Faz has played prop but that doesn’t make him one. BTW, Mata’utia isn’t bigger than most of Wigan’s props, and certainly not bigger than Ellis or Dupree. Thompson maybe but it is that long since I saw him I’m not sure. I am sure that if all your pack is fit you will be really competitive but you should not be relying on the two mentioned to bolster your front row. Saints need to spend but whether they have they got the funds? One thing is for sure, unless they make Welsby their highest paid player he won’t be around for long. The biggest problem you are going to have is recruiting federation trained players to replace the likes of Makinson, Lomax etc. although you do have some promising juniors who may fill the void.

Kaide Ellis is 6' 3" and 17 and a half stone, Tyler Dupree 6' 2" and just shy of 17 stone. Mata'utia just 6' and 15 and a half stone.

Clearly much bigger than Ellis and Dupree*

*(But only on RedVee)

Still, at least he's bigger than Luke Thomson who is fractionally taller and over half a stone heavier*

*(Using RedVee units of measurement again of course)

Tony Clubb played centre for England, doesn't mean he is one. Same with Blake Austin on the wing.

Matautia has the makings of a good prop to be fair but he’s a loose cannon, as he showed again tonight.

His discipline is terrible. The bigger the game the worse he is. Lucky to avoid a card in the GF against Catalans when he struck Maloney. Definitely lucky tonight to not be carded.

Mata'utia last night just makes the Shorrocks sending off even more ludicrous. There was a suggestion that it was because it was a semi final and being "reffed differently". It reminds me of a certain famous Orwell quote: All semi finals are equal but some semi finals are more equal than others.

Mata'utia is obviously going to get a ban for that punch, which will come into force at the beginning of next season.
Do you think St Helens will use pre-season friendlies to work some of the ban off? Surely "Saints" would NEVER do anything like that?

I thought Thompson was superb today. Especially after the HIA took the ball in all day and defended superbly. Good signs from him considering he was 'finished'

Agreed although, as expected, those on t'other side of Billing hill have a different view

As I said on the game thread, that simpleton giraffe bloke said he got bitched. No doubt he will come back on here trying to suck up to you all like he normally does.

Thompson was outstanding today. End of.

I’m gutted he didn’t come back to saints

Consummate professional, getting better each game,hell of a player

I thought he was good in defence and put his hand up for a lot of carries, but he didn’t really get the better of any collisions that I can remember

Saints fans logic. He didn’t make many post contact meters. Had a rubbish game. Matty lees never makes post contact meters. Oh lees was immense

It’s a fair part of a props job. You can have a good game without winning the collision and making loads of ground and Thomson did have a good game but he doesn’t seem as effective as he once was. People like Lees because he’s a huge part of setting our tempo. He doesn’t make a lot of post contact metres but he does regularly dominate in the tackle.

Most people aren’t saying lees was immense on Friday though, they’re saying the likes of Walmsley, Mata’utia and Knowles were

He made over 100 metres.

I agree with this and he hasn’t really bossed many collisions all year, although he does have a very quick PTB.

In the second half he returned a drop out and skittled 3 defenders. People around me mentioned that would do him good.

Yes, but he also took on a lot of carries to get it

16 wasn't it? It would have took Lees 30.

And?

I'd be much more concerned if he only had 5 or 6 carries which was pretty much the norm for some of our props a couple of seasons back

Jamie Peacock used to average 5 meters per carry most weeks.

One of the best props I’ve ever seen.

Yeah I’m not trying to say he didn’t play well and I said I thought he had a good game. I was just observing that he didn’t seem to be winning many collisions and doesn’t seem as effective as the guy that left us in 2020. He’s got a great engine and he’s always going to run his blood to water and I feel like whilst his ceiling may not be as high as it used to be, his floor is still higher than most.

No matter what Thompson does, there will always be ‘yeah but…’ from opposition fans. He fits perfectly into our rotation doing what he’s doing and when Havard and Walters join him we’ll be looking at major dominance in the middle of the field.

Haven't read the whole thread.

But Thompson has been our best forward this season so far (which is no mean feat either). Very impressed with him. His passion v Salford in driving that player over the touchline which we eventually scored off was great to see.

England honours coming you'd think along with Dupree.

Dupree has a little way to go IMO yet if he wants to become a regular in the England set up. I really rate him but he hasn't found the consistency yet that Thompson has shown. It's to be expected, he's still quite young and inexperienced and the same goes for guys like Byrne and Havard. The beauty is these guys all add so much to the side but have plenty left to come yet.