I thought Ratchford had signed for Wigan?!



I'd be surprised if Barba had signed for anyone yet: good bit of business to get him paraded around in front of all the teams to aid the bidding-after tonight's showing I would hope Moran would be digging as deep as he needs to, both to get Barba and to keep Ratch. With Benny and FB and Ratch in the centre, that god awful back line suddenly starts to look a lot better.

The rumours we've been hearing on the Saints sites were that it was between Saints, Wire and Catalans for his signature. It quickly progressed to both you and Catalans offering far more than Saints, but that it was okay because we'd get Ratchford if he signed for you or Tony Gigot if he signed for Catalans. Very strange as you've got so many off contract that you wouldn't be forced to oust Ratchford and have several who you'd surely let go first, such as your pathetic outside backs.

It was an interesting setup wasn't it. Sky picked up on his being there, but didn't show who he was sitting with. From what they showed on Sky, he watched the Wakefield/Widnes game, the Saints/Hull game then left. They said on Sky he was in the Saints dressing room and from what people on Twitter were saying, he never went back to watch your game. Has he played with anyone in the Saints camp?

Quote ="Saddened!"Has he played with anyone in the Saints camp?'" played under your New coach at the Bulldogs: www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... -st-helens

Quote ="Saddened!"Has he played with anyone in the Saints camp?'" played under your New coach at the Bulldogs: www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... -st-helens

Let's look at the evidence.

We sign him. We'll STILL play Smith/Agar's formulaic dross.
He'll try and play "off the cuff" stuff. He'll get reigned in by Smith/Agar
He'll go"off the rails" (he does have a history)
He'll "bugger off"

Now. Where have I heard this before?


If this deal goes through, Smith needs locking up, and Moran needs certifying

There is a risk with him but he's one hell of a player. Check out his showreel on the 'video sharing website'- I'm certain he would put bums back on seats.

What could possibly go wrong eh.

There is one alternate scenario, that he reforms himself and has a stellar season with us, becomes a Wire cult hero for a year, then NRL clubs get interested again, his agent starts leaking stories to the press that he's homesick, and he gets in an ugly dispute with the club about wanting to leave.

We've said the same, 2 years ago.
How did that work out?
As great a player he may be., he'''s still "an accident waiting to happen".


Unless we win something pdq, I'd stick a transfer embargo on Smith, and saunter through the next few years, until his contract expires.

There'll be a NEW Barba, then.

This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html

This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html

I am starting to read rubber duckie's posts in Donald Trump's voice.

Top of the league and in two Grand Finals.

Although if we had gone for Kevin Brown instead of Sandow back then who knows we could have got over the line in one of the finals at least.

Quote ="Jack Pepsi"This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html'" That article is dated in February and I think he's technically still with Toulon. Didn't Eddie mention during commentary that he'd heard rumours that he'd signed for Warrington. On redvee they're quite hopefull he'll be joining them as apparently went into the saints dressing room and spoke to Mike Rush.

Quote ="Jack Pepsi"This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html'" That article is dated in February and I think he's technically still with Toulon. Didn't Eddie mention during commentary that he'd heard rumours that he'd signed for Warrington. On redvee they're quite hopefull he'll be joining them as apparently went into the saints dressing room and spoke to Mike Rush.

OK fair play

Quote ="Jack Pepsi"This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html'" The french Season has just finished and Barba has been told he isnt in their pans for next season despite still being under Contract ...so effectively sacked... millionaire owner i guess not bothered about paying him off....

Quote ="Jack Pepsi"This would seem to cast doubt on things unless I'm missing something https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh ... u2upb.html'" The french Season has just finished and Barba has been told he isnt in their pans for next season despite still being under Contract ...so effectively sacked... millionaire owner i guess not bothered about paying him off....

That's more like it SC, back on form



Love the suggestion that Smith would stifle Barba. Like he did with Sandow you mean? Or when we had a load of ball players 2009-2013? You go with what you've got-when we needed a half in an emergency to fill the gap Sandow left, we got the best available it would seem: a current international half-back, but not one necessarily blessed with the ball skills most of us would like. But I'm sure Mr Brown would be a much better player if Smith said: "free reign lad, just play off the cuff and do whatever you fancy". We'd be top of the league in no time, eh? Or maybe Westwood would be getting hit in the face with his passes instead of the shoulder??

Perhaps he did go to the Saints changing room, it seems he wants to be the first to tell Rush his decision to reject Saints for the Wire in person first before they get second hand rumours.
Very decent of him.

You must be very confident ....

if you're wrong on this you'll be like Matty Russell at a world class wingers convention........mercilessly ridiculed....

It makes more sense to me BB going to pass on his reject decision than to be joining them for greasing Wilkins hair and a celebratory sing song.

He was with rush before the saints game. Went in the dressing room after the game.

Ratchford has been out best player this season. When he came back into the side we started to turn it around. If we sell him, the coaches and whoever is in charge of recruitment should go as well

This isn't a rumour but a passing comment on a Saints board.
Get a grip all...it doesn't even make sense.
Doh.

If this Ben Barba chap is looking for the best deal before he signs, how mercenary would he be if somewhere down the line an Aussie club came back in offering big bucks ? Would he just walk away like Sandow & leave his club in the lurch ? As far as some overseas players are concerned it has become evident that contracts may as well be written on toilet paper.
As for his signature ,i think Saints would want want him most because, from what i heard last night, Lomax could be having too many knee problems to carry on playing.

A passing comment?

Justin holbrook admitted saints have been in talks with him for over a week and that his hopefull we can get the deal done. Daily Mirror journalist snapped Barba with Rush.

I dont think we will sign him because I don't think we have the money but to suggest the deal to wire is done makes no sense at all. Barba himself has admitted his talking to a few clubs and a decision next week.

That has nowt to do with Ratchford going to Saints!
??

This rumour has been put to bed by Ratch himself on twitter this morning so lets leave it at that!

There's some on that redvee forum.....

I do like a fickle fan....but they are working out that when Barba completes his 12 match ban he should be available for the semi and the grand final. ....



I've had a sleep on this Barba thing. ...and I'm not denying his quality but this nrl maverick with a series of off field issues drinking and gambling included....and a taste for disco sherbert. ......It just all seems a bit familiar. .....

And people are entertaining shipping out a quality pro, a decent human being, and a genuine star of superleague to make way for Barba.......

I know Barba has won a Dally M player of the year and as the great Neil Midgley used to say in his after dinner speaches "you don't get them in lucky bags".

But I have some reservations about this potential signing . .....I guess I was fooled with the initial comment that we would be blown away with the next signing. ..... I guess I was hoping for Greg Inglis....