I can see problems here, as a lot seem to want quite a few more players in than leaving. This isn't the trend of the whole league at the moment, and the best we can hope for is a 1 in 1 out situation. Which means if we're to bring in more/ better cover for the back 5, we'll lose out elsewhere.

Personally, i wouldn't replace Hohaia. Charnock can cover most of the spine, and I can't see what damage he could of done in the time Hohaia has had so far. And this will give us more flexibility in the rest of our transfers.

As has been said, Mose needs to be replaced. For me, the NRL is not the market for that. Props are a premium, and when you look at the success Perry, Asotasi, Pettybourne etc have had coming over, reputation is no indicator of impact. Coupled with the fact there's a couple of props in SL off contract who I wouldn't mind, and a couple more who could be decent projects, I'd rather get 2 from SL for the same price as 1 from the NRL!

Jones would be one of my top priorities to retain if Saints, simply because we won't be able to find the same quality of player for the same contract (the joys of homegrown) but if he's off to union, combine his money, Flanagans money, and Wilkins money and the back row market should be pretty open for us. Again there's a few in SL who I wouldn't mind at all, but I'd be more open to any option, especially if there's a similar mold player who can cover the centres as well.

Walsh is the toughest because there are so many unknowns. But as I said earlier in the thread, if it's a decision that's going to be left late, then (without wanting to turn into that supporter) time to get the chequebook out.

That only leaves Wellens and Dawson. We can either bring in another player to cover the back as people seem to want ... Or we can top up everyone's contracts and do everything we can to keep our kids happy...

We need a scrum half. Walsh is a top player, but even before his bad break last year struggled to string games together, and that is very unlikely to change this year, we can't wait till September to see if he can perform, Rush should be looking at 7s now as his number one priority. I would add a FB as number two priority, simply because Lomax cannot stay fit either. We cannot continue to carry players who don't play consistently, week in, week out.

On what basis can Charnock replace Hohaia? He's made one first team appearance and none of us really know if he'll even make it. The fact he isn't even mentioned in any of our 19 man squads suggests he isn't yet near it. Hohaia may be out of favour right now, but he's still an experienced player that can cover 1, 6, 7 and 9 effectively.

For me we definitely need some extra cover at hooker / half back to replace Hohaia because we don't have that flexibility in our current squad. If Roby gets injured we'd be screwed if we didn't replace Hohaia.

On the grounds that I'd rather spend the money elsewhere. Charnock can play similar positions, and would have similar impact that Hohaia has had so far. Those out of contract in a similar mould will either cost the same as Hohaia, which is a waste, or be no better than Charnock.

If Roby is injured next year, Charnock gets game time. He can't be any worse than some we've had in recent years (*cough* Howarth! *cough*) if he's no good, the next youngster comes in, or we find a better replacement next year.

Lomax's fitness is becoming a concern. If this lastest one is long term then the club seriously needs to look at alternatives. I'm a big fan of Lomax and I hope he comes through this latest setback but the it's something the club need to be monitoring closely.

I agree that we don't need to worry about a specialist full back or winger, but another versatile back who could cover 1-5 would be handy, especially as Lomax seems increasingly fragile and Hohaia and Wellens won't be around as options. Not essential, though.

I'm not sure I agree on us needing another back rower. Greenwood is a real handful in attack and I reckon he'll be ready to take on more responsibility after a full season, and then we may well see the likes of Olly Davies and Matty Fozard challenging for places. We've also always got the option of playing LMS there (although KC doesn't seem to be going down that route).

For me, if Walsh, Masoe and Hohaia all go, then it needs to be about quality rather than quantity. We should go out and get a good scrum half and good prop, and then maybe a handy 7/9 to spell with Roby and provide backup in the halves (someone like Pita Godinet, for instance). Any leftover cap room should then be invested in signing up our most promising youngsters to longer contracts.

Spend the money where? Surely you'd want to reinforce and cover positions that we're light in, especially key positions such as hooker and half back?

