Not sure why SM as overlooked swain player of the year last year, not missed a game this year, tremendous work ethic. Hope we have not been blighted by other possibly overpaid back rowers, who will not work as hard as swain. With Alker and Swain out the side that's a hell of alot of tackles to be shared around, Adamson shoulders are going to be soe next year.

Let's hope who ever comes in both hooker and back row are prepared to put as much work in??

Alker & Swain are 2nd and 4th for the highest number of tackles made this year in the whole of Superleague. Alker's made 934 and Swain's made 769. It's also worth mentioning that Swain has made 343 carries which is way above any other Salford player. Swain's contribution is an average of 33 tackles and 15 carries per game which is incredible. I just hope that Mr McRae is aware of these stats and will have it covered!

I've just been thinking about the fact that Luke himself [imay[/i want to move on / go home (or where ever) and that he [imay[/i have turned down any deal or [imay[/i have wanted a wage increase / been offered more money elsewhere?

The decision [imay[/i be out of Shaun's / Simms' hands.

signed for Carcassonne link:- www.ffr13.com/

signed for Carcassonne link:- www.ffr13.com/

I'm sorry but for the fanfar that has greeted Pattens arrival I think this is equally as bad news. Ok a marque signing of Patterns nature is good for the club, but to loose who in effect is our main go to man for hit ups and defensive rock is euqally bad news to Pattens arrival.
Don't see how the club can replce Swain with anyone of a better quality as for me there isnt many around and those that are will require a wage to match Pattens.

Sorry i'm normally not anti SM or Simms but this is a shocking bit of managment if they havent done their upmost to retain him.

I'm not sure I get the whole Swain thing, yes, as I've said before he's a good workhorse and never lets us down but seriously he's not the classy-ist Loose forward you'll ever see. He rarely creates anything, he's just like a second rower in many aspects. I wan't my loose forward to be more like Sculthorpe was or Sinfield is (or John Pendlebury).

He's takes up an overseas spot which, if we can fill that with a top aussie / kiwi / south sea islander from the NRL (ala the Patten of the forward world) then I think its a wise move.

And again we don't know if he wanted to stay or if this offer to France was too good to turn down. You know what the aussies are like they love to travel.

For me I'm much happier keeping a top quality centre like Mark Henry, a world class full back in Patten, A stand off of the likes we haven't seen for years in Holdsworth and a top notch Prop in Cashmere than Swain.

As a replacement Stephen Wild again as I've pointed out in the past their stats aren't far off each other. Although there was a musing regarding Langley?

I'm not knocking the lad but for me, along with the others who are leaving, its the best way to move forward.

Sorry but fail to see where the midfield strength comes from, Swain like him or loathe him is undeniably a rock in the middle of the park, think for Salford he will have saved a considerably higher number of tries with his tackling than even the greatest #13 ever would. maybe if he's a glorofoed second rower we should do something like actually try him there. Not the greatest lover of Wild, ask yourself would a team like Hudds be letting him go if he was still the potent force he was - Mark Edmondson comparisons abound for me.

But we don't yet know who's coming in so I don't think there's any need to panic. We may go out and sign a player better than Swain who does the same role.

Christ you must have left a good tip behind the bar on Sunday if that's the case. The point being I fail to see who in the SL is better at what Swain does than Swain himself, you mentioned Sinfield before but do you think he'd be a England/GB player and Leeds regular if he didnt kick? - simple answer for me would be no as he isn't a very good #13.

In my opinion Stephen Wild has more pace and would offer much more of an attacking threat whilst still averaging 32 tackles a game. If the rumours are true and we get Wild this would free up another vital overseas spot.
Your comment about Patten's signing being kind of nullified by Swain's departure is ridiculously premature considering the club will be releasing several players and making a lot of new signings.

On the subject of Kevin Sinfield, saying he wouldn't be very good at loose forward without his kicking game is like saying Luke Swain wouldn't be any good but for his work rate.

Im sure its been asked before how many quota spots can you have next year??
Only 3 definetes in Patten, Cashmere and Henry so how many more can we have?

How dare you forget Holdsworth!

2011
At least 8 home grown players.
No more than 5 quota players.
No more than 5 overseas trained players inc quota players.
Rest of squad to be from players trained within same federation

Has it been confirmed that Henry has signed the 1-year extension, other than being written in the MEN?