I'd rather take a chance on Fages over O'Brien to be honest.

I'd be inclined to agree, Fages would seem to have more potential

Do we have to pay off Salford?

As far as I know, the tribunal is to decide whether Salford have broken the terms of his contract. If he wins, then I think he'd be free to walk and there would be no fee involved. If he loses then I'd assume he's still a Salford player and they'll be able to name their price.

Theo is managed by tmsportsuk - they are no fools. If they win he can sign anywhere for free. If Salford win then any prospective fee is reduced by the events of the last few months. Theo hasn't played & the club have an unhappy player on there books who refuses to play for them. I can see a scenario whereby a small more realistic fee if any at all is agreed & he goes as per his wishes. I see Chase can now leave fee free according to Koukash on Twitter, what's going on there who knows.

I'd say they are getting rid of the dead wood, those players who joined the club for a fat salary rather than to play with heart. I'd probably exclude Fages from that. I think he may have been lead up the garden path by his agent, who I think is also the agent for Locke (who lost his case against Salford today).

Theo will 100% be joining Saints. I expect the deal to be announced by the end of the week. Saints will be required to pay a fee, due to his age and for development costs incurred by Salford.

Is this the rfl sanctioned transfer fee tribunal? If so, it works out at just over 22k - I wouldn't be displeased at that price.

Also heard there was a saints player going on loan the other way to sweeten the deal, no idea who though

Dawson hopefully!

Redvee discussion board suggest Flash will go the other way.

Isn't Flash out of contract anyway? So I can't see how that's a sweetener for Fages unless McManus has suddenly become really good at negotiating?

Could it be Charnock?

Salford have offered flash a contract, but he's holding out in the hope to get an extension from Saints.

It may be possible we agree a new deal with flash and then loan him to Salford immediately?

I think that would depend on anything happening with Tommy Lee, Logan Tomkins and Liam Hood.

I think I remember reading that Logan Tomkins is going elsewhere, if I'm not mistaken. If they're losing Fages and Chase they'll be needing backup in the halves, and Charnock will be further down the pecking order here if Fages is joining us. It wouldn't be a bad move, actually - he'd get some SL experience and then be ready to come back when Burns's contract is up.

Should we be in for Chase ? Superbly talented, and you'd have to hope that his maturity might improve now he's nearly 30.

Would only work if we could offload Burns I'd imagine.

I thought that as well. He'd be class at Saints but I imagine he's on silly money that only a NRL club could pay now.

No way would McManus have him.

Chase has the talent but he is a disruptive presence around anywhere he goes, mostly to himself. You need a man-manager that can work miracles to keep him happy. As for Fages, well I think personally he has the chance to be a great HB, but isn't the finished article by a long way just yet. Saints could be the making of him. Or the ruin. Time will tell.

From seeing him week in week out, what would you say Fages strength's and weaknesses are?

Theo didn't go to tribunal an agreement between clubs was reached

You mean it got noticed how he could not direct the team around the park? How he hasn't got a kicking game, he's weak in defence. In my opinion Fages will turn out to be an average SL, I'm prepared to be shot down on that. He's been the golden boy with some Salford fans for some year, why? i'm not quite sure, presumably becauae I long standing fan put him up when he origionally arrived from France, however fans did start to turn on him when out best prospect was being kept out the side to keep Theo in and putting Chase to FB... Don't ask why as this is Salford after all... His best attribute is his enthusism, he never gives up, he's a good support runner but don't be expecting him to break the line on a regular basis. He can be used as an interchange hooker and will run from dummy half, but sometimes he looks like he's running in treacle.

To suggest he is best than Lomax, I'd disagree, he seems a more classy player and composed with ball in hand. Also he can kick. Only thing wrong with Lomax is his injuries as far as I can see from an outsider view. That's my honest opinion of Theo anyway, hopefully Long can work on all his game really and fufill his world class potentinal a handfull of Salford fans think he have...

If Saints are after him which is no way nailed on, they are probably looking at the potential as he not the finished article. Saints 12 months down the track will be looking for a running half back and an understudy for James Roby.

When we first signed Sean Long he was a bit of a maverick, running all over the place, made lots of creative errors but would come up with one special moment in a game, perhaps Fages is similar but needs a change of club, culture and direction to progress his development. You say his best attributes is enthusiasm, never giving up thats a good base to work from, thats the kind of mindset you want in a player with potential, I,m sure Sean Long would be keen to work on his creative, tactical game.

It could all be a false dawn though, he might have plans to go elsewhere than Saints.

He's fit. He'll never give up. He'll always give his all. Decent support game. Decent distributor.

He's not a natural line-breaker, poor kicking game, and can get knocked about in defense. He doesn't seem to be a natural organiser.