We need at least 3 world class players to come into that team to turn into a genuine SL force.

At the moment with the squad we have were're nothing more than a good hard working team.

We've little to no flair, and not one player with genuine class.

Tomkins is the one shining light we have, but he's a year or two away from where he can get to. A few class players in the right positions would really help him bring on his game, and the team in general.

Offiah might be trying to plug some clients, but the general idea that we need some class is spot on.

O'Loughlin, Phelps, Richards and Carmont are also shining lights.

We don't need 3 world class players really, we need a team.

How many world class players do Leeds and Saints have? Peacock, Graham, Webb, Gidley, Cunningham... by world class they are players who could get in any team really. Leeds have 2 IMO and yet have won the super league and have dominated for a few years. Notice how 2 of the players mentioned have been at saints for their full career to date and the other from saints is a top class import, we need our imports to perform to the highest level or I would rather play young players.

Thats the point though, no team can afford 3 world class players. We in my opinion need 1 Origin level or there abouts Prop with the right style ie aggressive to turn us into a side capable of consistently challenging for honours.

DJ isn't super human, he's a tackling machine but there would be people giving him stick over here for not creating enough - at the Storm he's the heart and soul of the team, and has been a key part of their success.

Cam Smiths quality and strength comes from his ability to read a game and organise, not from being build like a tank or being lightning quick from scoots - debuted for them in 2002

Cooper Cronk is not as great a player as JT - but he's a great player and works at the Storm, JT wouldn't either fit in their cap or fit into the way they operate, debuted in 2004.

Inglis is a freak i'll give you that one

but even he wasn't the player he is now in 2005 when he made his debut

Slater debuted in 2003

It still shows that it's not all about splashing the cash though, especially when you have players who are already on contract and you feel you are not getting the most performance out of.

Sort out the performances, then you will be in a clear position to see where you need to prune/add to the squad. It makes no sense to sign a prop for example to find out after pre-season that feka's peforming miles better than he was when you made the signing choice.

That's all i'm trying to say, signings are good, but the right platform is more important.

You've got to take stock first imo before you can move on. I honestly think pretty much all of our players have more potential in them than they currently have delivered - squeeze that out of them, and be planning to add to the squad

I wouldn't rate Gidley, or Cunningham as world class either - great players yes, better than what we have in some cases, yes, but really world class is such an overused term. Webb? i've edited my initial judgement as I think i was slightly unfair to him, but correct me if i'm wrong he still hasn't made the NZ squad for the 4 nations?

Inglis IMO is the best player in the world.

Gidley has turned Gardner into a top try scorer from a rubbish winger! Gidley is the best centre in super league by miles!

Cunningham isn't world class

, just don't say that on the saints board.

Ah that's the point though that I meant, Matt Gidley is a fantastic centre and when on form he is the best in the super league, but he still isn't current world class by the true definition of things for a Centre

Just shows how far we need to develop centres of our own.

Tomkins hasn't got geniune class? Give over.

Your problem is that you can't afford 3 world class players under the salary cap. One possibly, but what you need is for some of these youngsters in and around your first team to develop into world class players. In Tomkins I think you'll definitely have at least one. In Mossop I think you may have another if all goes right for him.

In regards to other comments on the thread, I agree with Bilko, a good half back to partner Tomkins would improve you far more than a new prop would, though you, as with almost every other team in SL, would probably like a new all action prop.



He isn't these days

Crikey, a saints fan got the point i was trying to make and put it better



/notworthy

Saints lost 9, so 12 losses is not as bad as you make out as we're now competing under a salary cap system.

Ryan Tandy

The main point I was trying to make is that pretty much all of their key players have been brought through over a number of years only playing first grade with the Storm.

They've had the patience and put the systems in place, and it's paid dividends for them, and tbh there's no sign at the moment that it won't continue to do so for the future.

That's what i'd really like to see us turn into, they don't have to be Wigan lads (most of the storm guys haven't come from the Melbourne area), but they've all come through their system, and there's a real culture of continuous development and improvement throughout the club, with the long term rather than short term always considered.

Its the same school of thought that Bennett ran the Broncos under, continuous development, improvement, letting a 'name' go because you had to make room for the kids coming through. And it's no surprise that Craig Bellamy is doing it after developing under Bennett. And I think Maguire has the same beliefs - lets hope he can achieve the same type of feats that Craig has. Clearly IL buys into this whole concept hence the appointment.

Leeds have 2 world class players yes.... but since they signed them 2 world class players to add to there talented young squad they have won super league 3 times in a row. IMO we are short of 2 'class experienced' players to turn us into a SL force. Ill say it again, last season if we had Barrett at 6 and Peacock at prop in our team with sam at 7 and tommy at hooker we would have more than likely won the challenge cup (given the same run) and had a damn good chance of winning the league aswell. I supose its all opinion though

We'd also have been a fair bit over the cap



It's all about squad balance and coaching tbh, just look at the Cowboys, the worlds best halfback by a fair margin in JT, didn't make the playoffs and finished 12th.

Thats the thing isnt it. I personally think we will see the best from us not next season but the season after when Maguire can have a proper clear out and get rid of a couple of the big earners who IMO are not worth the money they are on. A former player who left not so long ago told me what a few of our top earners were on a year and its shocking

I agree with you completely, consolidate next season and concentrate on performances out of the squad we have, while identifying weaknesses and using Maguires contacts in the NRL to sound out any potential additions for the 2011 season when we'll hopefully have a lot more cash to play with. The one thing i'm very confident that Maguire will do is make sure there are opportunities for the reserves, and he won't make a signing at the expense of one of them unless they are genuinely stand out better for the money.

I think that's the one thing we will ALL be hoping for. However I do think there will be one (or two) signings before the new season starts.

I'd welcome signings if we can make room for them and they can add something to the squad, and not leave us tied up with people on long deals that prevent us from maybe making a better signing next year, or blocking the development of some the younger guys.

Fortunately, i've got a lot of faith in the current team that they will be better in this area than previous incumbents.

I just don't buy into Martin's tripe that the cheque book is the solution, I think he's quite clearly self interested.

I'm actually slightly fearful for FC next season, they've got some good young lads and I hope Agar can bring them on with rather than at the expense of some of the 'more mature' signings they have made. I've got a real soft spot for FC so I hope it works for them, i've just got no confidence that Agar is able to do the job - hope i'm wrong for their sake.

You heard what Sinfield said that most of the Leeds players are under paid but they like playing for Leeds instead of the money.

Bradford players said the same