Is this his agent putting out the first feelers for a return to the UK? Feels like it. https://www.totalrl.com/ex-wigan-warrio ... al-return/

Is this his agent putting out the first feelers for a return to the UK? Feels like it. https://www.totalrl.com/ex-wigan-warrio ... al-return/

Warrington written all over him. Centre is their weak spot.

Wardle and Gildart both left centres so it’s a no.

I’d be surprised if he doesn’t end up with his mate at Warrington as well.

Interesting to read Welsby’s comments about the NRL last night, with him basically saying he’s young and is just focussed on winning things with St Helens. It’s a world away from lads we’ve had in our squad, who make it clear they’ll be off when they get the chance.

If we could keep hold of our players instead of them going to the NRL our potent left edge of

Joe Burgess, Gildart, Williams and Farrell would be into its 9th season together.

That is the continuity needed to put together back to back GFs

It's the one thing I would truly like to find the answer out to. How do they manage to keep hold of their players and we don't?

It's similar to the great Leeds team I.e all about the team, achieving something special and what you can do for it Vs what it can do for you.

I'm not saying we're fully the latter, but we've definitely had an approach of "do well here and who knows where you'll end up". From the outside it seems like Leeds, or Saints say "stay here and let's see if we can do something special."

It’s a question that I’ve asked for a while and one I’ve never had the nuts to ask at a fans forum. The question always asked is ‘why can’t we keep our players?’ but that’s obvious given the salary cap differences. The question should be is ‘how do Saints do it?’ and that’s a mystery and one which will just grow following this World Club win (if players don’t go).

Mike Rush said yesterday that money isn’t everything and it’s success that keeps them but surely that is only applicable with minimal differences between players real values and what they’re currently getting. They have no players on Marquee deals by all accounts but no human being alive is going to under value themselves to that degree. To have no marquee player, you’re talking an average salary of 100k (ish) per player. Now they have 8-10 players under selling themselves by fortunes if that’s the case and plenty of good players turning out for much less than 100k if it’s not.

It’s good for the game that they can keep them and I’m a believer that clubs should be able to spend what they can afford but I’ve struggled for a good while to get my head round it.

'St Helens embroiled in salary cap scandal - titles stripped...'

And then I woke up.

I wouldn't be so sure with Welsby. My understanding is that him and his agent were chatting to Aussie clubs during the WCC trip. I'm not saying it is for next season, it may well be him scoping out options for 2025 onwards. As I've said before I'd be disappointed in him if he didn't go there and chance his arm

What is interesting though is the number of Saints players having testimonials compared to other clubs. Someone posted the stats a few days ago and we have 6 qualifying players still playing and the rest of SL combined have 10

Of late Makinson, Percival, Walmsley, Lomax and LMS have had testimonials. Roby is due another one next season too!!

One day

In fairness it sounds bitter by me all that and I’m genuinely not. I’ve been intrigued by how it’s being managed over there for a few seasons now. If they’re doing it all above board, it’s even more impressive than the trophy wins and the players being paid much much less than they could get elsewhere, deserve bucket loads of credit for putting the club, their mates and success first.

If I look at Lomax, he must be looking at Williams on 300k a year and thinking ‘I’m that good’ or Walmsley must look at NRL props getting £300/400/500k a season and think he’s every bit as good. Welsby in the short term and even more so long term can look at fullbacks probably not as good as him, playing in the NRL and getting absolute fortunes. It’s probably over egged but reports are that Ponga is on £675,000 a year and a guy wanting to be a fullback in Farnworth has signed a deal reported for be about £350-400k a season at the Dolphins. Welsby could demand similar money to Farnworth without doubt if he moved, so I can’t have it he’ll be sitting here on 100-150k a year.