They're not stupid. They've seen the reaction the Star article got and they will no doubt release it on another good news day. Announce Masoe and put this in the small print.

The sad thing is your probably right. I bet Boof's chuffed, another year (or maybe 3 knowing us) for him to jog around easing himself into retirement

Whether you agree with him getting a new contract or not, to criticise the guy and accuse him of easing into retirement is very disrespectful. He's ran his blood to water out of position for two years and has done much better than he is given credit for.

FWIW I don't think he should have been re-signed either, but any criticism should be aimed solely at the club.

If Saints offered me a contract I would take it. I too think if you are going to throw stones you need to pick your target and not just take a shotgun approach of hit everyone.

The majority should go to the club, of course. But he's not immune to it, particularly if his effort doesn't improve. Someone above said he's been running his blood to water. But he hasn't, he doesn't put any effort at all into his drives with the ball. He's a pro going through the motions to earn some money before he retires.

Marking time before he goes back to a job with the Titans.

Been harping in the press since before Christmas about doing another year
(before he has played a game).

Done little this year on the pitch.

Laughing all the way to the Bank.

An over-hyped overpriced Flannery.

That much lacking in grace that it has got into to the public domain
through reporting his comments in the sponsors lounge rather
than a formal announcement.

Don't know what's worse his arrogance and conceit or the club's weakness.

I hope he proves you all wrong for the rest of this year and next. Not been half as bad as people are making out. Certainly better than the likes of Barry Ward, Josh Perry, Peter Sheiles etc...

I take it you are about 12? Peter Sheils won a Challenge Cup and Grand Final and was VASTLY better than any of our current players. Laffranchi is a very, very average player. Of course he's a SL level player, and certainly isn't the worst player ever, but when you consider he's clogging up a starting position, quota spot and probably a significant salary, it represents very poor value. He's been a very poor signing as he's not done anything the likes of Walker or Greenwood couldn't have done.

I know you have a penchant for exaggeration, but behave. Shiels was pretty good, but not a patch on someone like Soliola.

Barry Ward also won a Grandfinal - 2002 and CC - 2004 and, although not a very good prop, he was probably more effective going forward than Boof. I suspect Laffranchi would have a better workrate in defence, though.

I'm saying it how I'm seeing it. If he isnt taking it easy he's basically shot , certainly not the 'top class' we supposedly signed. Taking it easy or knackered doesnt really matter much to me as either make him a waste of quota and salary cap. The only reason he's not getting panned on here every week is because peter sellers salty swedish sea dog with a peg leg (look it up if your too young ) would look good compared to the other aussie pudding we have at prop

But so was Peter Shiels etc.. the difference was the players they had on there team. Put Sculthorpe, Long, Cayless, Cunningham, Lyon and Talau with Laffranchi and he will improve (or look better) 100 percent.

I wish people would stop saying he's been played out of position. Although he's played most of his rugby at 2nd row, he's never been a stranger to the prop position. As far back as the 2005 season, he played several games at prop for Wests - including in their Grand Final victory.

I can think of several absolutely top class props who played 2nd row for a big chunk of their career before switching to prop. Peacock & Morley spring to mind.

Laffranchi has the build of a prop and was signed as a prop. In his first several games for Saints, he even looked like a decent prop (and one, you'd have thought, who would have just have got better as he bulked up more and adapted to the demands of being a fulltime prop). But he's gone backwards, sadly.

I don't even think he's cut out to be a modern-day second row, either. He's not quick or mobile enough. We have better options there, and I find it depressing to see so many Saints fans advocating a big, heavy steamroller pack. Our best years in SL were founded on a mobile, quick, agile pack. I don't want Saints to be like Bratfud were. Zzzz...

Don't think so. For whatever reason he has gone to seed and there is no return for him now to be anything like the player he was or whatever player we thought we signed. He doesn't look interested.

Looking at the crop of the so called best Anz players from SL in the Exiles tonight, very few of them e.g. Moon and Burns looked anything like a class act; just a bunch of has beens.

HiHo looked up for it in parts and was showing a desire and moves he doesn't show for us. Another case of can't be d for Saints?

Mind you England didn't look a heap better thank to McBanana doing "a Brown" as per usual and tinkering and playing everyone out of position.