Unfortunately, that quality doesn't exist over here. The fact Smith was the big signing of the close season tells us that. We may have to risk a young NRL halfback and hope it works out. Our record with imports over the last few years has been dire, so it could be squeeky bum time when next seasons signings are announced.

We got to get next years signings right if we are to challenge again. I honestly think they will make or break our next few years.

We have to get the scrumhalf and props spot on or we in trouble.

One thing that we need to bear in mind when talking about this, of course, is that the story was first spotted in Nosey Parker's column in League Express.

How reliable is that source ...?

If you search Luke Walsh highlights on YouTube you'll see a brilliant bit of skill by him.

Oh very reliable, I'm still expecting the signing of Petero Civoniceva to be announced very soon.

Some cheeky person has updated Wikipedia to say he has signed a four year contract with us.

No doubt some people will read this as gospel. Hope it gets edited out shortly.

As for signing him. He is the level of player we would be able to sign eg journeyman NRL pro.

Not saying he is the right man for Saints, however on paper he fits the bill, as an experienced half with a good kicking game and a decent organiser. You dont play over 100 first grade games as a halfback in the NRL by being a bum.

The last thing we want is a young inexperienced nrl halfback as we have players of similar ability in our academy waiting for the opportunity.

Something to be aware of is that Scott Dureau, Blake Green and Michael Dobson all had far shorter NRL careers. Walsh has played more NRL games than all these three combined. Now thats no guarantee of success, but he at least should be able to offer a SL side something.

He is not another Hohaia because Walsh is a halfback, not a hooker, not a full back but your bog standard NRL half back. This may not seem like a good thing but Dobson and Dureau were not even that and are now the best two number 7's in the league.

I would hope more that he was not a Seymour or Sherwin or Tim Smith who were also better in the NRL but failed in Super League. In the end, the style of play is different in the NRL, so you cannot be sure he will be a success but he is a pretty good bet.

True but it is not the absolute barometer of success in the uk.
Some very big names have come and have stunk very badly.

Also there is no comparison between a young fringe NRL SHs to raw academy players over here.
Physically they are better equipped. Say .Jacob Miller to Danny Yates. Two years plus progression difference.

Its a gamble whichever road you take.

He was awful at times last year, looking like the proverbial headless chicken, but does have the odd good game. When he's on form and confident he really moves the team around well. When he's not he looks completely lost.

Watched a fair bit of Walsh and in all honesty, he is a good journeyman, nothing outstanding, but has a good kicking game. He plays on the right (Penrith split their half backs) so for me, doesn't have his hands on the ball as much as if like for a 7. In terms of dictating play, he would do a job and is clearly better than what we have, but I've got a nagging feeling that he's failed to live up to his potential at a club where he has been for 6 years. They've made a big money signing in Soward to replace him. With the NRL flush with money, it speaks volumes that a 7 isn't in demand. I just hope if we sign him, its 2 year contract maximum.

It sounds like a disaster of a signing. Would he offer anything that Brierley at Leigh or the likes of Moore couldn't? Would he be better than Dobson, who must be available given Hull KRs financial plight or Rangi Chase who is in a similar position at Cas?

ATEOTD, if only pig's ears are available, you cannot expect a raft of silk purses.

Interesting point with Leigh , looks like they arnt paying there players all there owed which is a breach of contract , if this is correct we could pick one of them up for free , gotta be worth a punt over the dross we have there at the moment

[i7. RYAN BRIERLEY
Profile

In many peoples eyes Ryan was the real stand-out player for the Centurions last year when he joined the club on dual contract terms from Castleford Tigers. A quick thinking halfback, Brierley made seven starts and appeared a further 20 times from the bench where his eye catching pace, and eye for a support run, used against tired defences proved a potent combination and he grouded twenty-five tries and booted five goals.

After being released by the Tigers, Leigh pounced quickly for his signature and he followed up the agreement of his new Centurion deal with a well taken hat-trick in a late season home win over Keightley Cougars. The impact Brierley has on games also seems to lift the crowd and while Ryan like many players may have the ultimate goal of stepping up to Super League, he will be looking to earn more gametime in 2013.

