Very happy with this signing - contract length as well.

But lets not give up this season yet.

Its the first time in living memory that Dave nosey Parkers called one early.

As I say, he is a natural half-back who so capable of performing there, and is without doubt an improvement on what we have at the club. That makes him a decent signing in my book, and unlike Hohaia, his kicking game is a major strength, and is one that will be important for us going forward.

As for Eastmond, it was only in his final season where he was critised for that part of his game. Best thing about Eastmknd was his ability to take on the line, and his ability to run out tired forwards up the middle and cause problems. For whatever reason, he failed to do that in his final season, but that's was his main strength really, and why he was considered to be as good as he was. You could argue that it was his distributional and organisational side of his game that was the worry. What we need is a 7 capable of controlling a game, and we have that in Walsh. Again, an improvement on what we have.

Like you say, we need to sort the pack out before next season. Without a decent set of props laying the platform, it's tough for any scrum-half, and I think that could turn out to be Walsh's main problem. If we sign a couple of props, then we'll be alright, but if we don't, Walsh will struggle, and will ultimately end up taking the same amount of stick that people give Hohaia. With a good pack in front of him, he will do well, and as I say, I think he is a good signing for us going forward. And a much needed one.

Walshy has had games where he hasn't been tackled once, despite playing for 80 minutes at scrum half. If you read the criticism of him this season (And there is plenty) it's focused around his inability to take on the line and commit the defense and his complete lack of a running game. I remember someone quoting a stat that at the start of 2011 he had been tackled twice in 8 games. With no quality at all in the 6 shirt next to him and such a weak pack meaning he won't be spending the game putting grubbers and cross field kicks in, it's highly likely that this will be an issue at Saints next season.

Talking of confidence, it really does worry me what will happen if we're not in decent shape in the pack next season. He seems to be very much a confidence player, awesome when he's feeling good and anonymous when he's not.

It was the comment about eastmond not running with it that confused me.

You're right, we need a 6 who can perform (who is our 6 at the moment?) and run at defences. We also need a pack that can lay a platform. If we trade in Laffranchi and Perry for a couple of decent starting prop, then we should look alright on that front.


However, what if Walsh gets injured? What if Roby gets injured again?

I really think this taking on the line thing is a huge red herring. Like I've said elsewhere there are very few halves in the whole of SL who have been the complete package. You just don't get a halfback, who can take on the line, organise, have good footwork, have a long and short kicking game, an ability to put people through gaps, have pace to burn and tackle like a prop.

Long was the closest to this that we have seen, but for years he was not the best long kicker in the world. He added to his game as the years and the coaches passed through.

If you look at Leeds, Maguire a fantastic support player. Burrows can take on the line, but neither could really kick for toffee. Sinfield took on all the kicking roles, with some help from fullback.

The 7 does not have to do everything, he just needs to take on the roles that we are sorely missing. That is kicking and organising. Lomax can take on the line all day long, Wheeler too brings other weapons to the party, but lacks durability.

Expecting a 7 to be all things to all men, just does not exist. Briers does not do it all, neither does dobson or Dureau. They all have their foils that can take on the additional tasks, just as long had Martyn and Sculthorpe.

One man does not make a team, but one halfback makes a hell of an improvement on zero.

The most important thing for is the kicking game he brings, something we've been missing really since Long left. If he gets us around the field and kicks well, we'll be much improved on this year.