Worse than wakefield's, they are.......

I expect to see a more expansive style of rugby this season. We will be there or there abouts, and we are much stronger this year IMO. To predict where we will finish you have to look at the teams around us, Warrington, Wigan, etc.., who haven't really strengthened to be honest. Losing players like Leuluai, Finch and Carmont will make a huge difference for Wigan, and Warrington haven't really signed anyone during the off season. Hull and Leeds are stronger than last year, and it wouldn't surprise me if one of those two separated the so called "top 3"

Saints are in good shape, and playing Gaskell at 6 will be like a new signing for us. Manu is a great addition down the left, and with the younger players like Greenwood, Walmsley and Hand for example, we have plenty of strength in depth, and have a good mixture of youth and experiance.

We weren't to far off last year, so I see know reason why we won't pick up at least one major trophy this year.

Just a quick question, who do you think will be kicking Makinson or Lomax?

Purely for dream team purposes cheers.

Turner.

Just Clough and (sigh) Wheeler that haven't featured yet.

I think what I'm most excited about this year is Gaskell playing 6. Not just because he a talent and he improves our attacking shape, but mainly because of the (hopefully) positive effect he has on Johnnycake Lomax's game.

It was a joy to watch the pair sof them throughout 2011.

Our forwards excite me this year. I keep harping on about it, but I think we have the strongest pack in the league.

It was very solid last year, for the majority of the time. Now that we've added Manu to it, I think we'll have that extra edge and confidence to take us forward.

With Manu, it means we can have one of Manu, Sia and Puletua providing impact from the bench along with LMS, hopefully Hohaia and Flanagan/Walmsley/Clough/Greenwood. I don't think any bench in super league would come close to that this year.

Sia did a lot of long minutes last season, and I belive that Manu also plays for most of the game? TP will therefore more than likely be providing the impact, allowing one of these two to have a rest. If Perry and Lafranchi start, Clough and LMS will probably be the substitute props, with Hohaia being the back on the bench, and TP the back row/prop sub. Leaves no room for Flanaghan. Would assume he will come in to cover for injuries when they inevitably ahppen, and Walmsley will cover the prop spots. Wheeler looks a long way out of the team, even if he was fit.Loamskell have the halfs ewn up, it apperars, and Hohaia will always be the first reserve. I think if he gets the chance, he really doeshave to make a huge impact, or it is tata to him.

And now we are tipped for the top in Sporting Life www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... ve-in-2013

And now we are tipped for the top in Sporting Life www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... ve-in-2013

Quote ="SomersetSaint"And now we are tipped for the top in Sporting Life www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... ve-in-2013'" Just read that! But it seems to be their opinion that we will only finish top because Wire and Leeds can't be bothered to.

Quote ="SomersetSaint"And now we are tipped for the top in Sporting Life www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... ve-in-2013'" Just read that! But it seems to be their opinion that we will only finish top because Wire and Leeds can't be bothered to.

I'd say Flanagan was a better option than Clough. I'd put Greenwood and Walmsley ahead of him too. Flanagan may not have been spectacular last year, but I think he offers more in attack and comes up with some absolute bellringers in defence.

Madness imo. Clough was our third best metre maker last year behind robes and LMS, and he performed consistantly against any opposition. In fact, in the Wire clashes at the end of ast season, he was one of our best going forward.

I would suggest that, if Lomaskell start firing again and give us the structure we need, then it would be Wilkin that Flanaghan should target. From his past clubs we know he could do a similar tackle rate as Wilks, but he hits a lot harder.
Flash isn't without skills, although we don't see them as often and I think, moving forward,balancing the cap, he's is a better bet at 13 for us than Wilkin.

I think Clough offers us balance as a "plodder" when we have so many players that are out and out attackers, in TP, Manu, LMS and Sia. He is the steady workhorse that we need to be able to allow the others to shine. Don't underestimate his value to the team as a whole.

Is Wheeler still alive?

To be honest, I think that is perfectly true. We will probably only need to improve a little bit to overtake the likes of Wigan and Warrington, who appear to be going backwards, Wigan quite quickly, and Warrington who are aging and not recruiting. Leeds are really an odd team, and we'll have no idea how we stack up against them until October.

But, isn't it harsh to label him a plodder when he's made more yards than Boof, Perry and Puletua?

He's not perfect, he doesn't get many offloads, and perhaps he's can't dominate the attacker as well as Perry, but he makes the yards and has a very low error/penalty/missed tackle rate.
Add to that he probably doesn't command the biggest wage, I'd say he's a pretty useful squad member.

Read the sig.

perfectly describes my thoughts on Clough

As a neutral who are your 1st choice wingers, Makinson on the right? Whoever is on the left side could be in for as treat inside Manu.

Plodder was an unfair description, however, it was to separate him from the flashy players like TP, Soliola and Manu, who will hit the headlines, make the breaks, and score the tries. I am in total agreement with your assesment of him as a valuable member of the squad, and see the fact that he is a "plodder" as a positive, not a negative.

agreed

Meli. He'll drop everything Manu gives him. He's dropped just about everything for the last 5 years.

Wow, the season hasn't even started and already the Melissa bashing has begun.

ball in hand he is a great player, in defance.....well it says it all when a whole stand is in shock when he catchs a bomb on the full.

i dont like calling players but i cant believe he still plays for saints bearing in mind the amount of big and high profile mistakes he has made in the past no matter how good he is going forward

Agree 100%.