But Saints might not have another highly paid back rower on their books for next season. Of course we could have matched Saints' offer, but if that would have tied up too great a proportion of the salary cap in the back row, it was right not too. We'll still have one of the better back rows in the comp next year anyway - Ellis, Tickle and Whiting looks pretty tasty to me.

As for our attack, a new stand off and full back, together with Heremaia coming into the side, should make us more dangerous all ways round.

Sorry to see him go and won't be looking forward to him playing against us. Best wishes to him and thanks for everything you did for us at Hull.

Saints pack looks like this for next year ...

Perry
Roby
Laffranchi
Soliola
Manu
Wilkin

Puletua
Clough
LMS
Flanaghan

If Moa and O Meley also leave (as is highly likely) we need some really good forward signings to match that IMO. And whatever stand off we bring in needs a dominant pack to play behind. When I look at the players listed above and think how much money some of them are on I still feel that we should have been able to retain Manu. In fact I think we need 2 or 3 high calibre signings in the forwards just to stand still if the aforementioned players join Manu at the exit door.

McRae said the deal would make him "one of the biggest earners at the club", maybe Manu has gone for different reasons?

Fair play to him whatever his reasons but if we're to do anything we need to keep the quality we have and move on the also rans.

Exactly, there's only so far you can go.

We need props, undoubtedly. Which is another good reason we shouldn't be sinking too much of the salary cap into the back row.

Saints appear to have a good back row and good props.

Indeed, but their back row is no better than ours. Which means if we use our cap wisely when it comes to strengthening the front row, we'll have a pack that's just as good as theirs.

I think their back row might be better than ours next year with Manu leaving us and going there. I'm disappointed that Ellis has now become a replacement for Manu instead of an addition to the squad.

It can't be changed - he's gone - but I don't think it's good business. You do which is fine. I'll look with interest to see who comes in at prop. If we get a couple of current/ex internationals in maybe the overall balance will be good enough. The same goes for any incoming half back.

Not the first time someone has wondered that and doubt it will be the last. You could say the same about the squads at a couple of other clubs as well. Maybe they've managed their cap better over the years.

It's also worth remembering that we don't know for sure that money is why he's leaving. Maybe he wanted something else that he thinks he'll get at Saints and not here. Must be something important to uproot himself and his family and move to the other side of the country.

Our best player IMO and really disappointed to lose him. Leaves a massive hole in our attack which I don't believe ellis fills. As staffs says, we will have to have some top recruitment if our forward pack is going to be anywhere near as good as the likes of saints, wigan, wire etc

I don't think a back row of Soliola, Manu and Wilkin is any better than a back row of Ellis, Tickle and Whiting. They're fairly evenly matched in terms of ability and likely overall cost, I would have said.



As am I, but sometimes it works out that way. It doesn't mean we've necessarily done anything wrong.



I'm not saying I think it's good business to let one of our better players go, just that it's not [inecessarily[/i bad business. No player is so important that they're worth keeping at any cost. If we'd have had to pay Manu the same as Ellis is likely to be on to keep him (for example), then it's probably right to let him go so that we can strengthen other, more important areas.



I'm far more worried about the prop situation than the back row, which will be as good (or almost as good) as any in the league. If we don't replace O'Meley and Moa (if he goes) with two very good props, we're going to struggle. Same if we don't get another decent half. Back row is the very least of my worries for next year.

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Absolutely gutted. All feels a bit real now. Will seem all wrong to see him in red and white.

Same, watching that video just made the whole thing hit home.

Thanks for everything Willie!

Same, I do not recall being this upset about losing a player for many a year, I am still struggling with the fact we are losing our biggest attacking threat, absolute madness imo

Because he's going to a dominant SL team with a coach that's flying high. Oh, hang on..

...we offered 3 yrs and he signed for 2!! Bomber implied the deal would make him one of the highest paid at the club, his family & children are settled

I've given up, nothing makes sense any-more

Why would you think Saints can't afford him?


Not a squad full of international superstars are they?

Why would you think that's what I was saying?

Gone to win trophies it would seem - oh and to 'look after himself'

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Was always about money, since we signed Ellis. Fair play to him, he owes us nothing.

It makes you wonder just how much his contract is worth considering Saints are not known for giving 30+ year olds more than one year deals.

Sorry to say it but if iwas a professional rugby league player who'd never won a thing and had the chance to choose a team who had the better chance from Saints or FC id choose Saints