Matty Lees signed for next season?? https://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/viewt ... 49#p555949

Matty Lees signed for next season?? https://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/viewt ... 49#p555949

It would be worth it for the meltdown it would cause on Red Vee but I can't see it. I think we've set ourselves up in terms of props to be covered for a good while, without the need to bring anyone in. I think we'll see Byrne leave and Hill move up a spot and then guys like Eseh, McDermott and Makin will fill in behind.

[quote="NickyKiss":2v2k20jr]It would be worth it for the meltdown it would case on Red Vee but I can't see it. I think we've set ourselves up in terms of props to be covered for a good while, without the need to bring anyone in. I think we'll see Byrne leave and Hill move up a spot and then guys like Esh, McDermott and Makin will fill in behind.[/quote:2v2k20jr] i agree, unless the club know that another one of our props is moving on, although i think they are all contracted for next season at least. Byrne was the exception as he was out of contract at the end of the season

I don't understand it if it is true, he would command one hell of a salary and be potentially third/fourth choice

Looks like we are doing business early again, in and out which is very positive. Focus needs to be on a secondrow for 2026. Faz and Isa are well past their prime. Jury still out on Walters. Outside of Nsemba couple of youngsters starting to kick on but we can cope with losing Byrne with what we have already at the club.

[quote="Mark_P1973":ebu42xks]Matty Lees signed for next season?? https://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/viewt ... 49#p555949[/quote:ebu42xks] Lee's has signed a new deal with Saints along with Knowles according to our friends over on redvee

[quote="Mark_P1973":ebu42xks]Matty Lees signed for next season?? https://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/viewt ... 49#p555949[/quote:ebu42xks] Lee's has signed a new deal with Saints along with Knowles according to our friends over on redvee

[quote="NickyKiss":2penkyiw]It would be worth it for the meltdown it would cause on Red Vee but I can't see it. I think we've set ourselves up in terms of props to be covered for a good while, without the need to bring anyone in. I think we'll see Byrne leave and Hill move up a spot and then guys like Eseh, McDermott and Makin will fill in behind.[/quote:2penkyiw] I was told this earlier in the week but took it with a pinch of salt. Redvee is already in meltdown.

The things people post for attention….

[quote="The Yellow Giraffe":11hjhqxv]The things people post for attention….[/quote:11hjhqxv] If you are referring to my post then both parts hold.

[quote="Zig":1c4re11a]If you are referring to my post then both parts hold.[/quote:1c4re11a] Not at all. I’m referring the person on the other forum who started the rumour. He/she will soon look silly.

[quote="jonh":2lvuiz8a]Looks like we are doing business early again, in and out which is very positive. Focus needs to be on a secondrow for 2026. Faz and Isa are well past their prime. Jury still out on Walters. Outside of Nsemba couple of youngsters starting to kick on but we can cope with losing Byrne with what we have already at the club.[/quote:2lvuiz8a] Agree re priority must be on the secondrow and it must be someone with some good experience in terms of years and playing at a very good standard.

For me I think Faz has got 2 years left in him as a starter. Obviously not the player he was but still a work horse, fit as a fiddle and has the immeasurable asset of being our leader. Hoping for a massive year from Walters.

[quote="The Yellow Giraffe":3h1znmza]Not at all. I’m referring the person on the other forum who started the rumour. He/she will soon look silly.[/quote:3h1znmza] Fair enough, I apologise. Another person in the know is stating that Lees is going to Wire. I take it, by your comment, that you are confident Lees is extending his stay at Saints?

[quote="Zig":1n8tcerj]Fair enough, I apologise. Another person in the know is stating that Lees is going to Wire. I take it, by your comment, that you are confident Lees is extending his stay at Saints?[/quote:1n8tcerj] Yeah new deals for him and Knowles to be announced before the season starts.

[quote="The Yellow Giraffe":1tme533e]Yeah new deals for him and Knowles to be announced before the season starts.[/quote:1tme533e] Ok thanks. I assume that is where Matautia’s money has gone, together with resigning Delaney.

