It looks like Mose is going and maybe Walsh and will need to be replaced but by whom. I would like to see another hard working prop but if KC sticks with the young guns it would mean cash to improve the back line. Who would you like to see let go and who would you like to see brought in.

We definitely need another prop.

In: <marquee>, <backup Halfback>, Paea, Tasi
Out: Hohaia, Wellens, Masoe, Jones, Flanagan
Re-sign: Walsh, Savelio, Charnock
Unsure: Hand, Walker, Dawsn, Hewitt

Walsh wil stay imo, and even the Salford fans are consigned to us signing Tasi, so there's two big problems solved. I'd like us to go further though and bring another prop in on top of that, and Paea would be a great choice. I still think Richards will go a long way, but he shouldn't be a reqular prop at 20 - let him fight for his spot. Gob, Hampshire, or even HTW from hull could be options for covering, and now Hohaia has gone, we should look at investing there. It looks more and more like it won't be Hewitt though

We should still have plenty of cap space after to look at bringing in a marquee, regardless of the new rules. I don't care what position, we should try and bring in the best we can and then work around that - whether that's Slater, SKD, or someone like T Williams.

Fullback: Lomax, SMD
Wing: Makinson, Swift, Fleming
Centre: Percival, Turner, Ashworth
Standoff: Burns, <backup signing>
Halfback: Walsh
Prop: Amor, Walmsley, Tasi, Paea, Richards, Haggerty
Hooker: Roby, Charnock
Second row: Wilkin, Vea, Greenwood, LMS
Lock: Thompson, Savelio

And wherever the marquee slots in...

Mose had decided he was going mid way thru last year and asked if he could go at the end of last year.

Walsh is staying.

I agree with a few things,

Flanagan doesn't provide as much as other back rowers.

There have been a lot of rumours surrounding Jones, so the best we can go on is that he is likely to leave.

A player capable of covering the halves even in the event of Walsh staying as must (McCrone from Canberra would be the right kind of man)


However I disagree on a couple of points...

I am not sure we need more than one prop if Mose leaves. Haggerty, Hand or a u19s graduate may cover as 5th prop. LMS and Thommo could cover in an emergency.

Don't right off Hewitt, he is currently not physically up to it but you could have written off Greenwood last season for the same reason.

Given a lot of people dislike Mose for being lazy, Tony Williams would go do like the titanic. He is bone idle.

I think we do need a prop as well as Tasi. A big tough prop who will put himself about. Someone like mose but who actully works every week.

I'm slightly worried about our recruitment and retention next year as im hearing nothing other than tasi who is a upgrade on mose but not a top quality signing. Plus we signed Mcdonell who again isn't a quality player. I'm afraid we Might be weakening the squad.

The thing about signing a centre - presumably to replace Turner - is the first and most obvious response the coaching team must get from management:

[i"Why do you want a centre when Turner is currently topping the try-scoring charts"?[/i

Sure, it makes sense from a coaching perspective. Trading up for SKD is a no brainer. But a businessman's perspective is entirely different - and not altogether irrational, I might add.

A LOT depends on what we have in the next cohort of juniors moving up to the senior squad. I really can't answer this question so I'll allow others.

Will Aaron Smith (I think that's his name) be considered for some spells at hooker? He's in his second year of the u19s so by next year will have another year under his development. He's a cracking player too and an out and out hooker, not someone like Charnock who's been moved about trying to fit in him one role.

If he's good enough you can pretty much guarantee he'll get some game time. We desperately need additional options at hooker.

By the way - is Haggerty playing this year? Anyone know how he's doing?

I can't say I see much of him as I don't live close enough to watch St.Helens any more, but when reading match reports his name always seem to be mentioned positively.

Watch him on Dewsbury You Tube Channel he looks on the same level as Walmsley was before he signed for us? He scored a try against Hunslet in the CC 2 weeks ago.

Masoe, Wellens, Hohaia, Jones and Flanagan all out. McDonnell has already replaced Hohaia.

Judging by what KC has said in this week's presser, Charnock is being groomed as a back up / replacement for Roby and has the '9' skillset so I don't expect a signing there.

I'd therefore be looking at a prop and a fast winger as a priority and then perhaps a back rower / forward if we have some cap space after that.

Is Tasi OOC this season?

The plan is for Matty Hagarty to join Saints squad like walmsley did starting next season. He's certainly got the size and once he has filled out even more in the gym, he will be another big prop to add to our pack. Hopefully he can live up to his potential.

Who better for Charnock to learn from than KC and Roby? Good idea to nail him down and get him learning the ropes. How did he play on Friday, tries aside?

Yes

Why do you presume that it is obvious Turner will be replaced? Jones is on his way so surely it is a replacement for him that is required. I would like to see Wardle in the saints backline and as a previous poster said a winger with real pace.

I have no idea whether Turner is being replaced. What I'm saying is - if Saints are going after an expensive centre - it won't be to replace Percival. And since there are only two centres on the field - that kind of leaves only Turner.

So based on the rumours the like for like is as follows...

Tasi for Masoe
McDonnell for Wellens (rather than Hohaia if we are honest)
Charnock for Hohaia (which I think was the plan before Hohaia retired early)

Jones and Flanagan have not been getting picked before Thommo, Greenwood and Vea, so they are not leaving gaps. Ashworth for me looks very Jones-esk.

So we are still in the position we are in now, where we have no cover on the wing and in the halves. However it is hard to know what young players are going to come through next year.

A sixth prop would be useful but is behind a half and winger in my eyes.

If rumours are right as regards Walshy extending his contract and Tasi to replace Masoe, we would probably be better signing an international class centre or winger this would improve our current first 17 squad selection. Our pack should still stay dominant, i liked the look of Charnock last week his pass selection and individual runs were pretty good for his first appearance this season.

If Saints where to sign a centre, Turner could cover at S/H S/O and loose. His game lifted in the latter end of last season when playing in the middle. It has taken Turner a while but I think he is now worth his shirt. This is why I would like to see Wardle at Saints as he could cover the second row as well.

We could really do with Hewitt turning a corner. If that is at all possible. It could be that the "Godfather" has struck again. In fifty years someone will be digging around the concrete foundations and discover his body weighted down with iron.