Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 6:35 am  

Stu M wrote:

Well firstly I was laughed at for saying a while ago if Thompson came back to SL it would be to Wigan but hey ho..

Secondly it doesn't matter whether Thompson counts £50k or £1 towards the salary cap, he will still be earning a fortune. Saints can't compete with that and if they are going to pay a wage like Thompson will be on then they'll need to put that towards Welsby or he'll be off to the NRL.

He also left on bad terms hence him leaving mid-season after being the only player unwilling to take a pay cut during Covid. The Covid repayment loans have now kicked in and Saints along with Leeds were the worst affected club.

There's no doubt that we will see some transition now and maybe a few trophyless years potentially but with what we've won recently its not like we've too much to complain about.

I don't for one minute think our Recruitment is finished either. 11 players are leaving/retiring at the end of the season. Whitley will be announced soon and I think there will be more to come. We have some outstanding Academy kids who undoubtedly will be playing first team in a couple of years. Stephens already has a squad number for next season and the one we are all excited about is Vaughan- Lancashire and England Academy captain and will be playing first team sooner rather than later. He is a back rower too. Delaney coming through is a huge bonus, the sky is the limit for him and I can see given his age why the comparisons with Thompson are being made.

I said on Redvee that this could now be a golden few years for Wigan. Smart recruitment, huge investment from a wealthy owner and still bringing talented lads through.

Thats sport, its cyclical. At some point Leeds are going to challenge again, then we have Warrington and maybe the Hull clubs can challenge too.

I can’t see this for awhile. The club looks in chaos. The recruitment has been questionable at times. I don’t see Smith being the right man for the job especially being in charge of a rebuild.

It does appear you’re at the end of a cycle. A very good cycle admittedly. I think the players you’ll loose Roby, Makinson, lomax will be near on impossible to replace. I think you’ll enter a different difficult period now and going forward we’re your youngsters will be off to the NRL. I think Welsby will go. I don’t rate Dodd but he might be gone too

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 6:42 am  

Won't let me quote WWste above but I agree.

I think Welsby should go and test himself, I've said that for a while and I'd love to see him kill it over there. Fortunately two of our better Academy players are halves so one would be a direct replacement for Dodd if he did go.

We definitely have some rebuilding to do no question.

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 6:55 am  

I think Welsby would find it tough in the NRL but would have a chance of making the grade.

I don’t think Dodd is anywhere near NRL standard to be honest.

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:32 am  

The crying on twitter from opposition fans is funny, surely a coping mechanism…

Making up salaries that he’s on

“Oh they’ll be letting X player go to Catalans/Canberra”

“How are they under the cap”

“What about their academy lads”

The only one with a credence is referring the injuries.


People thinking the academy lads won’t keep rolling into the first team under Matty Peet are deluded.

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:56 am  

NSW wrote:

The crying on twitter from opposition fans is funny, surely a coping mechanism…

Making up salaries that he’s on

“Oh they’ll be letting X player go to Catalans/Canberra”

“How are they under the cap”

“What about their academy lads”

The only one with a credence is referring the injuries.


People thinking the academy lads won’t keep rolling into the first team under Matty Peet are deluded.

Old Magic Super Beetle on Red Vee is talking about targeting Nsemba because he is competing with 9 props next year and worried that we are not producing Academy players.

Given his intimate knowledge of our development pathways you would think he may know Nsemba is a secondrow.

We are still promoting players and continue to do so, we just do it in a planned and managed way to enhance their careers.

With Isa, Cooper and most likely Mago departing next year and fringe players like Cust, Thornley and possibly others (Powell & Shorrocks) there is plenty of room for our youngsters this year and next to progress.

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:41 am  

jonh wrote:

Old Magic Super Beetle on Red Vee is talking about targeting Nsemba because he is competing with 9 props next year and worried that we are not producing Academy players.

Given his intimate knowledge of our development pathways you would think he may know Nsemba is a secondrow.

We are still promoting players and continue to do so, we just do it in a planned and managed way to enhance their careers.

With Isa, Cooper and most likely Mago departing next year and fringe players like Cust, Thornley and possibly others (Powell & Shorrocks) there is plenty of room for our youngsters this year and next to progress.

Junior is a ready made replacement for ISA who is expected to retire in twelve months time. He will be a first teamer for years for us, assuming he doesn't want to test himself in the NRL.

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 9:03 am  

MattyB wrote:

Junior is a ready made replacement for ISA who is expected to retire in twelve months time. He will be a first teamer for years for us, assuming he doesn't want to test himself in the NRL.

Agree. I think Junior, Walters and Faz will be out secondrow rotation next year with cameo appearances from Isa when one of them needs a rest or is injured.

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 9:04 am  

MattyB wrote:

Junior is a ready made replacement for ISA who is expected to retire in twelve months time. He will be a first teamer for years for us, assuming he doesn't want to test himself in the NRL.

Nsemba is a special talent and is getting noticed by other clubs, I'm sure that Peet recognises this. Granted, Junior is at the "potential" stage of his career but its a massive potential. Same applies to Forber.

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 9:08 am  

Zig wrote:

How much is that then? Which Saints players?

Your guess is as good as mine as for the players i'm not naming them

Re: Luke Thompson Confirmed : Thu Oct 05, 2023 9:21 am  

jonh wrote:

Agree. I think Junior, Walters and Faz will be out secondrow rotation next year with cameo appearances from Isa when one of them needs a rest or is injured.

Do you think we'll carry one on the bench, or go with an extra prop knowing they can cover 13 too?