Prior to signing with Castleford, Brierley previously played for Westhoughton in the amateur game and had over in Yorkshire for a couple of seasons where he impressed for both the Castleford under-18s and under-20s.

Career Summary
Castleford 2009-12 No first team appearances
Leigh 2012-date 7 appearances, 20 sub, 25 tries, 5 goals[/i

And if were looking at Leigh , whats Thomas Coyle like? He cant be any worse than Howarth surely

Sounds like classic Nosey parker - a guess.

We are desparate for a couple of top class signings to augment our youth.

We need the level of intent when we signed Newlove and Sculthorpe.

Someone was saying look at the pies support when relegation was a possibility.

They acted and went out and bought fielden. He didnt bring his Bradford form BUT it showed intent.

If you are a player with a choice of clubs were back in the pack now.

Make a statement Saints.

Wigan brought in Fielden, Dobson and Noble - effectively buying their way out of a relegation spot. Salary cap is more closely are monitored in real time now so that level of buying power isn't possible. I don't think the is a quick fix answer, it just remains to be seen whether Brown wants to stick it out for the long haul and has the necessary strategic nouse to rebuild the squad.

Beggars cant be choosers. Saints seem to be beggars at the moment. We lose the right to say that he is good and he is bad when we dont have any in the first place. He has ups and downs like any good halfback but i and many others are crying out for a kicking game and he seems to have one much better than any of the current crop.

I trust he is being thoroughly scouted/discussed and the final decision should come down to Brown giving the yes or no.

I'm a fan of the idea of aquiring a "proper half" from the championship, of whom a few names have been mentioned. It is worth noting though, that its core skills that need to be analysed as much (or moreso) than star quality.

There's a scrum half who ripped it up at Leigh now plying his trade for Cas in a fairly anonymous fashion (according to their fans). There is a step up to be made, what we need to ensure is that if we get a man with the skills needed, we put him in a position that he can use them - meaning our forwards need to pull their finger out.

There is no 100% certainty with any player NRL or SL.

Sia came as a centre (still wears 4) played 1 or 2 games there but has been fantastic at 2nd row.

Perry came as a SOO prop, outstanding signing, pah it terms of value for money.

Lyon had retired from RL and was playing for a minor side in the outback.

Sean Long came with a bad rep.

Chris Joynt where did that outstanding buy come from? Was it Oldham at the time?

You can go for a dead cert and buy a nag, you could get a trouble maker who will settle and become a legend.

In the end so long as there is some effort in the recruitment I'm not going to critise. Shenton just did not work for us. Lance and Laffranchi where wrong buys, we did not need another FB or 2nd rower. And we certainly did not need them to play prop and halfback.

Those two fall on the club, perry and Shenton are just down to luck.

Shenton was silly by the club IMO. He's playing very well for Cas again and was for us until his injury in the Grand Final. He's a far better player than Turner and I think Brown could have got the best out of him.

I don't think you can say with much conviction that Shenton is far better than Turner. They are probably the same standard of player, but Turner is a bit younger with a lot more pace and will probably not be on as much as Shenton was.

Therefore, a good deal for the club IMO.

I can say what I want

Shenton is better than Turner. Better defensively, better with the ball, a better natural centre. There I said it.

Re signing players from the championship to fill the halves.

I would be very wary of such a thing as in general there is a reason why they are lower division halves, and thats because they are not that good.

Jamie Ellis is a fine example. The ex Saints looked a superstar in the championship scoring 34 trys in 32 games for Leigh.

He was promptly signed by Hull and managed 10 games before being shipped out to Castleford were he has been pretty anonymous.

Interesting to note The Chiefs comments that Walsh plays on the right. This is the side of the pitch that Lomax vacated.
Having a genuine right sided player is something we have lacked, and its why in recent years i think our play has had a tendency to be moved to the left. Getting a more balanced left/right backline combination would make us far more threatening.

I have a mate who lives in oz. he's a bulldogs fan. I asked him about Walsh. He said he's one of the better players in a poor team. He's your average scrum half in the NRL. Nothing special and not rubbish.

It sure was! One of the best signings in the history of the club... Boy could we do with a player like Joynt at the present time. Calming influence, actions speak larger that words attitude. Great player and a great bloke.

I think we signed Tommy on at the same time as well.