I agree, but as I say that was totally unforced, a total brain fart, that’s what made it so unforgivable. It was one of those rare moments in which getting it right was easy, getting it as wrong as Grix did took some real effort - I still can’t fathom what he was thinking.

Always easy in hindsight

Normally I’d agree, but even with hindsight it was still really bad.

If only Finny’s penalty had not hit the post & we would have either two or got the ball back…

Yes, I said he needs to ensure it goes dead at least just before he took the kick. Still crazy to lose as we did though. How different things could have been for Holbrooke too if Saints hadn't made the play offs in his 1st season in charge.

I find it really sad that we still need to demonise a person who made a(n albeit crucial) mistake so many years ago... A player who was also instrumental in the best period of performance the club had in a twenty year period. Without his contribution we would not have been near the playoffs.
I'm not religious but the phrase - let he who is without sin, cast the first stone - seems appropriate, we've all screwed up at some time in our lives!

Let the past go and be happy looking forward!

I agree. I don't really understand it.

Sam Royle being released at Sts.

I think he's our type of player. Only 24 and a leader.
Second row is a position we could do with strengthening.

The travel might not work if Ashurst's taxi is no longer available.

Ashurst found a way and it worked for everyone.

A player that could be a good pick up. Spent years in a winning saints system and captained academy and reserves to finals. Would he be better than Boothroyd who looks like he will become a good second row (obviously there’s the quota spot).

Could certainly be worth a look at. Would open up the door for a play for someone like parcel or even Opaciic etc.

Depends though if the clubs have their sights set on someone specific

Difference is he’s homegrown and Boothroyd takes a spot, though tbh I don’t know where we are on that issue anymore.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... p-29911777 Wonder if this is the prop we have been rumored to be looking at signing. Seems to fit the profile of our type of signing. 23 yrs old 6ft 17 stone, only made 1 appearance for Melbourne Storm (played 43 mins in round 26 as a sub against North Queensland Cowboys made 12 carries for 113m, 45m post contact, 22 tackles 2 missed) Has been playing Queensland cup for four years, played this season for the Brisbane Tigers, and the Burleigh Bears before that. These are his Queensland Cup stats https://www.qrl.com.au/players/qrl-prem ... an-powell/

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... p-29911777 Wonder if this is the prop we have been rumored to be looking at signing. Seems to fit the profile of our type of signing. 23 yrs old 6ft 17 stone, only made 1 appearance for Melbourne Storm (played 43 mins in round 26 as a sub against North Queensland Cowboys made 12 carries for 113m, 45m post contact, 22 tackles 2 missed) Has been playing Queensland cup for four years, played this season for the Brisbane Tigers, and the Burleigh Bears before that. These are his Queensland Cup stats https://www.qrl.com.au/players/qrl-prem ... an-powell/

Quote ="Dr Dreadnought"https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/super-league-melbourne-storm-prop-29911777 Wonder if this is the prop we have been rumored to be looking at signing. Seems to fit the profile of our type of signing. 23 yrs old 6ft 17 stone, only made 1 appearance for Melbourne Storm (played 43 mins in round 26 as a sub against North Queensland Cowboys made 12 carries for 113m, 45m post contact, 22 tackles 2 missed) Has been playing Queensland cup for four years, played this season for the Brisbane Tigers, and the Burleigh Bears before that. These are his Queensland Cup stats https://www.qrl.com.au/players/qrl-prem ... an-powell/'" We were rumoured to be after an edge forward not prop. Young 20 year old first name Neko. Played academy state of origin and highly rated.

Quote ="Dr Dreadnought"https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/super-league-melbourne-storm-prop-29911777 Wonder if this is the prop we have been rumored to be looking at signing. Seems to fit the profile of our type of signing. 23 yrs old 6ft 17 stone, only made 1 appearance for Melbourne Storm (played 43 mins in round 26 as a sub against North Queensland Cowboys made 12 carries for 113m, 45m post contact, 22 tackles 2 missed) Has been playing Queensland cup for four years, played this season for the Brisbane Tigers, and the Burleigh Bears before that. These are his Queensland Cup stats https://www.qrl.com.au/players/qrl-prem ... an-powell/'" We were rumoured to be after an edge forward not prop. Young 20 year old first name Neko. Played academy state of origin and highly rated.

