Ha ha. I did allude to the fact he was trying to curry favour with fans in my earlier post. I just thought that bearing in mind how long he was at Saints and that he is still best mates with the likes of Makinson etc that he would have referenced something like "I still have some great mates at Saints and enjoyed my time there however I am a professional and now play for Wigan etc etc"

Matty Smith said similar when he signed back for Saints after his spell at Wigan. Even if Welsby went to the NRL and then signed for Wigan I would understand those comments more. He is a Wigan lad and his family are genuinely Wigan fans. I was just a bit surprised.

Having said that to be fair to Thompson he probably would've signed for Wigan and they wanted him but it was his Dad that wouldn't let him. He was best mates with Gildart at the time and wanted to sign with him.

All fun and games anyway. The game needs stories and pantomime villains, so it’s all good.

Sold out already and another date added

Me and Angela have got tickets to Richard Ashcroft's homecoming gig at Robin Park Arena. I can't wait for next July.

Can’t be more than 10,000 I reckon.

Won’t come close to the magic of Haigh Hall but he remains a phenomenal performer & prolific song writer.

Expect some strong support acts and a surprise guest.

Roll on July.

I've seen somewhere that it's 11,500 each day.

He’s not best mates with Makinson etc at all. His friendship group is completely outside of the St Helens players. Just because he goes for the odd coffee with them doesn’t make them best mates.

Thought your source would have told you that.

You really are an utter b**l end

Shall we ignore the fact that he was with them at the 2022 GF after we had beaten Leeds, celebrating with them and wearing Saints gear? Or the fact that he goes fishing with Makinson?

I have a coffee with work colleagues but they aren’t my best mates. I wouldn’t go fishing all day with them because they aren’t my mates. Makes you think doesn’t it.

Nice to see your Mum letting you log on her computer again though. I presume she was out.

Speculating over the friendship group of a player is so bloody cringey and stalkerish. Who cares?

I always feel sorry for anyone who thinks that players feel the same way about their clubs as the fans.

When they are lads, they may say "I'll only ever play for Saints or Wigan, because that's my club". Then they grow up and become professionals.

I'd point out Eric Ashton, a Saints lad through and through, who played most of his career at Wigan. Or Mike Gregory, a Wigan lad through and through, who played all his career at Warrington.

It doesn't matter where their mates live (it didn't even matter to Zak Hardaker in the end), or who they or their family have supported since the year dot. Pros will follow the money and their career prospects.

I honestly only thought it was in places like Wakefield where the fans genuinely believe players are there because they 'love the club'.

A troll and a stalker I see

A James Arthur gig announced now for Wednesday 17th July. Not my bag really but sounds pretty popular, so you'd imagine it'll be another sell out and more income for the club.