If Masoe, Hohaia and Walsh leave we should be looking at like for like replacements because we haven't got the cover in our current squad to cover it and those are key areas of the pitch. If we didn't replace them, we'd be much weaker.

I think we are ok for Wings and Centres, ( this is assuming Jones re-signs).
We could on the face of it do with another halfback. (Hewitt is a maybe but has got no game time so far)
Hooker (well I think we need a replacement for Robes, but we seem to play him come what may so not sure what we would do with one)
A prop could be handy.
Fullback, again assuming we have cover at centre and therefore wing with Jones, then I see no reason to get a fullback.

Halfback/Hooker/Prop for me.

A Jason Hooper type player would be great who could cover anywhere in the backs

I see what your saying. Obviously mose, lance and walsh are priority (if they go) to replace.

I'd like a prop that does what props should do. I think we can use Walmsley as impact prop who Imo brings much better impact than mose who I don't think gives us much impact at all. So Id like a big tough prop in the Amor mould.

I don't know why but I just think we lack in the Backrow. I'm not knocking Greenwood or vea at all as they been pretty good. Greenwood is young and goes missing in large spells but that may change next year. I'd like a Backrow that doesn't rely on a pass for a tackle bust. Both greenwood and Vea like the short ball (greenwood) or the inside ball (vea) but I think we lack someone who has the power to bust without that pass.

Most teams have a first choice spine, and when one or more get injured, they either move players around to cover, or bring kids in. Imo no other team in the league this year has better cover for the spine than hohaia, but for me it's too expensive a luxury, we'd be better without.

I'd really like to see a transfer summary that looks something like (unlikely but achievable imo):

in: Whitehead (Catalans), Mullally (Huddersfield), Paea (Hull fc), Clare (Castleford)
Out: Hohaia, Masoe, Wilkin, Wellens, Flanagan, Walker, Dawson
Retained: Jones, Walsh*, Savelio, Hand

7 out, 4 in, with 3 more promoted (Charnock, Ashworth and Fozard?) some real quality brought into the pack in Whitehead and Paea, some more depth in the front row which I think we need, and Clare is better than Dawson as cover for the back 5 imo (just my pick from the ooc list, others may have other preferences), as well as ensuring we keep on top of our youngsters and ensure there's no wandering eyes

*if Walsh turns around and says he's leaving, then the options are retaining Wilkin for a year, or getting the chequebook out, because I don't feel like there's a solution in the ooc lists, and by the time it's likely to be resolved the few who might be an option will have been snapped up.

Oh man! Clare from cas? You can't be serious!

Whitehead is all class, he's great runner of the ball and has great pair of hands. I'd take him in a heartbeat.

Paea is also a good player and we should have gone for him when off contract.

Paea is off contract this year

as are all the players I've mentioned.

I quite like Clare, utility backs are hard to come by at the moment, and there's no one better imo - it's that or stick with Dawson!

Clare has catching issues off kicks. We ain't talking a small problem here either. I'd take Dawson over Clare every day of the week.

Whitehead off contract?

I believe so, and I try and keep track

the current ooc list I keep updated is on page 3 of the transfers and contracts thread

for me Ferres and Whitehead are the standouts of this years list, and it's a good excuse to gets some flamboyance into the pack.

Like I say, I quite like Clare, and would take him over Dawson, but I appreciate that's more personal preference over anything Dawson than anything else!

I think Ferres has gone back last two seasons but I think Id still go for him as he's a good player but Whitehead should be a target for sure!

You can say that about virtually any player at huddersfield - how Lunt goes at hkr will give a decent indication about how much it is to do with environment at huddersfield...

What Ferres, and the saints pack is lacking is a bit of flair which Whitehead would bring for sure.

I'd also really like us to make a play to bring back Armstrong from leigh. Would be great cover for the back 5, but I think it will depend on whether leigh get promoted...

I think it's quite clear we cannot rely on Lomax for a full season and in an ideal world, which I believe this is what this thread is really about, I would replace turner.

