won the double and although they arnt playing brilliantly they still have the belief (correct or not) that when it matters their team will step up and at the very least compete. We've been pretty terrible for the best part of 3 years and we havent played much in the way of 'good rugby' since (for me the worst coach I've seen at Saints) Mick Plodder was recruited.

We have clearly made some progress under Brown but we are along way off yet for me. We look fragile in defence and our attack is at times a little predictable (which is to be expected if you only have 1 proper halfback), the worst thing though is that we seem to lack spirit and heart when the going gets tough. We dont have enough leaders in the team and we are carrying too many passengers who just go missing when you really need people to step up.

It'snot all doom and gloom , I dont think we'll win anything this year but alot will depend on recruitment and retention for next year, we need to get shut of a few and bring in a few , most notably a proper stand off a scrum half if Walsh goes early and at least 1 long minutes gutsy prop in the mould of Amor. I'd like to see us recruit some size in the back row too especially if we lose Soliola.

Another big question for me is Brown, he has put us on a path just as Eric Hughes did back in the 90's but is he the man to take us back to the trophy winning ways? or will we need a McCrae. I'm not sure tbh, he didnt manage it at Hudds or St George (happy to be corrected here). I hope he does it but I suspect the next coach we have will be the one.

I by no means think we are favourites to win SL.
But I do think we are in the running and I would be very surprised if we are not in the top 3 come end of the year.
I'd hedge my bets and say top 2, but some would just take me to town on that.

The 6 issue is a long standing issue and the worry for me is that once we fill it the 7 will be vacated.

We are lacking a prop, if we have a fully fit line up, then we are ok, but anything less and we struggle in the bigger games.

I hate predicting games weeks ahead as it smacks of arrogance. But I have a table position and a set of games in my own mind.

So far this year the games for Saints have gone pretty much as I have expected bar 2. We over achieved against Leeds in the league and under achieved against Wigan (not so much the win or loss but the performance).

We have a great set of fixtures between now and the end of the season. There is no reason we can't go on another run of wins.

Even if you take a loss against Wigan and Leeds ( which I don't take as a given) that's four losses in a season. more than enough to finish 2nd or 1st.

I do think we are living in the past and looking through rose tinted spectacles at times. I recall many a season going to Wakey and Salford with the golden generation expecting easy games only to get turned over.

It happens. We are still in the fight this year.