It certainly is the silly season.

Even though it's more or less common knowledge that the club is currently fighting to hang onto its prize assets (and the 'increment' factor has given them a bit of power in their corner), there are still some terrace mules who are going ballistic because we haven't unveiled Billly Slater and Cameron Smith as our next recruits.

When it's finally announced that Joel has gone, I confidently expect the retrun of 'Red Hot Jalapeno' with a cry of: "See - you blind fools - I told you all along that IL was crap! The Grand Final, the Challenge Cup, the bank balance, the junior all-stars - pure fluke!"

Ha ha..doubt RHJ will have the b0llocks to show up here again under that name..

I appreciate your point, but bearing the salary cap in mind id like to know you would like these "replacements" to be?

Is it inept because you haven't been given said information? The signings have been completed. They will be announced in due course. Now once again, relax sunshine.

I'm sure IL and SW have spotted we need to strengthen, and we really need to sign a centre in particular, but we are a way off the start of the 2012 season.

The criticism looks a little premature to me.

I am relaxed petal.

Who are these replacements then? Id like someone to throw some names about that are out of contract, cheap and available, oh and can fit under the cap.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, not gonna trawl through a lot of the drivel discussed, but what really nags me about the 'we should have room under the salary cap, where are our world class players' bridgade is the following.

Surely the likes of Josh Charnley, Liam Farrell et al will have contract upgrades this season as they are now regular first graders and who are expected in due course to step up to the likes of Hoffman, Joel?

Surely its a good thing? It is blindingly obvious the hypocrisy of some on here who on the one hand complain about the quality of recruitment for next season from Lenaghan, meaning more kids wll get a run out next year and on the other complaining about us not offering more money to the kids to keep them in RL. Maybe Sam has had a contract upgrade to keep him here, who knows? And this is what some of the people calling for high profile signings will complain about if Sam does go!

IN lLenaghan and Wane we trust

Spot on.

I completely disagree with that last sentence.

Although Hock can be great on the day I doubt he will ever show the consistency that Hoffman had and I doubt he will be able to work with Finch as well. He just isn't as smart a player. If Joel were staying and was moving back to the pack then I'd be less concerned because I think people have forgotten how good a back row forward he is. He was outstanding in 2010.

Fielden. He's been out a year and if he can match Coley's work rate and get back up to speed OK but there must be doubts about that.

Dudson - O'Carroll. Well I think everyine says Dudson has potential but needs work and I think O'Carroll was well underrated here. So in the short term I don't think Dudson matches up but he could be there pretty quick.

Flower just look poor.

Gleeson - Tomkins. Even if Joel stays playing at centre again will be the compromise it was last season. He needs to go back to the pack if he stays to make up for Hoffman going. So at centre we are not goods enough either way.

Deacon- Mellor/Powell/L Tomkins. Definitely not on a par at all. Even if it were a good ides to go from zero SL experience to holding down a half back slot full time which it isn't they just have not got the experience of a player like Deacon.

It is simply not credible to lose players of the calibre of Hoffman, Deacon, Joel and Coley form a squad, replace them with Lauaki and the two Crusaders players and say we are no weaker.

You are also making a rod for Wane's back because to say he has a squad no weaker puts the expectation as high as last season. It is not fair to expect Wane to do as well with this squad.

Upgraded contracts are probably a big reason why there is not major recruit. It doesn't mean the squad isn't weaker though does it?

Have the two Welsh lads actually signed for you yet?

It is widely rumoured that they have but nothing confirmed as of yet. Personally i don't expect us to announce any players that are involved in the 4 nations as signings before the comp is over.

At last, someone who "get's it"

Half the time I don't know why I bother on here.

bill arthur certainly announced it on commentary today...

What's Lauaki's quota situation? Have we got any quota spaces left?

I thought it was reduced by one for next season so losing Hoffman and gaining Lauaki would mean we have no room available, so we obviously wouldnt be able to get a replacement for Joel from the NRL.

