That's why we need to bulk up the front row, give us enough weight going forward and defending the middle to make sure the youngsters aren't in a fair fight before they're ready for it.

To be fair, the counter argument is that Graham, Roby and Eastmond look set to carry this mantle.

None of whom are particularly experienced though.

I thought the interview with Clough on Sporting Life was interesting, with him being told that he was now an experienced campaigner. He's only in his second season in the first team! It's that kind of talk that worries me.

In a playing capacity, what more experience do you want Graham and Roby to have?

Neither are in their prime yet, and at 24, are still in the stage where they are learning the game.

I think it's a dangerous tactic to expect players that young to have the burden of guiding younger players when they should be concentrating on improving their own games.

Graham Smith was captaining South Africa at 21 in a game where maturity is at more of a premium than RL.

Both Roby andf Graham should have a pretty developed sense of knowledge of RL. They have reppresented Great Britain, participated in a World Cup in a different country and experienced the highs and lows of losing major finals. Guiding the younger players is a principle duty of the coach, a major reason why Potter was brought to Saints for his experience in this regard. I share some of your concern about overall balance of the side and perhaps we would do well to recruit an older head in the forwards at close season.

If graham and roby are still learning the game, then i fear for other teams when they learn it! Graham could quite possibly get a gig at any NRL team now and roby wouldn't be far off.
Graham and roby are now senior players, Cloughy is a bit of a push though. Next year our senior players will possibly be Wello, Graham, Roby, Gidley, Gardner. These are players that the young lads can look to for their experience at domestic and international level.

I'm not saying that young players cannot be captains, but they tend to be surrounded by older heads at the time.



The coach isn't on the pitch though



I just worry that we are losing 3 experienced players and bringing in 1 23 year old and that it will eventually tell.

You expect a 24 year old to know all there is about the game?

Yes, they are ahead of some other players at their age due to the games that they've played, but IMO they should still be concentrating on their own games, which do have flaws.

Yes we will have Wellens and Gidley, but expecting these two to take over the mantle of the likes of Long is at least 2 years early for me.

I see your point but that 23 yr old is an international, as is Scott Moore who is effectively a new signing. We do need experience and i think we are all hoping that comes in the form of 1 and very hopefully 2 experienced props.

How old was Jamie Lyon when he came over?

He's played 8 games, and Moore 1 at international level, and More has a [ilot [/ito learn.

Hopefully you are correct and we do sign a prop.