1. Paul Wellens, 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Michael Shenton, 4. Sia Soliola, 5. Francis Meli, 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Jonny Lomax, 8. Josh Perry, 9. James Roby, 10. Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook, 11. Tony Puletua, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Chris Flannery, 14. Anthony Laffranchi, 15. Mark Flanagan, 16. Paul Clough, 17. Gary Wheeler, 18. Shaun Magennis, 19. Andrew Dixon, 20. Lee Gaskell, 21. Tommy Makinson, 22. Jamie Foster, 23. Scott Hale, 24. Nathan Ashe, 25. Carl Forster, 26. Josh Jones, 27. Danny Jones, 28. Joe Greenwood, 29. Anthony Walker, 30. Jordan Hand.

How many of those have actually changed?

I was going to post a vile anti-Hohaia statement, but looking at the numbers it seems a lot of them have stayed with the player that had them.

Who is Anthony Walker?

He's no.29.



Interesting that of the five promoted from the Academy squad, three are props. Maybe Saints are trying to find the next James Graham?

Looks like we will struggle if we get any injuries but if we can only pick up the odd one or two we will go well

We said that this time last year but we got to third in the table, CC semi and another GF.

I'm depressed by an increased number of foreign players. Makes us look too much like Hull KR for my liking. Hopefully that will just be for one year and then we can say bye bye to Meli and Flannery and go back in the right direction.

so this is the death knell for another signing?

We don't need another signing if the gazillion props that have just been promoted are any good.

Anthony Walker is a hard working prop that won the U20's player of year last season.

Jordan Hand was runner up for player of the year U20's

Danny Jones was U18's player of year

Probably.

Then again, I'm a big believer in not spending cap space for the sake of it. If the right person isn't available, we should hold back some cap room until they are and give some game time for the young uns.

All good.

That Jordan Hand looks a big lad.

Danny Yates was player of year for u18's not Danny Jones but Jones is a great prospect

I'll reserve judgement until I've seen Laffranchi play and Perry "actually" play.

Our squad strength and depth is reducing year on year and it's very sad to see.

The club needs to show some balls this season. Wellens can't play fullback all year and he can't have his contract renewed.

Forster's at the front of the pecking order, though. Least he was last year.

I remeber Hand was desribed as a robot in one of the match reports.

Joe Greenwood (back row) is one I'm eager to see.

What about the Irish prop?

He's in Spain, last I heard.

Pretty good starting thirteen. Looks like you'll be struggling on with just one centre like ourselves next year. You've made quite a few signings this year, yet the strength in depth isn't really there once again. Saying that being decimated by injury these past few years hasn't been that detrimental to you.

Yeah Forster is in the front of the pecking order - He was injured most of last season though.

Hand is very direct and aggressive

Greenwood is a second rower

Danny Jones can play anywhre in the pack

Walker is very strong in the tackle and runs well

Josh Jones is a very strong centre

Hopefully all these new lads will get a run out or two this year

Meli proved a good centre, but Wheels is the one we all (bar one poster, who shall remain nameless) want to see get a run there.
The general concences seems to be that we'd rather Wellens is phased out, either with the pacey Makinson coming into full back or Lomax taking the job with Lance and Gaskell playing halves.

Pack of
Perry, Robes, TP
Wilkin, Soliola
Laffranchi

With LMS and Clough as bench props, with Flanders and Flash battling for the last spot (remember that Royce takes 1 back on the bench)

Are you joking here?

There are only 7 overseas players in the squad which is fine by me and 18 of the squad have come through the academy with the rest made up of English players who were signed into the club.

Don't see the problem with the squad tbh from your perspective....

Standout player for Saints in the U20 game at Orrell this year.

I've heard good things and he looks like a big boy, which is a nice thing when our last three young backrowers have been reletively weedy.

(IMO) If Hand, Walker and Forster are all half decent, then either one of them needs to get over to Leigh, or Magennis needs to get to a lower SL club (i talking loan deals, here).

We had five overseas players last season, which was a Meli too many for me as it was. I'd be happy to see a full English breakfast to be honest. If we can do without foreign input all the better. Sad that we've increased our number, especially after all the blather put out by our chairman.

Thought Brotherton may have been given a number?

Ok I see it this way.

Its a very flexible squad. Most positions have at least one player who can rotate into that position.

However we do seam a little light prop wise. Its all well and good saying the academy props are good. But if we refuse to rotate them into the squad on a regular basis. We will be working with a proxy squad rather than the numbers quoted.

I've no problem not spending the cap and not replacing smelly. If there is no one quality available then use what you have.

Couple of things this year. Will we keep sia? If not does that mean he does not want to stay or are we looking longer term for an aussie centre.

Will Wheeler make the step up stay fit and take the centre spot for his own.

Will we play two none kicking half backs lomax and lance.

Will Wellens hold FB or will makinson get a run there.

Will any of our young props step up to fill that missing prop role