I think we need to give Roby another 1 year deal.
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
I agree, assuming he will take a reduced salary. I watched Eaves closely against Leeds & was quite impressed. He got a very extended run out due to injury & performed well I thought. He is defensively very sound, has a good pass off the floor both ways & knows when to run. Aaron Smith just needs a run of games to get into the games properly, hopefully his luck will change. Those 2 could be our hookers going forward. Liam Hood has been mentioned as a replacement for Robes, he's a good player but I think that Eaves & Smith will offer more, they are home produced so understand our culture and have time on their side.
I was impressed with Eaves in our game against Salford last year. I think its crazy if we let Roby go (considering so many others that may also be going) when he still plays to such a high standard. O’loughlin played on for 4 years past his best. We need to keep Roby next year even if he only plays half the games while we blood his replacement.
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
I don’t think it’ll ever be a case of us “letting him go.” He isn’t going to play anywhere else. I think he’s got such a high standing within the club that he’ll effectively decide himself if he isn’t going to stay. For as long as he’s at this standard the club will want him to stick around.
NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
I reckon so mate, obviously only to a certain extent though; we wouldn't keep him if he was stinking the place out and couldn't run haha. But I think the club will be sensible about it and trust Roby to know when to make that call himself. No disrespect to Smith or Eaves but neither of them are hardly knocking the door down to take his place so I think getting 1 more year from him to buy us more time would work well. When Cunningham retired we knew already we had Roby in line but it's different now; there's uncertainty about that position which is something we've not had for 25 years which is ridiculous when you think about it. We've had the best hooker in the country since Super League began so for us to be potentially going into next year with Smith or Eaves as first choice doesn't fill me with confidence at all.
NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS
So if Roby does retire we may not have a world beating hooker. Something we have tended to take for granted. But then again which team has. I would say Clarke is nearest to Roby, but would argue that he has come to the fore more since the rule changes due to Covid. Prior to that he hadn't performed that brilliantly with Wolves. Powell is hardly a world beater, so we just have to learn to play to other strengths. Hookers of Cunningham and Roby's stature are rare, we've just been very lucky.
Loyal and true, not a glory hunter.
Yep all true mate. I think we have enough recruitment worries for next year without the worry of replacing one of the best 9s of the summer era. We need Roby next year for leadership and stability. Wrap him in cotton wool, play him in half our games and give plenty minutes to Smith/Eaves. Any coach worth his salt should only need a few months to weigh up whether or not a young player has got what it takes. If Smith/Eaves can’t cut it we get into the market for a hooker for 2023 onwards.
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
I think Eaves is OOC this year. Wouldn't surprise me if he went and Smith is given one more year alongside Roby to prove he can cut it. If not, like you said our main transfer target has to be a top quality 9 for 2023. Paul Mcshane is out of contract end of next year, shame he'll be 33!
NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Eaves overtake Smith over the course of this year, but I was surprised to see they were 23/24 respectively. One more year with one of them rotating for 20 minutes with Roby to give him a break feels like the best option for all at the moment, as long as Roby feels up to it. I also assume Clark is going to the Titans, and Warrington are going to need to find a quality replacement and happily outbid us on any target we do find. It wouldn’t surprise me if they go for Parcell.
Looking across the league, it feels really slim pickings even playing fantasy manager
Hooker is such an important position. If we're changing our half back and full back I think it's extremely important that Roby stays on for another year so that we have at least some continuity in our 'spine'. I think it's also important that we look elsewhere to replace Roby when he does retire. I like Smith but IMO he just isn't good enough to be a first choice no. 9 for a title-chasing team. I've seen good glimpses from Eaves but not enough to suggest he's ready to take over as our first choice hooker, and the club seem to see him as behind Smith in the pecking order.
Clearly whoever next wears the 9 shirt for Saints is going to be a downgrade on Cunningham and Roby, but the club needs to do whatever it can to make that downgrade as small as possible.
Its an interesting one Dux. Eaves tends to be a touch more off the cuff, whilst Smith is more structured. I do feel Smith is the one that we want and Eaves will move on. Roby if he feels the need going around for one more year is a no-brainer. Amor/LMS you can see this is it, last hoorah. If it was me I would start to use Robes at Loose forward and let Smith do the donkey work at acting HB. We shouldn't be looking to use Robes for more than 55 minutes a game "excluding" key games.
It would be foolish to think after Cunningham and Robes we will replicate those two. However we also need to keep away from journey men "Thomas Lee" I would rather see a Smith being given a full season than go down those paths again. "Owens-Dawson-Lee-Howarth" I wish I was had been half as good as those four, but they are not what I ever want to see again at Saints. Giving kids a go yes, importing at best average no. Paying big money "Paulo" well we all make mistakes.
Bit off topic but Kyle Eastmond has retired immediately
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At least he has walked away now and not sat on treatment table for next 18 months collecting big wage. Makes me feel very old seeing players like eastmond retire when I remember him making his debut. Same with Roby if he calls it a day. Not that eastmond deserves to be mentioned in same conversation as roby on any level.
You can never really judge a player until he gets a consistent run in the side. My concern about Aaron Smith is his ability to get himself injured. I think he's got what it takes but he needs to be in the side long enough to show us !
Learned comment from The Don