Anthony Laffranchi - 2011 Discussion Thread

[Tamwelg]

Anthony Laffranchi - 2011 Discussion Thread

General discussion on match performances, position, injuries, contracts, and anything else.

[Tamwelg]

Rumor is that Laffranchi has shelved thoughts of heading to the U.K. and like Bailey is about to sign on for another few years.

[Surfers6]

I think re-singing Laffranchi is a great idea although with the depth coming through i think he would suit us in the front row.
a rotation of Bailey. Laffranchi, James and either White/Henderson or a new signing.

[Titanic]

I agree with S6 except I don't think we need a new front row. You could add Tagataese to that rotation. We are exposed in 9, 7, 6 and 1 if you take Friend out, Prince's poor form and indecision over 6 and 1.

[Chaos]

Laffranchi didn't look interested against the cowboys...took a hit up and stopped before the line.
Was he scared of the Cowboys pack or does he have other issues?

[DIEHARD]

LaFranchise11 Anthony Laffranchi
The results have come in. Unfortunately I will be out of action. With the high ankle sprain.

Source: http://www.twitter.com

[TITAN PETE]

For 8 weeks no less :nope:

[Titan Dad]

For 8 weeks no less :nope:

I hope this isn't true PETE, 8 weeks without BOOF will really hurt as the list is getting shorter and shorter with the injuries mounting. However Carty is a crafty coach and he will come up with the right team.:eyebrows:

[DIEHARD]

Anthony Laffranchi is on top of St Helens' list of NRL players

ENGLISH club St Helens is ready to launch a raid on the NRL after drawing up a hit list of targets topped by Gold Coast forward Anthony Laffranchi.

It is understood that Laffranchi has been the subject of a massive offer from the Super League side as it attempts to fill the void created by the imminent departure of England captain James Graham, who will play in the NRL next season with Canterbury.

Should Laffranchi knock them back _ he has an offer from the Gold Coast and has been mooted as a potential target for Cronulla _ St Helens could yet turn to the Wests Tigers, the club of their former coach Royce Simmons.

Tigers prop Bryce Gibbs is also believed to be on St Helens' hit list, as is Penrith forward Trent Waterhouse. The Saints are scouring the NRL for frontrowers at exactly the right time, with a surfeit of quality forwards on the market.

Apart from Laffranchi, Gibbs and Waterhouse, Manly pair Brent Kite and Jason King are up for grabs, as well as Melbourne's Adam Blair.

Graham and Blair hold the key, and have for some time, with their decisions likely to have ramifications for others. Blair is expected to join the Tigers, although reports Gibbs has become available suggest the club is attempting to make salary-cap room to fit the Storm and New Zealand star on its books.

As yet, no one has been lost to England but Laffranchi could find the dollars too hard to resist. The Titans' decision to sign Luke Douglas this week makes it unlikely they can financially compete with St Helens.

The Titans, who secured Bulldogs centre Jamal Idris on a five-year deal, are also in the process of re-signing former NSW prop Luke Bailey.

Source: http://www.news.com.au

[Rage]

Would really love to see Laffranchi stay on with us but with all our recent signings, management surely has some people they're looking at letting go and I don't think they would fight to keep Boof's higher offers.

[Supergoose]

We missed Laffranchi yesterday against the Eels and so far this season more than we known I think. He is a rock in the second row and steadies our ship when others get that rush of blood. I hope we can find a way to keep him but I'm fairly certain we won't.

[hully gully]

played 2 games this season,scored a try in each 1 refs call that should have benefit of doubt, we need players who can cross the line, surely a keeper???

[Titan_Blue]

Any inside word on how Laffranch's injury has been progressing?

What round can we expect seeing him back on the park? We need him, stat!

[TITAN PETE]

He will be back in 2 weeks

[Titan_Blue]

I assume that's back in the side? As opposed to back on the training paddock...?

If so, woohoo! The bloke must live and breathe fitness and footy, so often he comes back earlier than expected.

[lonegull]

hearing that St Helens have signed Laffranchi

[Titanic]

Bluing with Searle about his offer? Anybody know about this?

[Boofhead]

Talks of a mid season walk out, probably all bull **** though.

