Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 12:58 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

Watts and Fifita might be more realistic, but it's still a push, requiring significant transfer fees, cap space (quota space for Fifita), and agreement from the club and player. For the Saints players, given salary cap constraints, what makes you think Leeds are in a position to prize away one of the best players in the competition and out-bid the current SL champions?

Even in past big-spending eras we could arguably only sign Wigan's cast-offs in the 1990s (Hanley, Gregory, Goodway etc), Union project signings (Gallagher failed, Innes went well), players on the outer in the NRL in the 2000s (Lauitiiti, Leuluai etc), asset strip poorer SL teams (e.g. Ellis, Harris), or pick up players out-of-contract (e.g. Peacock - and let's not forget a big part of this was him playing for his hometown club). Remember even the cash-strapped Bulls wouldn't let us sign Vainikolo, however much we wanted him.

The point is that as wealthy as we may be relative to other SL clubs, there are, and have always been, limits to what the club can do by throwing money around. It's not fantasy RL.

You make some fair comments. I only meant we'd be able to compete for these players if the marquee spot was to become available if Merrin was to leave - without an available spot I agree they may not be achievable. I don't know if saints are using their marquee spots but I imagine that between Coote / Thomspon / Naiqama / Roby and Walmsley there must be 2 of them that are on it. if either Walmsley or Thompson wasn't in the marquee spots I'd go after one of them.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 1:21 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

Has there been a credible suggestion that Leeds will offer him marquee money?

Looks like Aussie journalists looking at our public interest in the player (Prior) and putting two and two together. If Leeds go for a deal like this I would expect them to push to get a lot more out of it, as others have pointed out.

It was reported that he has multiple offers still in the NRL so to come over here, he would want marquee money. Ava is nothing like Prior. Ava is big heavy metre maker, Prior in my opinion is a 2nd rower tough nut, good defensively, but not what we need.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 1:55 pm  

WALTROYD wrote:

You make some fair comments. I only meant we'd be able to compete for these players if the marquee spot was to become available if Merrin was to leave - without an available spot I agree they may not be achievable. I don't know if saints are using their marquee spots but I imagine that between Coote / Thomspon / Naiqama / Roby and Walmsley there must be 2 of them that are on it. if either Walmsley or Thompson wasn't in the marquee spots I'd go after one of them.

Saints have lost Morgan, Douglas, Richardson and Swift this term without replacement. Rumour has it this was so that we have no current marquees, to sign a big name Tongan and re-sign Thompson (and more signings at the end of next year IF the marquee rule is increased to 3). Whether its true or not I don't know. We certainly didn't announce any signing as a marquee, like we did with Barba.

Walmsley re-signed at the start of last year until 2022, and I can't see Walmsley interested in doing anything other than seeing out his contract (hes spoken at length at his gratitude with the club for supporting him through his neck injury last year). That leaves Thompson, whom will either stay at Saints or go to the NRL, I dont think there is any other decision, irrespective of money (Lifelong Saints fan, put his grandmothers house down on the town team forms to play for Saints as a kid, his Dads company are shirt sponsors etc).

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 2:18 pm  

If Merrin leaves, i would expect Burgess to perhaps be 'persuaded' out of retirement.

Prior may be on good £££, but will not be marquee.

I suspect that will be reserved for a marquee stature player.

Andrew McCullough is off contract and a hooker.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 2:52 pm  

Where has there been the slightest hint regarding Burgess?! Nowhere.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 3:06 pm  

Seth wrote:

Where has there been the slightest hint regarding Burgess?! Nowhere.

It's Madness Seth if he's been told to retire why would playing in SL be any different?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 3:38 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Saints have lost Morgan, Douglas, Richardson and Swift this term without replacement. Rumour has it this was so that we have no current marquees, to sign a big name Tongan and re-sign Thompson (and more signings at the end of next year IF the marquee rule is increased to 3). Whether its true or not I don't know. We certainly didn't announce any signing as a marquee, like we did with Barba.

Walmsley re-signed at the start of last year until 2022, and I can't see Walmsley interested in doing anything other than seeing out his contract (hes spoken at length at his gratitude with the club for supporting him through his neck injury last year). That leaves Thompson, whom will either stay at Saints or go to the NRL, I dont think there is any other decision, irrespective of money (Lifelong Saints fan, put his grandmothers house down on the town team forms to play for Saints as a kid, his Dads company are shirt sponsors etc).

OK - so they really aren't realistic targets

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 3:53 pm  

Jake Granville is being offered around by the Cowboys so they can fit in Latrell Mitchell as well as Val Holmes.

I'd take Granville over Leeming 10000% as a replacement for Merrin on marquee - he'd be a shoe-in for QLD SOO hooker if it wasn't for Smith.


Perhaps something like this is holding up negotiations.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 5:20 pm  

Merrin strikes me as an honourable man. I don't reckon he'll leave us in the clarts.

A pity we haven't done better with our home grown talent though, these imports are far more crucial than they should be.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Nov 26, 2019 6:56 pm  

If St George genuinely want Merrin, then he’s as good as gone. I actually think squad may be more balanced if we released him and signed Prior + maybe an oversea’s winger/centre. Anybody know golf anyone available? I would have liked Fonua but back at Hull....
Faraimo may be surplus now though....?