But we didn't know that at the time Lance was signed, did we? Eastmond had just given in his notice, Pryce was still very much injured and Lomaskell had not yet taken to the stage.

But equally at that time we still appeared reasonably confident of keeping pryce. Signing hohaia probably helped convince him that his future lay elsewhere, particularly with the emergence of lomaskell and sicknote wheeler

I don't understand your logic. I'm sure Pryce saw Lance as a replacement for Eastmond as that is what he was recruited as. So unless he has a personal problem with Lance then I can't see how the recruitment of Lance would have persuaded Pryce to leave. The emergence of Lomaskell possibly will have made him stop and wonder but I would imagine there are things we know nothing about that were the primary factors for Pryce leaving.

Am sure there are, but pryce signed for saints to play at stand off because he was fed up playing centre Wong and full back at Bradford. Royce has said lance will play half back, and lomaskell will be ahead of price in pecking order soon if not already, leaving him in the utility wilderness again

It's obvious the reasons Leon left saints and it's nothing to do with lance coming.

Pryce went for the money, we offered him a two year deal that wasn't in the same league as catalans 3 year deal. Same reasons eastmond and Graham have left. As I've said we do things on the cheap and expect players to say "this is saints and I'll stay for thousands of pounds a year less"

I seriously doubt Leon had any fear of Gaskell taking his place, Gaskell will never ever be as good as Leon even when Leon is 33.

Royce said Hohaia would play at 7 with Pryce at 6, as he thinks teams need four halfbacks. We can't rely on Wheeler, sadly, so Hohaia and Pryce with Gaskell and Lomax makes four halves. Royce was very clear about that when Hohaia was recruited.

Was it your contact at the club who told you this? It's just that we haven't seen anything in the press or on the Saints site to suggest that Leon was even offered a contract. The last update was that talks were on hold awaiting his return to fitness.

I don't agree that Jammer has gone to Aus for the money. The money will have been a bonus but I think he wants the experience. He's won everything there is to win here. Interestingly, he's been the only one of the three who has shown any degree of professionalism since making his decision.

Leon was offered a reduced two year deal by saints. Leon wanted 3 year deal at saints but we only out a two year deal on the table (I agree with a two year deal) but it wasn't in the same league as Catalan.

Saints have a habit of not telling the fans the true details in offering contracts to older players.

It's strange that certain players in the past have only been offered 1/2 year deals when they hit 30 but few overseas players get longer deals and will be older when their deals expire.

Leon has cost us a lot of money over the last year or so. He hasn't played and since coming back from his injury, he still hasn't played. I don't blame Saints offering him a reduced two year offer, if that is indeed what they offered him. He isn't worth anything more than that. Let the Dragons have all the risk.


I don't know of any overseas players who have been offered more than two years when they hit 30. Which ones are you referring to?

Gaskell will never be as good as Pryce? Sorry Pete thats OTT. Gaskell has more skills at 19 than Pryce did at that same age. Pryce was not even a quality standoff when he came to Saints. Took him a good two years. If gaskell is a better half now than Pryce was when he got here. What makes you think Gaskell has gone as far as he can when he's one year into the professional game. Where as Leon could go further from a lower base.

I think even you have said before that Prcye is a runner not a creative talent in the natural half back sence.

I'm gradually changing my mind about Gaskell, I think there is a lot of improvement/development to come, but his style of play will be the Gaskell way and not how Longy, Pryce, Eastmond played there half back roles.
I still think Lomax future will be fullback, so Gaskell will be 7, I thought Royce said that Lance was coming in at 6. If Lance proves an influential one at 6, then there will be less pressure on Gaskell next season, Gaskell will be playing from a very experienced international player something he,s not had this season.

What you say is partly right. For 15 years we have been able to sell saints as a club that is virtually guaranteed silverware, and so am sure players will have settled for a lower wage than for instance Wigan or Warrington. Now the tables are turned, saints are less likely to won medals and so we hVe to pay than before.

Which is exactly as it should be. I think Gaskell could be one of those underrated players. He isn't flash, like Eastmond. But he can be very effective. While he's made some basic errors - to be expected in your rookie year - he's also pulled off some fabulous stuff. To me a turning point for him was kicking that drop goal, just when we needed to drive the nail in the coffin of Hudds' challenge. That shows a growth in confidence and also a familiarity with the role which has enabled him to think beyond the basics and into the realms of directing the game. I think he will be a good foil to some flash in the other halfback spot. He also seems to be pretty resilient physically. He damaged his ankle when we had that rash of damaged ankles (all seemed to be at one game) but other than that he's been available. I think his 10 minute spells at the end of games have helped to keep him in the loop too as he did a fine job at the Quins, slipping back into the role he hadn't played for a few weeks thanks to Leon's (disappointing) return.


Nope. He stated on the Saints site and I think in the press too that Lance had been recruited as our 7.

Laffranchi will he 33 when his contract expires, TP will be about 34, hohaia will be 33 so you can see pryce not being happy when a 3yr deal would see him bring 33 also.

I have no issues losing Pryce. If he stayed fair enough but we could hardly match Catalan based on his come back this year. Pitty but not crucial. We got this far with two half backs with near zero first grade experience at half back. Next year they will both be a year better a year bigger and ayear stronger. They will also have a half back with experience to help.

Compared to this year our halfbacks are not a worry. Next year its FB and prop for me that will be tested.