Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 14, 2022 5:11 pm  

Zig wrote:

Warrington

Huddersfield

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 14, 2022 5:11 pm  

Enfield St wrote:

Suspect Huddersfield would appeal to him.

They’d be the favourites in my mind when I sit and weigh all the factors up. Saints possibly could get him but presumably wouldn’t be able to then replace Grace or Simm and that would leave them very light in the outside backs. I don’t see where space comes from other than them doing that. The contract upgrades handed about everywhere must leave them extremely tight.

It’s all click bait on serious about Rugby League anyway but if there was truth in it I’d put my money on Huddersfield, Leeds or Saints as outsiders.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 14, 2022 5:14 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

It’s a funny time if Thompson is coming back. I don’t see at all how Saints could have the cap room, Warrington are surely full up as well and have so many props already signed for next season, Leeds are talking like they need players out, to bring any in, so it would be tricky to find that amount of space. That’s 3 of the clubs you’d imagine would usually be at the front of the queue struggling to get him.

A lot would depend on why he’s coming back. If it’s homesickness and wanting to be close to family, then Catalans never ending cap space might be useless and I’d probably have Hull in the mix but that may rule them out.

I’d like for us to be in the mix but we’ll see. He’ll want very good money I’d imagine.

On this, we have already confirmed Amor and Grace are gone next year, and I think LMS is likely to retire, so we are likely to have both the cap space and need for a prop. Additionally, we have the benefit of Thompson being Home Grown, so if he is coming back as a marquee we only need to find 75k cap space overall, meaning we will still have space to replace Grace.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 14, 2022 5:52 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

On this, we have already confirmed Amor and Grace are gone next year, and I think LMS is likely to retire, so we are likely to have both the cap space and need for a prop. Additionally, we have the benefit of Thompson being Home Grown, so if he is coming back as a marquee we only need to find 75k cap space overall, meaning we will still have space to replace Grace.

Surely a replacement for Grace would cost a fair chunk?! So that would leave Amor and maybe the salary of LMS left. If guys like Dodd, Welsby, Knowles contracts have been upgraded to the level they’ll be asking, that would leave little to no room and players would need to move on. I’d also imagine Saints will need to leave room for talks with a guy like Batchelor or to try and get Maurautia or Paasi to extend past their years options they’ve taken.

Either players are being vastly underpaid or Saints are finding other ways to keep them all if they can then bring in Thompson, even if his salary only counts up to 75k on the cap. Welsby and Dodd must’ve been given absolutely huge increases, unless they’re in the business of undervaluing themselves and I don’t see that, certainly not listening to Dodd’s agent online.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 14, 2022 9:26 pm  

Wasn't there some bad blood between Saints and Thompson when he left?

I might be imagining that, but if not, it could be a problem for them.

I can see how a star like him only costing 75K on the cap will tempt the Saints board to let bygones be bygones, though that may mean diddly-squat to the player.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 14, 2022 10:05 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Surely a replacement for Grace would cost a fair chunk?! So that would leave Amor and maybe the salary of LMS left. If guys like Dodd, Welsby, Knowles contracts have been upgraded to the level they’ll be asking, that would leave little to no room and players would need to move on. I’d also imagine Saints will need to leave room for talks with a guy like Batchelor or to try and get Maurautia or Paasi to extend past their years options they’ve taken.

Either players are being vastly underpaid or Saints are finding other ways to keep them all if they can then bring in Thompson, even if his salary only counts up to 75k on the cap. Welsby and Dodd must’ve been given absolutely huge increases, unless they’re in the business of undervaluing themselves and I don’t see that, certainly not listening to Dodd’s agent online.

Its all complete guesswork - totally understand that! We have seen the new contracts through after Amor left though, so its entirely possible we have the resignings eaten up Amor, and LMS and Grace is the money we have for next year.

We don't seem to have an awful lot to go on for Graces replacement, there are no real rumours or links I have seen. The only real quality on the market this year was Johnstone (injuries being a question mark) and he has already signed for Catalans, and with no non-fed spots, I think its entirely possible we will see Hopoate or Bennison get the 5 shirt next year as a makeshift winger as the club make do. We have 6 non-fed out of contract next year, so we are going to have a lot more wiggle room. If we do want to do something this year, it is likely we would have to move Bell on as a sacrificial lamb for the non fed spot, which will inadvertently free up cap space anywhere - but I would think that replacing LMS would be a higher priority than replacing Grace at the moment.

Cruncher wrote:

Wasn't there some bad blood between Saints and Thompson when he left?

I might be imagining that, but if not, it could be a problem for them.

I can see how a star like him only costing 75K on the cap will tempt the Saints board to let bygones be bygones, though that may mean diddly-squat to the player.

He didn't agree to the pay cut due to covid which led to a bit of animosity on both sides. However the club have sat down since and both agree that his agent did things to aggravate the move to Aus rather than anything from either side particularly (or at least thats my understanding). his dad still sponsors the club etc and on good terms.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:27 am  

I've said before on here that my understanding is that if he does come back home he will be going to Wigan.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:49 am  

Stu M wrote:

I've said before on here that my understanding is that if he does come back home he will be going to Wigan.

If that was to happen I honestly think we would be the team to beat next year esp if French stays

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:56 am  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

He didn't agree to the pay cut due to covid which led to a bit of animosity on both sides. However the club have sat down since and both agree that his agent did things to aggravate the move to Aus rather than anything from either side particularly (or at least thats my understanding). his dad still sponsors the club etc and on good terms.

I genuinely don't know the story of what happened with Gildart, but I do know that Wigan have had issues with players when they leave and still brought them back a few years later.

Case in point would be Thornley;

Despite offering him a similar deal to the one he was on, Iain made the decision that money is the single most important facet of what he is looking for and he's entitled to do that.

'From our point of view we're a little bit irritated at the lack of loyalty having taken care of him so well over the last 18 months but players have to look after themselves as well and he's made this decision.

IL said that in 2015, when Thornley left us for the 2nd time. It's pretty stinging imo, so I'm sure they could smooth over things with Gildart (if they wanted to that is).

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:03 am  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Its all complete guesswork - totally understand that! We have seen the new contracts through after Amor left though, so its entirely possible we have the resignings eaten up Amor, and LMS and Grace is the money we have for next year.

We don't seem to have an awful lot to go on for Graces replacement, there are no real rumours or links I have seen. The only real quality on the market this year was Johnstone (injuries being a question mark) and he has already signed for Catalans, and with no non-fed spots, I think its entirely possible we will see Hopoate or Bennison get the 5 shirt next year as a makeshift winger as the club make do. We have 6 non-fed out of contract next year, so we are going to have a lot more wiggle room. If we do want to do something this year, it is likely we would have to move Bell on as a sacrificial lamb for the non fed spot, which will inadvertently free up cap space anywhere - but I would think that replacing LMS would be a higher priority than replacing Grace at the moment.

He didn't agree to the pay cut due to covid which led to a bit of animosity on both sides. However the club have sat down since and both agree that his agent did things to aggravate the move to Aus rather than anything from either side particularly (or at least thats my understanding). his dad still sponsors the club etc and on good terms.

Absolute guesswork on my part as well to be fair. I just look at Dodd and think he surely must’ve been given a stonking pay rise because he was a junior the last time he signed a deal and had got himself on the verge of an international call up before his injury. It’s a similar story for Welsby as well but who knows. It’s a great point on Bennison, I really like the looks of the lad.