Might be Wales, I'm not sure.

I thought Olpherts was going from Cas, but linked to Lds, could be him, but I think the only winger like grace in SL is Davies at Cats - hence TJ signing

Taking an ex Wigan player is very much a Saints thing, so you might be on the button there.

I think it's only in the last month or so that Lewis has really come to peoples attention, so a bit early for Saints I'd have thought.

Need tog et next year's recruitment spot on.

I would sign a centre, a full-back, a half back, two props, a second rower and a hooker at a minimum. Wingers we have cover in Kay, Taufau, Murphy and Kershaw. Need to try and offer Murphy a good deal and tie him down for the next 3 or 4 years. Fullback we've got Max and so need Shaul or someone else. Halfback is the one we need to get right the most. We have Lino and Gaskell who can cover but need a stand off who can start and organise. In losing Walker we've lost a bit of utility so hopefully there's a young half in the academy who can be back up in case of injury crisis. At centre we have Lyne, Croft, Hall. The jury is still out for Croft. He's spent a lot of time injured but has improved the last couple of games. Reece is solid. Gaskell can cover but I'd rather have another specialist centre so we have four which is plenty of cover. At prop we have lost Fifita and Arona. Currently we have Battye, Butler and Bowden. Battye is probably past his peak. Butler is a gamble. Bowden has been solid. We need two decent big props if we play Whitbread at 13 on top of Eseh and Shaw.
Second row we have Pitts, Ashurst and Tanginoa. Fairly solid. If Jay leaves then he will need replacing. I'd probably look at signing a second rower. Hooker we have Bowes and Hood. We should look at signing another so we've got depth but Bowes looks to be developing and could feature more next season.

In terms of young prospects that could potentially come through into the first team squad next year, who do we think? Oli Pratt looks like he could be ready to step up and maybe get a debut at some point from the little I've seen and I believe he can play centre/fullback/wing. This would give us a bit more depth at centre.

Anyone know if we've got any decent young halves in the academy that are expected to come through? It seems to be a position where we have rarely been successful in bringing players through. We've churned out wingers and currently seem to have some good young forwards but halfback has always seemed to allude us.

Tom Lineham.

Whitbread is a prop and has been arguably our best. No need to change that.

Pitts isn’t signed for 2023.

Gaskell isn’t a half and has found his position at centre (personally think he’s been better than Lyne at centre this season). PHe can cover full back and halfback but it would only be in emergency imo.

Croft has been very good last few games and I think has earned a deal. Coming back from a big injury and getting back confidence and fitness meant was always going to take time.

We have Lineham also as a winger option as it stands.

I do agree that we need 2 props (one must be an experienced enforcer).

A quality halfback is a must.

We need 1/2 second row. A loose forward. A utility back and back up half.

There are a few players who don’t seem to be getting the chances in Windrow and Pat O’Donnovan. Think next season will be their 2/3rd? Surely it’s now or never for this players.

After mention on here of the possible signing of Taylor I watched him closely against Cas.Big strong LF who is Salfords defensive linchpin and captain.Played nearly all the game and was very impressive in defence but didn't see much of the ball in attack so not sure about that side of his game.

I have seen quite a bit of him and I think you have called it about right. At Cas he was playing in the second at
row channel but usually plays in the middle at LF. Great defensive organiser and good tackler and that looks his game.
However 33yrs at start of next season, just wonder how long his contract will be.

Can't see the point of signing an "enforcer" when you're hardly allowed to tackle nowadays

Call him a steam roller then

That will do lol. We do need a dominant figure though in the middle with some experience to replace Fifita and Arona.

Steam roller is better.
Enforcers are on their way out. Napalm is a good example.
A Fifita or a Walmsley is better. Make ground and frighten defenses but don't get into a fight and don't get sent off.

I'm thinking what Trojan means is not an enforcer (they are long gone) but a player who can make things happen up the middle. I wouldn't say Arona was that but Fifita was in a very unorthodox way.

Whitbread has now stepped up to that one but another would be nice. They don't have to be big, Dean Hadley did the job for us for a while and he was no steamroller as did Westerman last year.

You're certainly more likely to find one of those in the NRL than the UK. I reckon Shaw could be one of those but not for a while ditto Eseh and a few of the youngsters but that's not next season.

Hadley was a great defender but, it's a big guy that we need, to suck in additional defenders. Fifita is excellent but, a Walmsley or Kasiano type player who physically dominates the middle of the park and whilst the "biff" has largely disappeared, every side needs a couple of forwards who will never take a backward step, first one to step in if it gets tasty, even though they may never need to actually belt anyone.
Whitbread looks close but, another player of his ilk would be great.

Pretty much what I’m thinking. Enforcer was probably the wrong word.

The World Cup may allow us the opportunity to unearth one of these props.

On the Taylor front I hope we don’t go there unless it’s 12 months only. He’s solid in defence but when we got mullered at Salford Taylor was the least involved of their forward pack in attack. Id prefer we looked at Asiata at Leigh who can play 13 and also if needed prop.

As a defensive kingpin he didn't need to be involved as we never had the ball.

Elijah Taylor has played at a level and intensity all of our players staying and leaving could only dream of. I’m sure he held the world record/ or still does for the most tackles in a game. Yes he’s knocking on, but he still offers quality, Salford don’t look too shabby with him as their captain. With potentially a tough 2023 coming up, having a player of his professionalism and stature will do more good than harm. If he has signed, let’s judge him on how he plays, I remember people saying Glenn Morrison was too old when he signed, didn’t turn out too bad.

Just been watching RL agent Craig Harrison’s ‘the deal’ YouTube show. Said that we have one hell of a job to get recruitment done this year after obviously leaving it late with survival, though he thinks we will pick up quite a few from the WC. He’s meeting with MC on Friday and that Corey Hall has been promoted to the England Knights squad, yet to be announced. Paid tribute to big Dave too, saying he had enormous offers to leave but stayed loyal to us and MC.

Well I’m happy for Corey Hall. I was only saying last week that Hall deserves to be in the knights set up. The move to trinity was probably the best thing he could have done. Had he moved to another club he likely wouldn’t have had the opportunity. Dave has been an excellent player for us.

I honestly hope to see Hall and Murphy stay at trinity and develop at least for another few years. We could actually build something and challenge if we keep players like them.

I don't think the club are waiting to find players at the World Cup, I reckon they'll have already identified them. Playing just one game at the WC will mean players that were previously ineligible would then qualify for a work permit.

Yes. Willie has said they are already doing deals with people but couldn't finalise anything till we were safe.

Your point is a very good one. Anyone that spots a player for the first time at World Cup and then signs them is heading for trouble.
Knowing how diligent Willie is he already has a list of players in WC squads he wants to deal with once they tick the International box.

I read an article by Mathew Shaw the other month that said that because the WC is over here, players will be automatically allowed a work permit/Visa and that quite a few SL clubs will be taking advantage of this. It’s no great secret, just some sort of loop hole. We won’t be the only team. Can’t see any negatives to it, just speeds up the process

I hope you’re right and said players that have been identified haven’t signed else where already.

Totally agree.

The WC is nothing like club rugby. Players can look absolutely fantastic playing what amount to exhibition matches in the early stages. Many a false star has been born.

However it will still throw up the odd gem or highlight how much better a known player is than you thought.

It’s really a job for Poching and on this one I do trust him and his team. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t sign any from the WC and whilst others sit entranced we don’t ransack a few good fringe players from the big clubs whilst nobody is looking.

I’d be pleased if Daniel Alvaro signed for Trinity. A great replacement for Big Dave.

I would have thought his contract would be nul and void with Toulouse relegation to Championship…