I think Matautia is a big loss for Saints tbh. The versatility he brought was a positive but above anything else, he's just a very good player. There is a real need for Batchelor and Whitley to make major improvements on their form of last year to cover his exit as a second rower and I felt like he could develop in to one of the better props in the league. He brought an aggressive edge in defence as well and was the sort of player you'd trust in big games, so I am surprised no replacement has been brought in, be that a second rower or a prop.

[quote="NickyKiss":2rwrt804]I think Matautia is a big loss for Saints tbh. The versatility he brought was a positive but above anything else, he's just a very good player. There is a real need for Batchelor and Whitley to make major improvements on their form of last year to cover his exit as a second rower and I felt like he could develop in to one of the better props in the league. He brought an aggressive edge in defence as well and was the sort of player you'd trust in big games, so I am surprised no replacement has been brought in, be that a second rower or a prop.[/quote:2rwrt804] He was never a centre though.

[quote="Zig":37jf2ari]He was never a centre though.[/quote:37jf2ari] No, definitely not his position nowadays. I could've understood them not signing a replacement forward for Matuatia had they gone out and got a centre instead but to run with Hurrell again as first choice seems odd.

[quote="NickyKiss":37uf1mqi]No, definitely not his position nowadays. I could've understood them not signing a replacement forward for Matuatia had they gone out and got a centre instead but to run with Hurrell again as first choice seems odd.[/quote:37uf1mqi] I cannot understand the resigning of Hurrell, he looked shot last season and, by all accounts, he suffered a very bad injury. I am sure that Saints could have made better use of their last non-federation trained spot, perhaps there were no suitable players available for the amount of salary Hurrell commands. Maybe he will prove me wrong and fair play if he does.

[quote="Zig":1me7o3gq]I cannot understand the resigning of Hurrell, he looked shot last season and, by all accounts, he suffered a very bad injury. I am sure that Saints could have made better use of their last non-federation trained spot, perhaps there were no suitable players available for the amount of salary Hurrell commands. Maybe he will prove me wrong and fair play if he does.[/quote:1me7o3gq] Probably no one in their academy that can step up and no cap space for a decent replacement