im convinced. She's on thin ice

Never live by Dogma....

Practicality at all times.

No, no, no, no, no.

We weren't talking "possibilities".

We were talking doing a job for us in preference to Manu, which means providing that impact and talent in 2013 and 2014.

Can you name someone who can?

Hmm ...

Bedtime for me now.

So you can't name anyone who would be a better option next year and the year after than Manu?

Neither can I. Top signing.

You win. You argued me into a circle. That is what you wanted, and you won. Well done you.

I don't want Manu because he is an ageing import. I said that at the start and I'll say that to finish.

Very good, it's a reason, not a reason I'd have but fair enough a reason. It's just a reason that lacks reason.

Your Rugby knowledge really is limited isn't it? Just to clarify you wouldn't have signed Manu because we have Dixon in the academy ? That is just idiotic! Dixon may have had potential 4 years ago but he is now 22 and showing nothing different than he did then nor has he ever had the potential to be a Manu type player that we need for next season. After seeing us lose 5 GF's in a row I couldn't care less if we have 17 imports it's winning that counts. If Wigan want to do that full english team congratulate them on it but our youth system isn't as good as theres is yet so we would slip further down the table in trying.

I have no problems with the signing of Manu now that it's been announced that it's for two years and not three. He's a hugely talented player and I hope he can maintain the form he is showing now over the duration of his contract with us.

It would be a great shame if we do have to sacrifice Dixon though. He is being brought along just fine and looking at the age of our forwards and the changes we will have to make to the pack over the next 2/3 years we should have made his retention a priority. He's done nothing but impress me in the time he's played first grade, he may not be an international class player in the future but he's certainly someone talented enough to keep around long-term. He will be an asset to whichever team he plays for in future. Hopefully that will still be at Saints but almost definitely not from what I hear.

With all that said, rather than 'blame' the signing of Manu for Dixon leaving I would much rather question the decision to recently give Jon Wilkin a FOUR-YEAR contract, which was an absurd thing to do given his inconsistent form.

I think manu is a top quality signing. He's got something we've not hot in our pack, he can attack! He's a tackle breaker with good off load game.

I'm very happy with him and sia in the second row.

We just need a proper prop now.

I think he could well be the best signing of the season. I'm not convinced that we really needed another back rower, but when a top player comes along, particularly one who isnt taking a quota spot, you have to seriously consider them.

Except last season we got to a CC semi, third in the table and to another GF with a largely youth based team. So really your claim that playing the young players would see us further down the table has no credence.

And we started this season with all that youth and was rubbish.

I disagree. The young players comprised Foster, Gaskell, Lomax, Wheeler and Dixon. Wheeler and Dixon got off to a fabulous start; Wheeler was our best player on more than one occasion. Lomax was doing just fine. Foster and Gaskell were both looking shakey in three matches. They both needed a bit of time out because it was a second season for them after a GF appearance and so expectations of them were much higher than last year.

So far as I can remember, we had virtually a full team of senior players playing for most of the matches at the start of the season.

Stop the press