[DIEHARD]

You serious? Mid season walk out would be highly unprofessional and unprecidented.

[DIEHARD]

WALK TALK AT TITANS

WE KEEP hearing Anthony Laffranchi is a cranky Titan and it relates to the club throwing big dollars at rival players in his position. There has even been talk of a mid-season walk-out. It’s one to keep an eye on.

SMH

[Tamwelg]

Anthony Laffranchi poised to sign with St Helens as Titans close in on Nate Myles's signature

By Matt Marshall The Courier-Mail May 02, 2011 11:47AM

Ex-Test forward Anthony Laffranchi is poised to sign a lucrative English deal with St Helens as the Titans close in on the prized signature of Maroons Origin star Nate Myles.

Laffranchi, closing in on a return from an ankle injury, is expected to announce as early as this week that he will end his 11-year NRL career at season's end to link with the British Super League giants.

And Gold Coast, who have already snared Kangaroos Test rookie and Bulldogs star Jamal Idris on a long-term deal, are close to securing another major coup by poaching Myles from the Roosters in Laffranchi's place.

Myles, 25, was last night omitted from the Australian team to play the Kiwis at Skilled Park on Friday night.

The 2010 Four Nations squad member is set to face a further blow today ahead of a likely dangerous tackle charge. Myles was placed on report for a lifting tackle on fellow Test casualty Greg Bird in the Coast's 24-13 win on Saturday night.


While reports have suggested a disgruntled Laffranchi will walk out on the Titans mid-year, upset at the amount offered to him by his club while they instead go hard at Myles, he is expected to play out the remainder of the season at Robina.

Myles, a key figure in Queensland's historic Origin five-peat, is expected to exit the Roosters a year early and form a lethal backrow partnership with Bird on the Sunshine Strip in 2012. Bird is happily settled and is midway through a four-year deal at the Gold Coast.

www.foxsports.com.au

[DIEHARD]

Bloody hell. Lafranchi was a "local" junior. Part of the reason why the Titans exist! This is very destablising for our club, when we need to band together and fight our way out of this.

Say it aren't so!

[hammer]

Royce Simmons tweet at about 2pm AEST suggests the deal has been completed.

"late night update for Saints fans, all but confirmed that we've signed Laffranchi"

[DIEHARD]

Royce Simmons tweet at about 2pm AEST suggests the deal has been completed.

"late night update for Saints fans, all but confirmed that we've signed Laffranchi"

:doh: :doh: :doh: Not cool. Looks very likely that we will lose him on that type of news.

[teke]

Good news for Laff, he would be getting a fair few dollars.

[Mushi]

So that "deal" mentioned is for next year? Is that right?

[MJF]

A much better player than Harro and Mini and even myles - he has been poorly used here as a up the middle battering ram the last 2 years to cover the poor work rate of our props (especially when Bull was out) rather than a traditional second row.
Look at his stats outworks everyone as well as scoring tries and producing the most offloads - will be sorely missed although we have already missed out his best due to Carty's game plans

[Tamwelg]

So that "deal" mentioned is for next year? Is that right?

Yes Mushi for next year.

[Tamwelg]

A much better player than Harro and Mini and even myles - he has been poorly used here as a up the middle battering ram the last 2 years to cover the poor work rate of our props (especially when Bull was out) rather than a traditional second row.
Look at his stats outworks everyone as well as scoring tries and producing the most offloads - will be sorely missed although we have already missed out his best due to Carty's game plans

I had noticed his game hadn't been the same the last few years, but I didn't think about it that way. You are probably on to something there and if that's the case he is better off at another club that would use him the way he is meant to be used, which makes me sad.

[Mushi]

Thanks :-)
Was getting confused there with talk of a mid season walkout!!!

[Titan_Blue]

Any word on this latest injury?

[DIEHARD]

Laffranchi out for another fortnight

HE put on a brave face but there was no hiding the fact Anthony Laffranchi was hurting last night after specialists confirmed he faced a further fortnight on the sidelines.

The Gold Coast Titans workhorse was set to make his return from a six-week spell against Canterbury on Friday but went down late in Monday's training session.