Hock will replace Hoffman as the left sided 2nd row. He is not as consistent as the Hoff but Hock is an explosive player. He can explode through tackles that Hoff couldn't but can have a brain explosion where Ryan would not.
Fielden back in the squad to replace Coley as starting prop.
Joel will go to be replaced by, who knows? My preference would be Josh to right centre and Roberts right wing. Unless a 3 is signed.
Lauaki was billed as a prop in the press release but can play 2nd row.
Deacon cannot be replaced by younger players at the club. They can take his place but it's impossible to have the experience Deacs had. He was a terrific signing for us.
Next season our props could be Fielden, Lima, Prescott, Mossop, Lauaki, Dudson then Crosby and Spencer from dr and U20s.
Back row, Lockers, Hock, Hansen, Farrell, Tuson, Hughes and Flower.
If SW goes with the first four props above then Lauaki will go to the back row.
That set of forwards is greater in number than last season, bigger and more aggressive. We won't go into a game 2012 with only three props and lacking size that's for sure.
Behind that lot i'd risk Mellor with Finch as half backs. Mellor adds pace and Finch has all the class you'd want.
Ideally we need a right centre but I do think if Roberts shows up in training then he could go to 2 and Josh to 3. It's Roberts last season on his contract and now he's fit needs to show what he can do.

Big season for Amos hopefully, as SW said on Tuesday.

Lauaki is quota and we have four quota players for next season. I am not sure if it is down to four or still at five.

[iIf [/isigning Lauaki means we can't go looking for a centre in the NRL (given there are none available here) then that is another reason why he should not have been signed.

So does anyone know if it is still at five?

EDIT: it remains at 5. Looked it up on the RFL web site so Lauaki has not stopped us signing an NRL centre if we can find one.

The centre postion is a hard one to fill these days. Not many good quality centres available and every club under the sun is looking for one.

We've only had one centre at saints since willie talau went Salford about five years ago. We have shenton and then who ever holds their hand up first in the other centre.

If Joel leaves for union and you get a big transfer fee then I'd use it on Tom briscoe. He will move to centre and with ball in hand he could be devastating. His defence needs work but IMO he'll end up a top class centre.

This is how i see it...

1. Sam
2. Roberts
3. Charnley
4. Carmont
5. Pat
6. Finch
7. Tommy
8. Fielden
9. McIllorum
10. Lima
11. Hansen
12. Farrell
13. Lockers

14. Flower
15. Mossop
16. Lauaki
17. Logan Tomkins

18. Dudson
19. Hock
20. Tuson
21. Prescott

Alternively - 9. Tommy -> 7/6. Sam -> 1. Roberts -> 2. Charnley -> 3. (New Signing?)

if so we've no chance of a top 2 finish.

not that top 2 matters like, but from this season, that team is a few notches down in quality

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Amos Roberts
3. Josh Charnley
4. George Carmont
5. Pat Richards
6. Joe Mellor
7. Brett Finch
8. Stuart Fielden
9. Thomas Leuluai
10. Lee Mossop
11. Harrison Hansen
12. Gareth Hock
13. Sean O'loughlin
-------------------------------
14. Jeff Lima
15. Paul Prescott
16. Liam Farrell/Lauaki
17. Mike McIlorum

Something like that is how I see it.

+1

Im not convinced with Charnley at centre, he has been class on the wing for a full season for us. Dont fix what isnt broken I say. Not to mention relying on Amos to go a full season without caving is risky. We simply need a out and out centre.

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3.
4. George Carmont
5. Pat Richards
6. Brett Finch
7. Joe Mellor
8. Stuart Fielden
9. Thomas Leuluai
10. Lee Mossop
11. Harrison Hansen
12. Liam Farrell
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Micky McIlorum
15. Jeff Lima
16. Paul Prescott
17. Epalahame Lauaki

18. Gareth Hock
19. Amos Roberts
20. Darrell Goulding
21. Chris Tuson
22. Gil Dudson
23. Ben Flower
24. Jack Hughes
25. Logan Tomkins
26. Dom Crosby
27. Sam Powell
28. Ryan King
29. Matty Russell
30. Stefan Marsh

I think its time for Mellor to take that step up, he will have the experience of Finch, Lockers, Leuluai and Sam to help him. Its time to take a risk on him because the the positives of it working out for us massively outweigh the negatives if it doesnt.