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Hopefully we won't need any of Saints players this season, with our larger squad. Isn't it great though, that the system is working in 'reverse', with us getting squad members fit on Saints reserve team? Long may we 'use' saints, in this DR deal!!

Agreed Alan. If and when injuries occur,we'll have players battle hardened,and ready to step in.

I think it’s good for both Clubs ,gives the lads at Leigh a good run out ,I spoke to Tommy Makinson this week he is not quite ready yet for the first team , maybe get fit on our wing.

Suspect we'll start to see some Saints players this week, hence the announcement.

Then we might have the circle of us having to send players to their reserves, because we're picking their reserves in our first team.

I can’t see us needing any Saints players this week end , we have a surplus of around 7 or 8 players who could step up to our 1st team , I’ve not heard of any injuries the team and team spirit is flying, I’m a big Sammutt fan , but seriously who would you drop from last week.?

Yes they get their players fit in Champ at a cost of sending ours to their reserves. It’s the future.

I can see this being a positive for us but only if managed right.
For players going to Saints, it should only be players who are getting limited game time (and likely would regardless of the DR agreement) or players returning from injury and needing match fitness before coming back into our first team squad.
For players coming from Saints, I hope they are used to keep the quality up while players needing a rest get it for that reason only. If they replace our better players in games, to keep Saints happy, then it will damage team spirit.
JD has mentioned squad rotation several times in interviews and this is where I see quality Saints players helping. What I don’t want to see is a reliance on DR’s who are not available when the playoffs are here. We need our own players bonded and able to play as a cohesive unit at that time. With 4 quality halfbacks to call on, what so far looks like a mobile and strong pack and some dangerous backs out wide, I think we have the squad to give us a good chance of being in the running come the business end.

Despite the quality and committed players that Saints sent us last season, I would be disappointed if we started using their players again soon. We have seen outstanding team spirit in the two games to date, and we have quality players awaiting a chance. I would hope and expect to see them utilised before drafting any Saints players in.

I may be imagining it, but didn't we see a report fairly recently, stating that we won't need DR this season?

We also have three players on loan this year. As you can only play 4 loanees or DR players, there won’t be a plethora of Saints players coming in.

Good point. I seemed to think it was five though?

You can play a maximum of 5 DR & loan combined, of which no more than 4 can be DR.

And if anyone should know, a Fev fan should

Thanks PH, my memory served me correctly - this time!

Agreed Alan. It’s all about how we manage it at our end as to what effect(s) it has. But it could have several positive aspects for sure.

We're very good at righting wrongs and misconceptions about DR, you know

You even found a way of playing up to 10 a few years ago. Quite a cute move was that one

I wouldn't drop anybody. The cynic in me wonders if there'll be times when we have no choice in the matter and wondered why we hadn't announced it before the players started playing in their reserves, and why we've announced it now.

When it comes to this week's squad, the 21 has been announced and my 2+2 has come to not 4.

Go on I'll bite, tell me about the time we found a way of playing 10 DRs?

Don't know about that, but our 'Championship Shield Final' in 2018 must have contained about 20 loan players - admittedly mostly playing for Leigh!