[quote="Zig":2b3qybmn]Ok thanks. I assume that is where Matautia’s money has gone, together with resigning Delaney.[/quote:2b3qybmn] Yeah it looks that way. Matautia was a strange one because as good as he was, the fact he was a bit of a jack of all trades means him leaving doesn’t leave a gap in a specific position if you get me. For example if Clark left we’d need a hooker, if Percival left we’d need a centre, etc. Whereas with Matautia I feel we have the numbers to cover him as he was playing pretty much a utility/cover role last year. Obviously I wanted another signing in but I don’t feel like there’s a glaringly obvious hole in our squad. Centre is probably most precarious and I would have personally much preferred us to release Hurrell and sign someone a bit more dependable there. As long as it’s one of the young lads and Ben Davies who is used to cover the inevitable Hurrell injury then I can cope with it.

[quote="The Yellow Giraffe":1ktxkcp8]Yeah it looks that way. Matautia was a strange one because as good as he was, the fact he was a bit of a jack of all trades means him leaving doesn’t leave a gap in a specific position if you get me. For example if Clark left we’d need a hooker, if Percival left we’d need a centre, etc. Whereas with Matautia I feel we have the numbers to cover him as he was playing pretty much a utility/cover role last year. .[/quote:1ktxkcp8] You're right of course, but the flip side of that is that you lose quality depth in lots of positions at once. Gives you more flexibility in the same way a good all rounder does in cricketing terms. Not the end of the world in terms of its impact on the quality of your starting XVII, but if you have a worse than average run of injuries then a player like Matautia can be a godsend.

I think Matautia is a big loss for Saints tbh. The versatility he brought was a positive but above anything else, he's just a very good player. There is a real need for Batchelor and Whitley to make major improvements on their form of last year to cover his exit as a second rower and I felt like he could develop in to one of the better props in the league. He brought an aggressive edge in defence as well and was the sort of player you'd trust in big games, so I am surprised no replacement has been brought in, be that a second rower or a prop.

[quote="NickyKiss":2rwrt804]I think Matautia is a big loss for Saints tbh. The versatility he brought was a positive but above anything else, he's just a very good player. There is a real need for Batchelor and Whitley to make major improvements on their form of last year to cover his exit as a second rower and I felt like he could develop in to one of the better props in the league. He brought an aggressive edge in defence as well and was the sort of player you'd trust in big games, so I am surprised no replacement has been brought in, be that a second rower or a prop.[/quote:2rwrt804] He was never a centre though.

[quote="Zig":37jf2ari]He was never a centre though.[/quote:37jf2ari] No, definitely not his position nowadays. I could've understood them not signing a replacement forward for Matuatia had they gone out and got a centre instead but to run with Hurrell again as first choice seems odd.

[quote="NickyKiss":37uf1mqi]No, definitely not his position nowadays. I could've understood them not signing a replacement forward for Matuatia had they gone out and got a centre instead but to run with Hurrell again as first choice seems odd.[/quote:37uf1mqi] I cannot understand the resigning of Hurrell, he looked shot last season and, by all accounts, he suffered a very bad injury. I am sure that Saints could have made better use of their last non-federation trained spot, perhaps there were no suitable players available for the amount of salary Hurrell commands. Maybe he will prove me wrong and fair play if he does.

[quote="Zig":1me7o3gq]I cannot understand the resigning of Hurrell, he looked shot last season and, by all accounts, he suffered a very bad injury. I am sure that Saints could have made better use of their last non-federation trained spot, perhaps there were no suitable players available for the amount of salary Hurrell commands. Maybe he will prove me wrong and fair play if he does.[/quote:1me7o3gq] Probably no one in their academy that can step up and no cap space for a decent replacement

Hurrell will still be difficult to stop with a head of steam. Lateral defence is a big problem though and hard to see him playing a full year without injury.

[quote="MadDogg":irkdk3ek]Hurrell will still be difficult to stop with a head of steam. Lateral defence is a big problem though and hard to see him playing a full year without injury.[/quote:irkdk3ek] Field managed to stop him 2mtrs from the line and force a knock-on in the CC semi

[quote="Zig":1xn4cnhk]I was told this earlier in the week but took it with a pinch of salt. Redvee is already in meltdown.[/quote:1xn4cnhk] lmao Where is the meltdown?