I disagree. It is ridiculous to compare a young player fresh into the first team (or not even in there yet but showing potential in the u20s) with a player who has been around for God knows how long and played for NRL teams in the process. Just plain daft. In order to know what to look for in a 'Manu type player' you would have to know what he was like as a young player himself because that is what any potential young player of ours would look like (or be similar to).

I guess it's a question of where your priorities lie. He could be naff for us, you do know that don't you? He may shine like a beacon in the night for Hull but then do a Perry on us. After all, we are now likely to be his retirement club.

My issue is not with his talent or commitment. My issue is with what we are doing in signing an ageing import as opposed to working with the young talent that we have. I notice Wigan didn't go for him. I wonder why not.

They have Hock who provides their offloading and tackle busts. They do not require a player of that type, but they are losing halfbacks left right and centre. Hence why they are busy trying to snap up any half going.

Someone who has talent, someone who is English and someone who is considerably younger.

I would like to have seen how Dixon would have developed. He did amazing things with his game in the off season. Who knows what he would have developed into within the next season or two? It would have been great to see.

But that is because I am a fan of developing our own talent or English talent at least, rather than buying in ageing imports (or indeed any imports).

Hock is younger than Manu.

Leneghan has also stated an aim to have a wholely British team within three years. Given the way they have brought on their young forwards, I'm leaning towards believing him. I never thought I would respect Wigan for their recruitment but if they follow that through I will end up doing so.

I'll have to take a shower afterwards though.

Hang on. We weren't debating whether someone in the U20s or academy might (having been around for god knows how long and played NRL) eventually become a Manu type player. You're goalpost switching.

We've signed Manu, to play for us next year and the year after. You've said you don't agree with the signing as you'd prefer a "young local lad" to do the job instead. Not "do the job, maybe, in ten years" but "do it, on the pitch, next year". Because that's what we've signed Manu to do.

What 'amazing things' did Dixon do in the off-season?!

He, to me anyway, looks like a slightly better version than Ashurst.

You would not have liked Daniel Anderson. 6 overseas imports in the 2007 GF.

Matthew Gidley
Willie Talau
Francis Meli
Jason Cayless
Chris Flannery
Maurie Fa'asavalu

Great signing, regardless of what the know nowts might say about us having someone is the academy who could do an equally good job (s).

We could probably sign Greg Inglis and they would say the same, but then they've probably only been watching Saints for about 6 years so don't understand that you need to sign good players to be successful.

I'm now considering Saints Fan to be a well hidden Troll, is this some kind of retribution from a long standing and very patient Wigan fan after the Agent Millward incident???

That's right. I said that we would have to look at Manu as an u20s player in order to assess whether our own stock had possibilities. That is what I said originally; it's what I said previously and it is what I'm saying now. You can't compare Manu now with a young gun, but that is what you were doing.

Meanwhile, we are Hull KR of the west.

I didn't say that so stop being devious.

Brilliant. Who is he?



Me too. I highly doubt he'll be a Manu but I'm sorry to see him go. Good squad player.

Is this the player you're suggesting you'd prefer lining up for us than Manu, though?



You need a balance of young, locally produced talent and genuine established (ie not just potential) quality.

Given the current market restrictions, when a top class player (and you've watched enough to know he's that, even if you're loathe to admit it) becomes available, you have to be interested.

Yep. And we are on 7 this season.

It's not Daniel Anderson I have a problem with. It is the Chairman who signs the deals, not the coach.

I loved supporting our mostly local team last season and at the GF it gave me - and a lot of fans around me - a real buzz to be supporting local lads. It's put me off imports for life.