With who?

I'm no Turner fan as you prob now. I think he's really soft and in fact think he's afraid of getting hurt but the are other positions we need Imo more than centre.

Leave Armstrong alone!! The lad is all class. Quick strong good feet good defence!! Key player and starter for is can't see him leaving if we are promoted

Walmsley is the highest metre making prop in the league, averaging over 140m a match and made over 180m last week. He also puts in 18 carries and an average of 27 tackles a match,

Why would anybody ever want to reduce a prop with that level of quality to an impact prop......

One of the craziest ideas I've read.

This is a thread full of crazy ideas. I'm always astonished to read about how the pack is our priority. Yet anyone looking at the current Saints team must surely conclude that it's the backs where we have a problem. We have the strongest pack in the league, with plentiful cover. The only possible fly in that ointment in the medium term is cover for Roby - he can't go on like this forever. Other than that, Mose will go, but will leave far less of a hole than the absence of Walmsley or Amor, and can be filled by our internal candidates.

It's the backs where we look weak in most positions.

Fullback - Lomax is fast heading into Wheeler territory with injuries, and his cover is effectively Wellens, who must surely retire next year.

Wing - Makinson and Swift are competent wingers, although neither would get into the Wigan or Leeds sides. They're both very small men, comparatively, and as breakaway length of the field tries are increasingly rare in SL, that's a handicap when the main winger role is to return the ball strongly. Similarly, both have some defensive weaknesses. There is no notable competition for their places.

Centre - Turner and Percival are, again, competent. Again neither would get into the Leeds, Wigan or Warrington sides. Percival may well develop into a top centre, but he's certainly not there yet. Turner offers good utility value because of his size, but is not a strike centre. None of our outside backs are the sort to strike fear into the opposition fans when they get the ball in space. The only competition for their places is a converted second-row or prop like Jones or LMS.

Stand-off - I'm a fan of Burns. I think this is now a settled position - we just need to ensure we have cover, as there's currently no reserve option.

Scrum-half - If Walsh is fit, and if Walsh is staying, then we have the best scrum-half in the competition. If he's not fit or not staying, then we have nothing but Wilkin, who does a great job filling in, but is a forward, and not a creative half-back.

If Rush has cash to spend, then surely he'll be looking to strengthen the back division. We're the best team in the league, and we're there purely by virtue of a fearsomely effective pack. Perhaps the best illustration of the problem is that there are several present and future candidates for England places in the pack, with Amor, Walmsley, Roby already there, Wilkin and LMS as previous internationals, and Greenwood a distinct future possibility. In the backs, Lomax's call on the white jersey now seems a distant prospect, and none of the threequarters are currently anywhere near international selection.

Splash the cash, by all means. But splash it at the back.

I disagree on a couple of points, Makinson and Percival would make it at any team in the comp imo. The possible exception is Leeds, but they have an overpowered backline, because they're spine is playing for unders.

What our backline is however, is very suited to our style of play. They're quick, and very good at exploiting holes our big forwards create, and we have the halfbacks to put them in a position to do so. So the situation is simple, keep making big holes = the backs are not a problem.

I thought we were running a prop under this year, as did most at the start of the year, and love him or hate him, Mose is hard to replace for sheer size. 2 props of SL standard aren't cheap, and even less so if you're competing in the Aussie market, where decent props are like gold dust.

Beyond that, you then actually have to look who is available who would improve us. The 3/4 ooc in SL this year is pitiful. And the Jamie Lyons and Matt Gidleys of the world just aren't coming over at the moment. So we either find ourselves with an Aussie version of Turner, or we look to which positions does have quality and adapt our team and recruitment around that. I'd prefer the latter imo.

Where and when did I say he's a impact prop? My point is, that Mose doesn't bring any impact at all compared to walmsley!

I never once said Id use him as a impact prop but I said he gives more impact than mose when he comes on as he skittles players!

That ok with you Wayne Bennett ?