Confirmed this morning by Doncaster RL

Good news, looks a promising player. Adds depth and one for the future.

Let's hope we are going to see some "surgery" on the starting 13 too otherwise it will be much harder to close the gap to Saints.

Yeah to reiterate what's already been said those signed already aren't going to impact the 17 very much next year. Watching Doncaster last weekend, understandably Ruan has a way to go.

Pleased with this he's certainly a unit.Bags of potential.

I just don’t see the major surgery to the 13 happening this year. For me this off season will be young players, development players and building squad depth.

End of 2023 we have Austin, Bentley, Donaldson, edwards, fusitua, prior, Sezer, sinfield, c smith, Tetevano, tindall, Walker and Walters OOC.

Even if only prior, Tetevano, fusitua and one of Sezer/Austin left that is a big starting players leaving and I think that is when we may make some surgery and replace those players. It isn’t going to happen this off season unless some first team players leave.

Myler
Fusitua
Newman
Hardaker ?
Handley
Austin
Sezer
Oledski
Leeming
Prior
Bentley
Martin
Smith

O Connor
Tetevano
Holroyd
Gannon

In theory thats our starting 17 they are all contracted so Smith has very little space to improve it if nobody leaves. We would potentially have freed up the Jack Walker money until he got injured. The following year will see the big changes and hopefully some of the guys coming in now have forced their way into the 17 allowing investment elsewhere

The front row lacks punch, the back row lacks threat. Perhaps we are stuck with this bunch until 2024 when we have loads of space to work with, but I don't see us improving enough to knock Saints from their perch with that starting team.

I don't think Prior will be starting Prop next year, I think Sangare will play as much as he does.

That's assuming Saints will be at the same level.

Walmsley another year older, Roby another year older, new coach...

They won't be top for ever

Don't see Prior in the starting 17 next season. The French lad should displace him. If McDonald signs and Zack stays I don't think Myler makes it either. If that comes to pass we will definitely have a better starting 17 and a deeper and more talented group of senior players. In that respect we might shorten the gap between ourselves and Saints. But as people have said, likely 2024 before we might be in a position to knock them off their perch. However, it's sport and the unexpected happens. You never know.

They won't be top forever cos WE WILL BE!

I think our 1-17 looks good enough for a top 4.
After that we are down to Donaldson, Prior, Walters, Sinfield, Tindall, Olpherts, Hooley, Ruan, McDonnell and Edwards.
Fingers crossed we can keep our best 17 on the pitch for a hell of a lot of games.

I'm not convinced in the 17 we have atm. We should be in the top half of the table assuming we don't have huge injury/ suspensions early on

Big step up from League one to Championship never mind Super League, of our recent lower league signings and fringe Super league players, this definitely seems the most “project” probably loaned out to York for a season as that will be a step up.

Looks to have a bit of pace for a forward, he a backrow?

Yes backrow and could develop into a decent signing.
Maybe another Gannon?

Not too bad but I’m thinking -

Hardaker
Olpherts Newman MacDonald Handley
Austin Sezer
Oledzki Leeming Tetevano
Bentley Martin
Smith

O’Connor Prior Sangare
Gannon / Donaldson / Holroyd / Walters

Not saying thats my choice team but its probably the top 17 salary cap wise.

Welsby another year older, Dodd another year older (and not out injured for the year), works both ways

and our 18 year old eventual replacement for Walmsley, George Delaney, has just been called up to England Knights.

New coach I will give you as every appointment is a gamble. Any Saints fan who doesn’t admit fearing another Cunningham situation is lying. Though I think Frayssinous as number 2 is a very shrewd appointment …

I doubt Sts will slip as far as they did under Cunningham. Too many good players in key positions. Its up to the rest to catch them up.

Next year for us will probably be about consolidation - making sure we're in the play offs reasonably early while getting some of our new signings some game time. It looks more likely that 2024 will be when we can really challenge as we should free up some really big chunks of cap space.

Deal until 2025?
We must rate him highly!
Expect him to be out on loan next season.
Hope it's York, I'll go and watch him.

Reality is how often do you field your best 13/17. Rarely, there is always someone unavailable, injury, suspension etc.
Key is to encourage the younger players who will be on a steep rise hopefully with they right coaching, so that when we do have 3/4/5 players missing, we still have enough firepower to perform. So no, it’s not just about surgery to the starting 13.

We’ve been exposed badly this year with lack of depth, due to injuries and suspension, having players who not only can come straight in to cover but can keep their place in the side when others are under performing is the likely direction we are going in. Hopefully we have got enough cover for almost every scenario and only gave to raid the academy players now and again or through choice.