Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 10:18 am  

MadDogg wrote:

Knowles has a young family I think so doubt he'd consider the NRL but a local SL move might be an option. Lees could go to Australia.

I would be surprised and disappointed if Knowles went to Warrington bearing in mind the club have granted him a testimonial this season. His wife is heavily pregnant with their second child so I'm hoping family support may keep him here.

I can see Lees going as he has no kids and lets face it who wouldn't want to live on the Gold Coast on more money for a few years. Interesting times ahead particularly as there has already been NRL interest in Delaney too.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 11:42 am  

I believe Field has also just got engaged - looking at the pics on Instagram. I think his GF stays over in Aus most of eth year so that may well be a big consideration in the next year or two.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 12:55 pm  

Stu M wrote:

I would be surprised and disappointed if Knowles went to Warrington bearing in mind the club have granted him a testimonial this season. His wife is heavily pregnant with their second child so I'm hoping family support may keep him here.

I can see Lees going as he has no kids and lets face it who wouldn't want to live on the Gold Coast on more money for a few years. Interesting times ahead particularly as there has already been NRL interest in Delaney too.

genuine question

what is a testimonial worth to a player? I know there is lots done re charities with testimonials, but would £x from a testimonial cover a potential contract & salary increase elsewhere?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 1:03 pm  

Mark_P1973 wrote:

genuine question

what is a testimonial worth to a player? I know there is lots done re charities with testimonials, but would £x from a testimonial cover a potential contract & salary increase elsewhere?

No I agree that financially it wouldn't be a game changer. My point was more about loyalty. I know its a short career and they don't get what footballers earn etc but by and large we've managed to keep our top players over the years. Roby was a prime example of someone who could've gone to Australia and didn't. We've managed to keep the likes of Lomax and Walmsley for all their career when I would imagine there would've been interest in both when they were younger.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 1:28 pm  

Stu M wrote:

No I agree that financially it wouldn't be a game changer. My point was more about loyalty. I know it’s a short career and they don't get what footballers earn etc but by and large we've managed to keep our top players over the years. Roby was a prime example of someone who could've gone to Australia and didn't. We've managed to keep the likes of Lomax and Walmsley for all their career when I would imagine there would've been interest in both when they were younger.

You’ve been lucky that you haven’t been raided for your talent. Hopefully it doesn’t continue for you. I imagine Welsby will be next to go. We’ve had plenty of years were we’ve lost players to the NRL. I think this is the first we haven’t lost a player.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 1:51 pm  

There's a report going around today that Woolf is looking towards Superleague to rebuild the Dolphins pack for 2026, once guys like Kafusi and Bromwich retire. You'd be surprised if he isn't looking at Saints to see if guys like Lees and Knowles fancy it. There might be that element of not wanting to do too much damage to his old club but he seems a guy who is pretty ruthless and focused on success, so I'm not sure that'll hold him back.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:10 pm  

WWste wrote:

You’ve been lucky that you haven’t been raided for your talent. Hopefully it doesn’t continue for you. I imagine Welsby will be next to go. We’ve had plenty of years were we’ve lost players to the NRL. I think this is the first we haven’t lost a player.

yeah I can see Welsby going within a couple of years. However he is contracted for another 3 seasons so there would have to be a transfer fee paid.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:11 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

There's a report going around today that Woolf is looking towards Superleague to rebuild the Dolphins pack for 2026, once guys like Kafusi and Bromwich retire. You'd be surprised if he isn't looking at Saints to see if guys like Lees and Knowles fancy it. There might be that element of not wanting to do too much damage to his old club but he seems a guy who is pretty ruthless and focused on success, so I'm not sure that'll hold him back.

You're still holding a grudge against Woolf for not releasing Saints players for internationals

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:25 pm  

Stu M wrote:

No I agree that financially it wouldn't be a game changer. My point was more about loyalty. I know its a short career and they don't get what footballers earn etc but by and large we've managed to keep our top players over the years. Roby was a prime example of someone who could've gone to Australia and didn't. We've managed to keep the likes of Lomax and Walmsley for all their career when I would imagine there would've been interest in both when they were younger.

i agree you've done well to retain your talent in the main. I guess some players are homebirds and i'd put Liam Farrell and Lockers into that category, where like Roby they probably could have gone abroad

with Lomax, you were probably lucky (although unlucky as he was injured) that we seemed to be quite fragile at a younger age, and he's developed some resilience as he's gotten older. There's no doubt he's talented but could probably have played far more games for you

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 11, 2024 4:32 pm  

I think geography is a big protective factor for SL. If the NRL was played in Europe I think the floodgates would have opened by now but it's a huge move to go and live in Australia. From personal experience, living somewhere and being a tourist somewhere are two very different things. It'll also be interesting to see how the new franchise in PNG will affect the numbers leaving SL - on one hand living in a compound in PNG does not sound appealing but the tax exemptions will definitely appeal to some.

Saints may have a couple of middles closer to the end of their contract but from a Wigan standpoint it would surprise me if Ethan Havard didn't end up there at some point.