Prior is a prop.

Need a propper prop I think he means

Unfortunately does work like that, because Prior is on the overseas quota, whereas Peteru isn’t. Merrin, Cuthbertson, Lui, Martin, Seumanufagai are our quota players.

I think it looks like we are going to start the season with the squad we’ve got and look to move players on/bring some in mid season as players fall out of favour and become available

Its early days yet. There is plenty of time to bring players in.

Spoke too soon, Peteru gone

I would still think that Albert (Featherstone?), Ferres, Myler and Cuthbertson could all leave / retire if the right opportunity came up.

This would leave us with a leaner and meaner squad that is still a prop and hooker short plus has a reserve team filled with the exciting youngsters ready to step in when required.

That said, even if an experienced prop comes in, we would still look short of cover here, so maybe Cuthbertson goes around again if the 2 gaps can be filled by English players (I have no idea who though)

Kind of recycling the same views here but with us letting Lunt go you have to assume we are in for a hooker. Johnson is way to green to be a regular and Dwyer way too erratic to be an 80 minute player each week.

What I'm not sure on is if releasing Peteru is to allow a hooker to be signed or to allow us to sign a better prop. We will have Crosby back which will be like a new player but obviously his injury record isnt great.

Then there is the talk of a winger.

I think we will see a hooker, a prop and a winger. It's just what level of quality we can get with cap and quota restrictions.

Still no news on Singleton?

Pete Smith tweeted that the Singleton to Toronto "was still very much on" or words to that effect.

He was replying to me, “very much on the cards” is what he said.

That says signings incoming to me. Otherwise its madness

Sounds that way. I'd say we will sign a prop, hooker and winger, once the wages of Singleton and Petaru are off the cap. Could be others moving on too?

One big game of chess...

Ferres one year deal tba shortly plus the prop looks to be Kyle Amor

Dunno which piece of news is worse...

Amor wouldn’t be bad, he’s better than Singleton or Petaru for example.

It’s not like we would be able to sign JWH or similar.

Yep pretty much agree, hopefully not on a really lengthy contract would be a stop gap to bring the younger props through and mature and an upgrade on other two going

Jeez i wouldnt want Kyle Amor got to be honest. Lets wait and see what club announces. Only then will know whats happening.

You’d think so, but if no suitable players are available I’d rather we hold fire than just bring in new players for the sake of it. Seumanufagai, Martin and Lui were all signed mid season and are 3 of our better signings of late.

Surely fans would prefer keeping cap space back rather than sign someone for the sake of it? Most names on that previous list will be snapped up by NRL clubs.Mitchell for example in talks with Bulldogs at $1m a year! The brothers from Manly about to sign new huge deals,and JWH about to sign a new deal at Roosters,especially if Mitchell goes to Bulldogs

Agreed don't think Amor is much if any of an upgrade on Singleton. He is a back end rotation for Saints a job Singleton did well back when Kylie and JP were in situ doing the bulk but has shown he is not a main guy. Amor comes to us i feel he suffers the same fate.

I presume if we are after Amor he must be cheeper than Singleton.I can't say I've ever been a fan but he been selected regularly for a a good Saints side.How many minutes per match as he been averaging this year?

Probably around 20-30 minutes a game - generally came on towards the middle of the second half and saw out the game (occasionally coming back off for the last 5-10 minutes if it was close for one of Walmsley/Thompson). Minutes probably isn’t a fair judge of Amor’s year though, as Thompson’s minutes in particular really clocked up, and Walmsley and Lees both getting a good share.

Not sure how cheap Amor would be either, signed his last contract after winning Saints player of the year and was being tipped for England etc I imagine he’s on a decent wedge. There’s talk in Saints of him and Paulo going to free up space for a marquee.

I think Amor would be a good signing, proven quality at a top 4 side, and better than most of what we have.

Amor is a better player than Singleton