He'll be 33 by then. not for me personally at that age considering how much he'd cost.

Austin, Thompson & Martin out of contract on the overseas side so quota would be available.

I can see the appeal in Tapau, but do we really want to throw big money at a 32 year old prop? Would certainly want to keep Austin if he is a success. Will be interesting to see if there is any interest from the club but if it was me I would think twice and possibly go for a less high profile option.

He'll be 33 when the season starts.. he could well play until he was 35/36 but for me he's at the wrong end of his career there. Don't get me wrong, he'd still be good but it's very short term.

Sorry but you guys are delusinal if you think we can sign a top Aussie prop at 25 and keep hime 8 years or so. Even with marquee spot available. Top guys at that age are on £800k a year in Oz

Who said 25? Signed Ava is his late twenties, Merrin was 29 I think. 28 to 30 seems about right especially for a big prop. 33 not so much.

It also depends on the fitness of the 33 year old.

How old is Matt Prior?

35 in may.

Prior is a lankier player rather than a power player - more like the JP mould dare I say. Maybe they can go round a bit longer.

In any case Prior was in relatively poor form for the final third of last season so let's not count chickens on his age yet; every player gets to the "one too many" stage at some point!

I’m not saying Tapau would definitely great, just it’s his condition rather than his age that should be the consideration.

And wage. Think we definitely need a prop, but do we need a "marquee" prop like we did two/three years ago? I say no. Oledski and Holdroyd have developed in that time. If we are going to splash the cash I'd like to see it spent in the spine positions if/when they need to be strengthened.

Agree with the above, condition is the determinant thing. In realty it is very rare to get a JP player who is still so good so late in their career. Most are still done by their early 30s.

No idea how healthy Taupau still is.

Cluesy think we'll have to see how Tommy Holroyd goes this year, he's got to stay fit for one. I think he has a big future but he's still a (massive) puppy. Prior is getting on now, and Tetevano has some work to do - plus he isn't a wrecking ball prop either.

We really could do with another Holroyd or Mik coming off the production line to be honest but I'm not sure who that would be - couple of decent prospects but nobody who was obvious like those two were.

Holroyd out for 12 week surely we need to bring someone in now - worried it’s just a little bit late in the day

Who though? Full overseas quota and most domestic sides as light at prop as we are. Maybe Fev would loan us Ferres..

Just need to hold our nerve I think. Agar was talking about him returning for round 7. We still have four regular props. Bright side for me is that Cam Smith should definitely get a starting spot at 13.

4 regular props? Prior, Tet, Mik & Thompson or Muizz? I can envisage that it's going to hold us back on not just the one occasion this year though rightly anyone coming in would have to be better than those mentioned.

Well that's the thing isn't it? Nobody out there that I can think of and no room for an overseas option either. We rolled the dice when we filled the last quota spot with a winger. Think we'll have to stick with the hand we dealt ourselves in the short term.

It was pretty risky going in with just 4 recognised 'senior props' (Holroyd being on the looser end of that description too) next of the rank will be the 'middles' *shudders* of Thompson and Donaldson as muizz was ready to be loaned out.

Yep, I like that idea.

For what it's worth I think Thompson is a bit underrated. Saw him have some good games at prop at the back end of last season. Maybe his new "go faster" haircut will take him to the next level. It is worrying though. One more poorly prop and we are in the poop.

Let`s hope Tet has got his tackling technique sorted.

The tank doesn't seem that robust.

Unfortunate for Tommy, he always has an injury in him from what I can see. Hopefully he gets back by round 6/7 as Agar suggests.

I think a lot of it comes to where and how you use Tetevano. For me if you start prior and Mik with Smith at 13 then you can have a bench of Tetevano, Thompson, Dwyer and one other, possibly Mellor.

I think Tetevano for impact and Thompson for steady away is reasonable for interchange. Not perfect but could we worse.

The issue for me is when you start Prior, Mik and Tetevano. Then you have Thompson and you are playing around trying to keep people on the pitch. Two props start, two on the bench. Mellor covers the back row, Bentley can slip into 13 if Smith needs a rest.

Agree if we get another prop injury we will really struggle. Then again if any team lost 2 of the 5 front line props they would struggle. Salary cap means you don’t have as many players as you might like.

I'd say the trouble is that we only really have 4 front line props not 5.