Suppose it depends how much he can prove in one year if you turn it on it's head. Come renegotiation time, he might still be classed as 'potential', and therefore have less bargaining power . If he has 'proved it', we can start talking about a contract worthy of a top class scrum half. Sounds great to me. At least he's not in a Sale shirt To me Saints and Offiah are just treading carefully with 2 years, Offiah not wanting to sell him short for the long term and Saints not wanting to over commit to early for a player who, despite fantastic raw ability, has played very few games at SH and has not yet showed he can direct a team around the field

Widdop is being tipped for an International call up sooner rather than later, he is young non quota and off contract.

We do not have a natural top standard fullback at the club in my opinion.

I appreciate he is an unknown quantity by us in the UK, but were our coach the man that helped develop him and more than likely knows his game in and out willing to bring him to the club I would be more than happy.

It cannot have been easy for him as a Brit to be named in the junior Australian Club team of the year and also score the match winning try in the Grand Final, lets be honest the lad is clearly talented. The fact that he is young and British are also real draws.

If Maguire is as good as it seems he may be. Im excited by how he will develop Phelps game, he was one of our best players last season, is clearly the best fb at the club and has some skill with ball in hand.

Why oh why people keep going on about the fullback position is beyond me.

Centre & Prop are two that come to mind as more pressing issues for the next couple of seasons.

The reason that i point out the availability of a fullback is that Phelps is on a 1 year deal, and we will have to fit the reduced quota for 2011. I think a Prop is a priority but he will come from overseas and take a quota spot, as will no doubt a centre if we need one.

I like Phelps but he needs to be a top player to earn a quota spot, if there is a young British alternative available and our coach deems him up to the standard allowing us to use quota spots on other areas we need to strengthen for the good of the team then he is in a vulnerable position.

Indeed. As I said earlier, although Phelp's is likeable and solid, we need our overseas recruits to be of a higher calibre and Phelps ain't no Garry Jack or Andrew Ettingshausen.

I am not writing him off, and think he is capable of earning a new deal, but he needs a big season and the length of his contract extension clearly shows the club feel the same.