The commentator on Sky stated that Matty's contract expires at the end of the season and that both Saints and Wigan were both wanting to sign him. In now emerges that Widnes are also interested. I heard this morning that he has signed a 3 year deal with WIGAN? Can't really blame him for turning Saints down after the way he was treated.

He can't have been treated that badly if he's even considered an offer from Saints surely? I'm pretty sure he has gone to Wigan aswell but I wouldn't have minded him back at all, looks to have got everything our current halfbacks don't provide ie the ability to organise and kick.

Bad news if he has turned us down, as it means we've not signed a half back to lead us out of this creative black hole we're currently in.

Signed for Wigan.

Would Matty be the answer?
I don't see much of him these days,but I remeber the majority of the time us bemoaning his reluctance to take the ball to the line - prefering to just ship it immediately. He's got a fair boot on him mind.
Salford's creativity seems to come from Holdsworth and Pattern when I see them.

Matty Smith is a viable option if you have quick and elusive players at one and six. Anything less and you're wondering where the cutting edge is coming from.

Made up if he's signed for Wigan.

Also made up that we were looking at him, as it shows we're looking for a half back. Hopefully something alot better than Matty Smith comes along.

You see, I have the opposite outlook, not surprisingly. To me it means Smith was our first choice for half back next season and now we've failed to get him. Presumably this means we'll have to go after an inferior player or keep playing Hohaia.

Glad it's recognised that we need a scrum half. If the rumours are true then I'm a little surprised Wigan are after Smith & Gaskell?

Probably confirms that finch is on his way out. You'd have to say that Gaskell and smith aren't exactly inspiring signings, added to tge likes of gelling and the trogs and Wigan do seem to be going for mediocrity. Ok while the team is dull of confidence, but when the bubble bursts they will be found out.

my wish would by for brown to bring danny brough with him, a proper scrum half.

It's cheaper to sign players with potential to be good players and working with them than it is to sign the finished article.

Our coaching team obviously feel they can improve Gelling, Smith (if true) etc.

They haven't done too bad with McIlorum, Hansen, Goulding, have they?

You didn't sign them though did you.

Smith will replace Tommy Leuluai at 7.
Finch is quoted as saying he hasn't made a decision yet.

Oh, how far has the English game fallen when us and the pies have to fight it out to sign Smith and Gaskell as the best possible available halves.... Maybe I'd feel better if I started inhabiting the same twilight world that so many other Saints fan are full time residents of and start complaining over how **** our recruiting is because we haven't signed a worldclass replacement for Long yet...



If only - no way it's going to happen though as far too many £s involved in a transfer fee. It says everything that the pies are (apparently) having to lump it and sign Smith instead.

Maybe. But he tends to go missing in pressure matches.

What is it with people and their gross underestimation of Gaskell's potential? I'm telling you, when this kid adds a stone and half a yard he'll be carving his way through defences.

I think it's just fickleness. Gaskell is out of everyone's sightline now, having been dropped (undeservedly IMO). So people just go with whatever option is spouted at any one time.

Gaskell could have been building on his experience of last season and I think it is sad that he has been denied that opportunity.

He might add weight, but he won't add pace, he's as fast now as he ever will be. Not that that is a bad thing, when he is in space he is fast.

Danny Brough epitomises the word Journeyman halfback

He is so good that he consistently fails to deliver the goods when playing against decent opposition, and has been passed around from club to club throughout his career after a succession of coaches have given up on him.

You hear fans talk about his superb kicking game and great pace, but the reality is that he rarely uses these skills.

When he does, he can look good, but the overall package is very average. Its why the key creative players at Huddersfield are Kevin Brown, Scott Grix and Luke Robinson.

He should be able to add a yard of pace, otherwise olympic sprint champions would all be teenage lads.
The reality is that they are usually in their mid to late twentys when they start bringing home the gold gongs.

They are sprinters. Ergo, thats what they train, sprint technique and target the muscles required for explosive speed. Gaskell is a rugby player. 2 different things.

Saints used to do sprint training on a regular basis. I don't know whether they still do it.

Rugby players can be pushed on in their pace too, you know, and some will be natural sprinters.

Could be they have SC / image rights payments problems?

After all they maxed out with Sam and had to turn to sky for assistance to boost his salary.

How can he be at his fastest when he hasn't even developed fully? It'll be somewhere around 22/23 when his speed hits its peak (provided he doesn't add weight or pick up some injury).

As for the idea that sprint coaches cannot improve a player's basic speed - utter rubbish. Ask Doug Laughton how much speed Andy Currier gained after three months of sprint training. That bloke went from a reasonably quick centre/winger to someone who could go the entire length of the field without anyone gaining so much as a yard on him.

Graeme West once gave an interview in which he talked about the benefits of bringing in that 400m runner from Wigan whose name escapes me. IIRC, his entire back line clocked significantly faster times after one pre-season.