There were two rumours doing the rounds a couple of weeks ago Seth Nikotemo is the one you're referring to, 2nd row, U19 State of origin player, which was also reported in Yorkshire Live, but the older rumour was of Trinity negotiating with an Aussie Prop, there wasn't a name mentioned so I was merely speculating as to his identity This is a rumours thread after all

I think the Aussie prop was an Aussie forward and I suspected it was the same and someone just assumed it was a prop.

Will be interesting to see how we fill that last quota spot. There are a few players that would improve the shad available like Parcell and Opacic.

We are clearly looking for an edge forward at the moment. Though I do think we also could do with another prop if Shaw won’t be here next season.

Can't see why Shaw won't get another year, he did more than enough before getting injured.

I don’t think the same on Shaw. He ran hard for one game and then a run in second game. Otherwise he’s been injured. Thats not good enough for me.

If he’s already signed then I hope he shows what he can do but if he’s playing for a contract I’m not sure that single game is enough to convince me he will be of value.

Regan Campbell Gillard has left Parramatta, at 31 a top middle and is the calibre of player who would make a big impact. He would be great but I suspect a club in the NRL will snap him up.

Aren’t Leeds rumoured to be interested?

He’s already turned down a £380k a year deal with St George.

Nobody in SL is going to be paying that much for him so, yes, I’d agree, highly likely he has already signed for another NRL club.

That’s just plain wrong imo. He’s on peanuts and I’m not suggesting he has earned an improved contract, but if he’ll take the same deal then I see no reason why not, he’s only 22 for heavens sake.

Having read a lot of what you put I think you have a slightly off logic to what the true advantages of Ellis cash are.

It’s not the big signings, we’ve always managed them, even if not on the quantity that Ellis might allow. But for me the real luxury we now have is that we can develop players in a way we couldn’t Before.

We can now give players that bit longer so long as they are willing to be reasonable. I know it used to really pee off Carter the he simply didn’t have the cash to keep the maybe players. Not all will make it but plenty do.

For now Shaw is a reserve player, we need them and we can afford them. We now have the one luxury we never had before, time.

Final note. I think you need to accept that not all the talent is in the NRL which you seem a bit obsessed with. You were happy to back Boothroyd after he got injured based on roughly three games, so why not Shaw? Boothroyd did no more than Shaw in his first few games!

rumoured here that he's turned down Brisbane because he want's to stay in Sydney... Although his management team seem to have messed up a possible deal at the Dragons

I beg to differ and Boothroyd showed a lot more and continues to do so than Shaw despite being almost 3 years Shaws junior.


I know full well you can’t have a team of superstars and need reserve and back up squad players. I’m just not convinced that Shaw is or ever will be SL level standard. If he is to be a trinity player next season regardless I will fully support him and hope I am wrong and that he progresses well.

We also have Lingard as the player to develop and in a way he could very well have taken Shaw’s spot already.

Of course I don’t think talent is purely in the nrl. There’s plenty of talent in the uk, the issue is that a lot of it is locked down at their respective clubs.

This is about my thoughts on Shaw and I have reservations as to whether he will ever be good enough for SL and his recent injury record. I may not end up being right but that’s my present thoughts which may change if I see more of him.

I genuinely think Lingard is a better player now at 17 than Shaw is at 22.

Shaw is still young, still got plenty of time, especially in the position he plays, but I actually think he has struggled at this level to make any sort of impact, regardless of his wage which somehow Vastman seems to know, I think there are better players to carry in the squad both in terms of where they are at now as a player but also potential for the next few years (see Lingard).

If we are after another out and out prop, I do wonder if the club have considered Chris Hill for a year, 36 but just made Wanes England squad, so still up there and on the outer at Hudds.