Both Williams and Hampshire are still only 20, but they will be 21 before the start of next season, and like Saints did with Lomax and Gaskell, Wigan did with Brown and Robinson. We all know how that turned out, and it's not because they were poor players, quite the opposite.

You are forgetting Sammy boy. He's vastly experienced now and with him and SOL and McIllorum you'd be fine with two young halves. I'm pretty pleased you've not gone for it to be honest.

I agree, it's not ideal playing two 21yr olds in the halves together. Saints and Wigan both found thst out as did hull with cook and horne.

It's a good move for all parties. Hampshire gets game time at a good club with a good coach. Wigan will benefit from Hampshire playing regular first grade and cas might have a quality player for a year.

People keep saying this, but where exactly is Hampshire going to start for Castleford? Surely he won't displace Dorn, Roberts or Gale?

Why are you bothered?

I'm almost 100% certain now that you're a Wigan troll. You continuously pick needless fights with Saints fans and suck Rogues off at any given opportunity.

Alternatively you're one of those people who just likes being abrasive and rubbing folk up the wrong way. I've just read through your last few posts and most of them consist of you basically being a bell end and having a pop. Your obsession with "insiders" and people "in the know" is embarrassing. You're obviously very bitter that you know nothing.

Either way, give it a rest.

As usual, a 'King of the Board' post from you. I just call things as I see them. If you don't like what I post there's an option - maybe take it.

I 'm a Saints season ticket holder for 30 plus years - hardly Wigan troll material. If I don't agree with some of the comments from people on here then I'll say so whether they are Saints fans or not. Similarly, I'll agree where I agree. I'd rather do that than demonstrate the manifest immaturity of people like you who think they know it all and get all weepy eyed and prickly when someone has the nerve to challenge them.

I don't actually care about 'insiders' or whatever you choose to call them. My comments earlier in the rumours thread were tongue in cheek, hence the numerous accompanying smileys.

As for your analogy of my approach to Rogues if you recall correctly I was the guy who, for example, 'outed' him for his duplicitous comments on Kyle Amor - remember? Hardly 'suck off' material (as you so eloquently put it) is it so how 'bout you get your facts right? However I believe he's a decent bloke so I'll treat him as such - no more than that. I don't know him.

In your quest to be regarded as the Saints Oracle you've lost sight of the fact that this is a place for opinions. Oddly enough some may differ from yours. It's called life and you may want to consider formulating a strategy for that. As for abrasiveness, go take a look at some of your utterly condescending posts on here and the other site you frequent. I think you pretty much define it.

For the record, if anyone has found my posts towards them on here to be 'abrasive' or offensive then I'll unreservedly apologise. I think most people, evidently apart from you, take them in the spirit of banter and differing opinion that's intended.

Grow up.

(By the way - this is the first and last reply you'll be getting. You don't warrant any more attention than I've given you; regardless of the anticipated defensive response I'm anticipating. I've more respect for the other board members than to indulge your arrogance any further).

I'll hold my hands up, I'd had one too many drinks last night prior to posting. My mate thought a Wednesday was a good night to go and celebrate his Mrs being up the duff. Probably not a wise move in the cold light of day. In hindsight my comments were over the top.

I do believe you deliberately go out of your way to pick fights and mock other people though but that's just my opinion. You questioning Saddened last night was completely unnecessary. His post was in line with what was being discussed at the time and you tried to pick a fight for no apparent reason. Also your comments about people being fantasists the other day or whatever it was came across as very silly on your part. Just because people don't blab stuff all over the forums doesn't mean they are "dreamers." As I have said previously, there are a handful of people on here who I can trust with information who could vouch for the stuff I've told them in the past.

Your response and accusations this morning are very petty mate. For the record, I don't think I "know it all", nor do I believe I am "King of the board." I never claimed to be the "oracle" either. I don't know why you're coming out with all of that to be honest.

To use your phrase, I simply call things as I see them. I am more than happy to discuss things rationally with people who have a different opinion to me (last night being an obvious anomaly), so again you're wide of the mark there. Take St.Pete and Magic Superbeetle for example, I don't always agree with them and I tell them so when that's the case, but we haven't once exchanged insults or argued in any way.

However my comments last night were a bit daft so I apologise for those. I'm happy to leave it there, move on and not derail the thread any further.

Apology accepted and let's just agree to differ. No drama. We're all Saints fans at the end of the day.

Fair do's mate.

This threads turned into the 'yellow girraffe makes a complete fool of himself'

Back on topic about Jack Owens please.

And the award for most unnecessary and pointless post goes to......

Well done mate.

I can't anywhere on t'internet saying we have signed Owens apart from this forum?

I'm not sure were this rumour started tbh it maybe true or not??
But I doubt saints would be interested in owens.
He has snail like pace.
Is very suspect under the high ball and can't tackle for toffee and his positional play is awful.
Apart from that he ain't too bad.

Sounds like an improvement over our most recent signing in the backs, Dom Panic Peyroux and the previous one, Matty Championship 1 Dawson.

It is seriously worrying that we're even considering this kind of nonsense signing.

How do you know we are considering signing him?

I don't technically. It was rumoured in the papers and on here. Do you know something I don't?

Didn't our Chairman once say something like " A world class stadium for a world class team" ?

Some players suit certain clubs and vice versa. For whatever reason, style of play, club culture, geography, the coach etc affects how well a player settles in that system and brings out the best in him. If Jamie Lyon or Paul Newlove were in the Saints team today, would they be as effective? We moan that Percival is starved of quality ball at Saints so if you put him in at Leeds, surely you'd see an even better Percival, been given more ball, space and thus increasing his development.

Danny Brough, Kevin Brown, Jamie Ellis, Brett Ferres, Joel Moon are just examples of players who suit a certain club/style and have come into their own after perhaps not being given a fair crack elsewhere.

We haven't signed this Jack Owens but if we did, who's to say he wouldn't develop massively in a Saints team?

Kevin brown has about 3 good games a season when he's not injured.

If Widnes are like a fat, bald mid 40's bloke who's just got 'lucky' on a Saturday night on Duke Street and took home a good looking girl with self esteem issues, only to get to 'the moment', and look down in desperation at his flaccid member, then Kevin Brown would be the one who thumbs it in.

I really rate him.

What I strange likeness, I could almost picture it ...

On reflection, it was a regrettable analogy.

Signing confirmed this morning. 2 year deal.

I don't think that's a bad signing. He's gonna be a bit of a project I suspect but these things can work out sometimes. I really hope the Gilmore rumours are true - I'd be very happy with that.