"He wasn't too pleased about it," Titans assistant coach Steve Murphy said. "It was very unfortunate. He was training really well and looked good."

Having progressed through the warm-up and training drills unscathed, Laffranchi was dusting off the cobwebs in an contact session before aggravating an ankle.

While there was limited swelling, the 30-year-old was clearly in discomfort and quick to put on his all too familiar moon boot.

Doctors yesterday confirmed the Murwillumbah product tore the scar tissue around his recovering ligaments.

"It's a real pain, mate," Laffranchi said.

"Everything was going along nicely then bam, I get caught, twist in a bad direction and we're back to the doctors.

"It's been a frustrating year injury-wise. I've never experienced anything like it.

"I now know what guys go through with back-to-back injuries. It seems to have been my go this year."

Diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and damaged ligaments following the Titans' round 5 loss to North Queensland, Laffranchi was told he would be out for eight weeks. His reputation for speedy recovery times came to the fore again though, and until Monday he was ready to return two weeks early.

Now he's looking at a round 13 return against Penrith at Skilled Park, all things going well.

"I could open up a shop called Boof's Braces, I've had that many shoulder, wrist and ankle braces," Laffranchi said.

"It doesn't even faze my boy now if I'm in a bandage.

"While they're not long-term injuries, they're ongoing nigglies, especially this ankle one now which is almost two months.

"I spoke to Carty (coach John Cartwright) and we just want to get it right. If that takes full eight weeks, so be it."

With backrowers Ashley Harrison and Greg Bird on State of Origin duty, Laffranchi's experience would have been welcomed in a Titans side desperate to get their season back on track.

While those numbered one through 17 remain unchanged, Murphy yesterday named an extended six man-bench in Cartwright's absence, with Joseph Tomane and Ben Ridge on standby.

"We have named an extended bench to cover all bases," Murphy said. "It's a bit of concern but at the same time we have these young guys who we're keen to give a go to and are confident can fill the void."

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/

[AmericanTitan]

ugh! Get well Boof.

[Titan_Blue]

Thanks for that.

Weird that it says he'll face a further fortnight on the sidelines and then says he'll only miss another week...

Either way that's a good result though.

[DIEHARD]

Anthony Laffranchi ready for Saints move

Anthony Laffranchi, the Gold Coast Titans? forward, has said he is ready for the challenge that awaits him at St Helens.

Laffranchi, 30, signed a two-year contract with Saints earlier this month. He will join Saints from the beginning of their 2012 campaign.

Laffranchi has been brought in as Saints attempt to strengthen the pack after receiving the unfortunate news that their joint-captain James Graham, 25, would be moving to the NRL with the Canterbury Bulldogs from 2012.

The Gold Coast forward feels he is ready to test himself in the Engage Super League. Laffranchi, who was speaking with BBC Radio Merseyside, said: ?I want to pride myself on going across there and testing out that competition. It?s up there with the standard of the NRL, that?s for sure.?

He also spoke of his joy at the reunion with current Saints head coach Royce Simmons, who worked with Laffranchi during his time at West Tigers, and indicated that was a key factor in his decision to take the opportunity offered to him by Saints.

On Simmons, Laffranchi said: ?Royce Simmons knows what kind of player I am and what kind of individual I am.?

?I am looking forward to link back up with Roycie (Simmons). We had six good years at the Tigers, we won a Premiership together, and it?ll be great to be coached by Roycie again.?

He was keen to stress that Simmons was not the only reason for his move. Laffranchi said: ?I definitely know Saint Helens is a very successful team.?

He also talked about how impressed he is with the burgeoning contingent of young players coming through at Saints.

He said: ?They?ve got some great young kids coming through. Especially this year as they?ve been unfortunate through a few injuries, they?ve had to blood a lot of young players but on the back end of that we?re only going to benefit next year as those guys are going to have a bit of experience.?

The Saints supporters will be disappointed to lose their joint-captain, but Laffranchi said their passionate support is part of what made Saint Helens such a desirable destination for him on choosing to leave the NRL.

http://www.code13rugbyleague.com

[UpUpCronulla]

Hey guys do you know if laff is going to be playing second row for the rest of the year?