Losing Leon is a massive blow to our chances in the next couple of seasons. It isn't a surprise either, this rumour was first brought up around the start of the season, so the club cannot claim they didn't know this was happening. Which worries me greatly as they may have already spent his salary and we may not get a back to replace Leon (Wishful thinking anyway probably).

In taking stock of our recruitment, it is another year (To add to the previous 5 or 6) where you look at it and wince. We are losing 3 of our best 4 players from a side already incapable of keeping pace with the top 2.

We are replacing them with two players who are going to be playing out of position. Laffranchi is no prop and Hohaia is rarely played at half back in the NRL as he's not good enough for it. His has been a disaster in the NRL by all accounts this season.

Losing Leon also adds to the fear that we'll be stuck with Wello at fullback for another 12 months. This is criminal and is going to be very hard to watch.

Now do we go:

1 - Wellens
6 - Lomax
7 - Hohaia (Ouch)

or

1 - Hohaia (Drop ball-tastic)
6 - Gaskell
7 - Lomax

or

1 - Lomax
6 - Gaskell
7 - Hohaia?

Either way, it's not the big bang introduction to the new stadium we expected is it?

Was it the three year contract?

I think we'll go with 1. Wellens, 6. Lomax and 7. Hohaia. It's not ideal as Hohaia's had an awful season, but I can't see us not playing him considering he's taking up a quota spot. Keeping Pryce, aside from him being a quality player, would have given us more depth and another option in the halves/at fullback.

I don't know. But as mentioned we've given Hohaia a four year deal and he's only a year younger than Leon, so we can't use that as an excuse.

It may not be the club's fault, he may have had his heart set on a change of lifestyle for a while, we don't know.

Apparently yes. Apparently Saints were offering two years but he wanted three. If this is a true story, I am happy Saints stuck to two years as he is not worth three.

Hohaia is a very good utility player as well as being recruited to seven. It means he can be used elsewhere not only to cover injuries but also to enable our young talent to play.

He's utter rubbish in the NRL. He'll be on a big contract and four years is a joke. He already looks a yard slower than he did a couple of years ago and is starting to add timber to his frame. It's a suspect signing.

Oh don't be so daft.

He's a speedster off the mark, is Hohaia. You must have been watching his twin in another dimension.

in short backwards.

Hiho is a fullback not a halfback. Gaskell and Lomax are very promising but need time and an experienced partner to progress. Wellens is past his best now and wont be getting much faster next year.

Losing Pryce = very bad for Saints ... unless we bring in some much needed EXPERIENCED quality.

But giving hiho a 4 year deal was good?

With Leon, jammer and Kyle gone we simply must be way under the cap next year unless we have been reckless with our new signings wages. That said we will still be comfortably top 4 IMO

We won't know that until he settles in here I guess.

Some people on here I think were saying that Hohaia looked like a panic buy at one stage. That's kind of not looking the case now I guess!

We'll be fine. It's always better having players at the club who want to be at the club. Leon didn't want to be here so he is better gone.

Blimey.

OTT response or what!

It's not like Leon going was a bolt out of the blue. Saints have prepared for the eventuality by recruiting Hohaia and by putting faith in Gaskell and Lomax and Wheeler. Gaskell and Lomax will be that much better next season with the experience of this season behind them, and Simmons has worked with Hohaia down under so knows what the lad will bring to us.

I think Saints have approached this very well. They can't force a player to stay and so they have recruited and planned to take account of key positions becoming vacant. There is nothing to indicate that we will be worse next season than this. What will make a difference IMO is whether our backroom staff plus the players themselves can retain their fitness.