Theo is a keeper for me, I have always thought he would replace Roby. Ive nowt against Smith but I would prefer to see Theo and the young lad on loan at Leigh sharing the duties when Roby finally succumbs to age. Until then status quo will suit me.
Matt Shaw interviewed his agent at the Cats game. I saw it online. Sounds like it is not as cut and dried as first thought.
Woolfe does seem to prefer a jahrome hughes type nuggety player at 7.
The thing I picked up on recently is the subtle change in narrative from Woolfe, with regard to Lewis Dodd and Fullback.
Perhaps that's the plan with 4 players (Lomax ,Fages, Welsby, Dodd) covering the three spine positions 1,6,7.
The fact that Fages can play 9 and Welsby Centre being a bonus.
Saints need to keep Fages.
Looks like some good old fashioned Agent talk. I think from reading that Fages is happy and settled, and will probably sign a new deal, but may wait a few weeks to see what other deals are on the table
Im not too sold on Smith either. If Fages can get some game time at 9 and prove he can play the position i have no problem keeping him on. As long as we can fit him within the cap. I like Fages. He’s a competitor. He has good and bad games but the effort is always there.
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
I'm with you on both. Fages is a tough nut; whilst I don't think he is an elite 7 and I have doubts over his ability to deliver anything that's over say 7/10 in the big matches enough he is impossible not to like. He is probably the best defensive SH I've seen at Saints, is a trier and as I said a hard lad.
Smith just doesn't seem to have enough unique selling points to his game. He isn't a bad player by any means, but I'm not sure you could offer much evidence to what he really brings to the table that justifies his place in the long term in a side that wants to compete for trophies on a regular basis.
There you go all you need to know about player contracts. Good luck, as clear as mud.
https://www.rugby-league.com/flipboo...dex.html#p=108
On the upside Fages is a good defender , has decent basic skills always gives his best , is rarely injured he seems a good professional
On the downside he is not a great kicker,passer, not a line breaker, not especially elusive or fast and his last play options are very hit and miss
He is not an elite class 7 and he will not be an elite class 9 either
If we have enough quality to carry a 6 out of 10 player in big games then stick with him personally I think we can do better but I am not strongly opposed to keeping or losing him
Fages lacks a lot of the skills you associate with a proper 7, but what he does really well - possibly better than any other 7 in the league - is take the ball directly to the line. It doesn't attract any attention because it's not exciting to look at, but his willingness to take a hit helps to hold up defensive lines and make space for the players outside him. When you have a 7 like Fages you do need other players to 'carry' him a bit when it comes to creativity and game management, though. As Lomax isn't really an out-and-out half either, that means a lot of pressure on Coote to do a job.
If Gaskell plays full back tonight Fages and Coote need to be peppering him.
We need to be keeping Theo, at least for a year or two. Dodd is meant to be good, but he's done nothing so far to suggest he's going to lock down the 7 shirt or even fullback as someone mentioned (Woolf?).
Having one extra player to cover 6,7 and 9 is hardly a bad thing.
A more interesting one for me is what is happening with Coote? Is he staying or going?
Instrumental in what has been done in the past two years. Very Good player.
However he legs have gone and doesn't have the pace needed for FB
especially if Lomax is staying for a few years.
You need zip at FB these days as well as being a ball player.
Reminds me of Brett Hodgson. Very fondly remembered for his time in SL.
However in his last year you could see the pace had gone.
Coote has never been blessed with pace similar to Wellens, he doesn’t need it he’s that good.
Most modern day fullbacks rely on pace however what Coote has given us the past couple of years is more than what a French/Evalds could have IMHO. His technical ability is class.
To say his legs have gone when he’s evidently not fully fit yet is a bit far.
I’m expecting another big big season from him.
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/spor...future-5378083
Fages out, Johnson in?
Cronulla reportedly offered him a one year $400k deal (£222k) but Johnson turned it down looking for double the salary and double the length of contract. If he can’t get an NRL contract then it’s feasible to believe that a move to Super League could see him accept a wage around £300k a year. I’m not sure whether we’d spend that on a marquee player or who else in super league could afford that in the current financial climate but it would probably make Warrington favourites. Could depend on where Adam Reynolds ends up. Seems to be a bidding war between Brisbane and Cronulla for his services with the possibility that Johnson ends up at the one that Reynolds doesn’t.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
If Coote moves on, there are conflicting reports on him being a marquee - him and Fages would (on paper) be enough to cover it, though not sure the club would want to commit to another marquee in the current climate? Welbsy is heir apparent so could see us
Welbsy
TMak Naiqama* Percival Grace
Lomax Johnson
*replace Naiqama with a new centre if we choose to replace him. I have seen T King and P Mata’utia mentioned but don’t know if that’s other club fans being paranoid.
It also creates the pathway for Dodd to take over as Johnson is 30 now