Half a season + pre season is better than just a pre season.I'm probably in the minority but I'd rather wait til next year for Thompson to come over.
We're highly unlikely to come close to making the 8 this year and Thompson wouldn't have had a full offseason with the team so he'd be somewhat underdone, especially as he'd have to self isolate for two weeks.
This season should be used to give our up and coming players as much game experience as possible. I'd rather Thompson came next year with hopefully some other key signings and then hit the ground running after the preseason with his fellow recruits.
Not if he looks ordinary in the half a season because he hasn't trained with the team and he was rushed over. Or if we continue to struggle.. It wouldn't be fair to him really.Half a season + pre season is better than just a pre season.
Judging by the silence of a few some unfortunately jumped before hearing the newsHow about those Andrew Mculloch rumours. Hopefully a few of you got back from the cliff before you jumped
Trained with the team? You speak like we have in depth systems and tactics that will take months to learn lol.Not if he looks ordinary in the half a season because he hasn't trained with the team and he was rushed over. Or if we continue to struggle.. It wouldn't be fair to him really.
Hopefully if he comes, he adapts quickly but it's not the best set of circumstances for him to make the transition. Especially with Tolman still at the club.
Disagree....would definitely take Fifita for 1.2 million....he would add that X factor to our team...he is going to be one hell of a playerImagine a forward pack of Thompson, a firebrand Napa (not the powder puff he is now) Bateman, Jackson and whoever. Fair enough taumalolo is the hardest running and hitting back rower in the Comp. but for mine Bateman has some skill and finesse. You’d take Bateman at 800k over fafita for 1.1 that’s for sure.
Yeah you're probably right. I won't complain if he comes early. I just hope it helps him rather than hinders him.Trained with the team? You speak like we have in depth systems and tactics that will take months to learn lol.
If he looks ordinary then he looks ordinary, use this season as a transition period and be set for preseason with a better idea on what he does and doesn't have to work on.
I really don't see how getting here now could possibly be a negative, if it is then he probably isn't good enough in the first place anyway.
Disagree....would definitely take Fifita for 1.2 million....he would add that X factor to our team...he is going to be one hell of a player
Thing is that contracts even for Super League players end before that. So he can't be playing on our time. As he will be contracted to the Bulldogs who will be paying him from Nov. Its why the NRL had to shorten the season to ensure that problem didn't arise (Players playing for a club while contracted to another).If he doesn't get a release it will be interesting to see what happens if the Super Leagues does start up as they had three plans and one ended in November, 2nd ends in December, 3rd ends in January.
If any of those eventuate Thompson will be playing for St Helens on our time.
https://www.totalrl.com/super-league-to-return-on-opening-august-weekend/
Tolman might be the perfect player to give them in the meantime. We get one of the best props. St Helens get a journeyman who will do the job, just not as well. Might even extend his career in ESL.Not if he looks ordinary in the half a season because he hasn't trained with the team and he was rushed over. Or if we continue to struggle.. It wouldn't be fair to him really.
Hopefully if he comes, he adapts quickly but it's not the best set of circumstances for him to make the transition. Especially with Tolman still at the club.
Who knows what the Super League will do though. I know FIFA gave permission for the soccer contracts to be extended by a few months to finish their seasons so it could happen in the Super League too. St Helens might try to talk to the Dogs to get him to stay till the end of Super League.Thing is that contracts even for Super League players end before that. So he can't be playing on our time. As he will be contracted to the Bulldogs who will be paying him from October. Its why the NRL had to shorten the season to ensure that problem didn't arise (Players playing for a club while contracted to another).
So St Helens need to weight up whether it's worth losing a critical player towards the end of season. Or just go with what they have already and free up the salary cap.
Thats a governing body who has some balls. What we have is a powerful NRL, a weaker ESL, and an even weaker International Body. No chance that happens.Who knows what the Super League will do though. I know FIFA gave permission for the soccer contracts to be extended by a few months to finish their seasons so it could happen in the Super League too. St Helens might try to talk to the Dogs to get him to stay till the end of Super League.
The best option for us would be Super League getting canned so we don’t have to worry about St Helens.
It would make sense but Tolman would have to agree on the move and he seems like the type who would just finish out his contract.Tolman might be the perfect player to give them in the meantime. We get one of the best props. St Helens get a journeyman who will do the job, just not as well. Might even extend his career in ESL.