Just a comparison to our current half backs:

Walsh : 105 tackles, 45 missed in 16 games
Burns : 508 tackles, 74 missed in 25 games
Fages : 424 tackles, 48 missed in 19 games

Fages: 1005 meters gained (Walsh 346, Burns 780), gave away 7 penalties (Burns 23, Walsh 9)

His defensive stats don't look too bad in comparison to Burns and Walsh.

Perhaps he isn't as bad as some Salford fans, whose club he is leaving, make him out to be.

Any Salford who criticising are doing so with their Salford tinted glasses on, because of the manner which he left the club. It was a very unprofessional move by Theo and did absolutely nothing to expedite his release from Salford to Saints, although one thing it did do was reduce the transfer fee enormously. If you look at how Lama Tasi, Harrison Hansen and Cory Paterson have all handled their business, Theo has come across as very petulant in all of this. I accept his management team have orchestrated it all but ultimately the decisions lie with him. When that is said and done, it must have been tough for him to accept us signing Michael Dobson on a 4 year deal which effectively meant he wouldn't get the number 7 shirt until he was 25 - a stupid move by the club.

Theo is a good player, who has the potential to become very good. Don't forget the kid is only 21 and has played 66 games scoring 20 tries in the process. The vast majority of those games have been played in struggling Salford teams too. I expect under Cunningham and Longs management and training around James Roby, Luke Walsh and Jon Wilkin on a daily basis he will fulfil his very promising potential at Saints.

No doubt his biggest flaw is his kicking game, but what 21-year-old half backs do you know that can control a game in Super League with their kicking? We seen signs that this was already improving this season, no doubt influenced by Michael Dobson. He's tough and strong in defence for his size, his willingness to attack the line will impress as will his backing-up.

You've got yourself a good player, who I have no doubts will be your first choice 7 for years and years to come.

PS - should be announced either today or tomorrow.

Cheers for that. Good reasonable post.

Told you all it was a done deal. Saddened sorry I never replied to your PM months ago but I trusted my source.

I can't see Salford losing their case, but it is suggested there seems to be an agreement with his agent, but Salford will want a good fee, can you blame them? what will it be! Yes the club may want him will they dig deep?

The deals already been paid it says so in the article. it's the last year of his contract Saints are paying

With the exception of one or two 'fans' I don't think any Salford fans have said anything unreasonable about his abilities. He's a natural HB that's potentially a diamond, but he needs some more polish before he gets there. You'll soon see what we mean.

Haha was only tongue in cheek mate. Looking forward to seeing him on a regular basis next year.

If I was a Salford fan I would be pretty upset with how their halfbacks have been managed.

Both Sneyd and Fages leaving the club because Salford wanted to spend money on big names. It makes you very concerned when they cannot spot talent under their noses.

However their loss will be our gain. Hopefully Theo can fulfill his potential and be a big player for Saints and France for years to come.

No tinted glasses here mate. It's also sad to see one of our product go at Salford as we don't have the production line as other clubs. However having been wathing Fages for some years now, I fail to believe the hype that a tiny minority of our fans make out to be. He wasn't even the stand out player for the academy when they lost the grand final the other year. The like of Sneyd and Evalds still ahead of him then, then we had Owen, Tyson, Marriot, Davidson. I think the core of that team have just won the title with Oldham.

He not as good as people make out and he may not be as average as some others say, the reality is he'll end up somewhere inbetween. Like I previously mentioned it obviously dissappointing to loose one of out products as a small club we are not doing too bad if we look at what we've lost over the years.

I,m almost sure Salford were assessed and given bottom place for youth development, so I suppose its not surprising young players look elsewhere for there future.

There is no case to lose, the tribunal has been scrapped. Saints have agreed to pay a minimal fee which has been accepted by Salford, it is not a "good fee" by any stretch.

Does this mean Salford thought that they may lose, or is it just a case of getting him out of the club ASAP?

Tweet from MarwanK wishes him all the best and thanks Saints for their professionalism in handling the move.

So Salford have announced it but we haven't. I sincerely hope McManus isn't planning some sort of big unveil tonight for this. We know about it already, so any big screen announcement or on field announcement will just be ridiculous. Fages is a player that some people think has some potential. He's a fringe Salford player, not a big star. If the club tries to make a big deal of this it'll be very cringeworthy. These kind of announcements should be reserved for big stars only.

Be interesting to know the fee, has Marwan been fair, as I feel he would have won the court case if that had been the result.

Quote ="Saddened!"So Salford have announced it but we haven't. I sincerely hope McManus isn't planning some sort of big unveil tonight for this. We know about it already, so any big screen announcement or on field announcement will just be ridiculous. Fages is a player that some people think has some potential. He's a fringe Salford player, not a big star. If the club tries to make a big deal of this it'll be very cringeworthy. These kind of announcements should be reserved for big stars only.'" www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/5270 silly sausage 4 year deal

Quote ="Saddened!"So Salford have announced it but we haven't. I sincerely hope McManus isn't planning some sort of big unveil tonight for this. We know about it already, so any big screen announcement or on field announcement will just be ridiculous. Fages is a player that some people think has some potential. He's a fringe Salford player, not a big star. If the club tries to make a big deal of this it'll be very cringeworthy. These kind of announcements should be reserved for big stars only.'" www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/5270 silly sausage 4 year deal

And the club confirms its £32k (I got the date Theo joined Salford wrong in my previous estimate

) - a long way from 700k!

Decent deal, happy with that

I hope its in his contract to never play at Full Back!!.....................£668 000 saving is good business.

Good signing, I look forward to seeing how he develops with you. Disappointed he has left the club, but he joins a list of other young and talented half-backs such as Jordan Turner, Stefan Ratchford and Marc Sneyd that we just couldn't hold on to.

Whilst Koukash has wasted thousands on Tim Smith, Michael Dobson and Rangi Chase you have to wonder what a half-back combination of Marc Sneyd and Theo Fages would have achieved. During this time, Sneyd has gone on to make the play-offs twice with Cas and Hull as well as play in a Challenge Cup final. Theo has signed a four-year-contract with the current Super League champions.

I really doubt you'd have done any better than you have.

Having said that, Fages clearly has potential and I hope he does really well for Saints and subsequently France.

In which case we'd be in exactly the same position, yet Koukash would have saved himself thousands of pounds in transfer fees (for Smith and Chase) and wouldn't have had to pay Theo or Sneyd anywhere near the sums he has Smith, Chase and Dobson.

It'll be a great signing if only to reduce Roby's workload.

I doubt it will. He can't defend as a hooker, so I can't see him doing anything other than emergency cover.

You're underestimating his defence, whilst it's not in the same league as Roby' (who is) for his size he is very useful.