Not long now until you guys are back where you belong (fingers crossed)

I was wondering how you think your squad will look compared to now when you start in the SL. Who will still be there , who will be binned off and who do you see as targets to stregthen your side. Complete overhaul?? or a few tweeks????

Saints fan in peace.

Cheers mate! I feel we'll bring in about ten or so, squad pretty young so think a lot would drop into SL reserves / fringe for a year or two not released full stop.

Rumours grow about Mr Lockyer and that's coming from AUS, imagine that being 1st name signed on? We'll see.

Think we'll need a few key first teamers and only lpoking to sign about 4 from NRL apparently so something like...

Wing - Can see Ade Gardner tbh with you. Would love Luke Burt!
Centre - NRL - Hodges or someone like that with rep days behind them.
Half back - spend big can see a Lockyer type in dream land, maybe Sean Long?
Hooker - must IMO good starting hooker, Ennis would of been top bill (Newton was linked RIP). Chad Randall type?
Prop - Big enforcer to start us off, need to see who available. Likes of Luke Bailey from NRL.
Back row - real tackling machine like a Nathan Hindmarsh type.

Can see a few SL squad players coming in, likes of Peter Lupton to add experienced.

Looks like a bunch of has beens, surely with a 3 year breather you can give your yoof the chance to progress rather than providing yet another pension plan job.

Only players their could list as 'has beens' (age wise) would be Lockyer, Bailey, Hindmarsh all still playing NRL currently! And Sean Long who is the best 7 in SL history. So that's... 4 out if a 24 man squad!

Fax have more than that now

did you read it our was that a pre-empted comment?

it matters nought who we bring in. for all who dare to stand before the viking horde will be torn asunder!

Looking at about 12 coming in [uIF[/u we get the nod, 7 home growners and a few kept on from this year.

I would keep the below for SL

Ropati
Finnigan
Allen
Kavanagh
Sculthorpe (if fit)
Haggerty junior
Pickersgill
Flynn
Ianson
Thackeray

Youngsters

Grady
Craven
Brown
Mullally
Gore
Hulme
Leuluai
Owens
Gilmore

Thanks for your kind comments. At this moment in time I don't know what to expect in terms of our squad make up if we get the nod. Our chairman has indicated that he is prepared to spend the money to build a side not only capable of being competitive but of competing for trophies. With the money he has and more importantly the desire he shows you would not want to bet against him.
I think more importantly the side that we will have in 2 - 4 years will be the one that will be the most exciting for many of us when some of these youngsters form the core of our squad.
Craven, Owens, Gore, Gilmore, Gerrard etc etc.

Yeaaaahh... apparently Thurston, Slater and Inglis are on their way to the shay next year as well

Your the one's who like to bang on about our millionaire owner

Touché

How many of those won't appear on the cap? Am i right here - players of a certain age don't count or am i wrong there? I reckon that top batch of players could hack it in SL. Remember, Hull KR kept a load of theirs on and they did OK.

Something like home grown under 21's don't I think.
I agree Hull KR did well gradually building up which I feel we will do and why just look at 10 or so not 15/20 or so. I think Widnes have as many potential SL players as the likes of Halifax, Fev & Barrow just in recent years 'the rest' haven't been as good as other teams.

Add Heckenburgh and Varkulis to that list.

Of established first-team players, I'd keep:

Tyrer, Thackeray, I'Anson, Kavanagh, Finnigan, Allen, Heckenburg, Sculthorpe.

Maybe Netherton too.

Gerrard, Grady, Flynn and K Haggerty should also get deals too.

Obviously all the youngsters, Craven et al coming through too.

I think a big mistake would be to over-estimate the strength of our squad.

Is Kurt Haggerty going well with you guys then? We had him at Leigh for a while but he never really did anything of note and didn't stay long. Don't think he was all that old though so he's obviously improved with age. Good on him.

got gareths attitude and gets stuck in

Good player is kurt and has real good potential.

Notice I'Anson appears a lot on these retain lists. Still has a lot to prove at Championship level yet. Hopefully the Super League motivation will make him play to his full potential.