Alex will rip it up in Super League, i will wager anything he's Englands first choice prop within 2 years, ive watched him play since his amateur days and this was the only possible outcome, he is truly awesome and much better than Chris Hill was in his Championship days.

So who do you think he'll play more for next season, Saints or Batley, given he'll be on dual reg?

To be honest, if he gets started with Saints now and has a full pre season with them id say he'll spend more time with you next year and probably only turn out for Batley if he picks up an injury and needs easing back in.

It's been an absolute pleasure to watch Alex this year. I have no hesitation in saying he will be in your starting 17 in no time and we will see very little of him in his dual reg deal. The lad is unlike any prop in the game today championship or SL. Will be an instant cult hero. I train with the Bulldogs comunity touch team, and whenever we train on the Mount after 1st team training he stays out after all the other lads have finished and does extra sprint training. I'd be shocked if he isn't at least an England knight by 2014. Good luck Alex very well deserved.

SOunds like he [imay[/i go back to Batley early on to try out his improved condition and skills from a full time preseason, but won't stay long. I'm very excited.
As I say, I'd hope that if he's playing at Langtree, we could compensate Batley with one of our other good young props on dual reg too.

'The Beast' is an extraordinary talent, and the most destructive, hardest runner of a ball I've seen at any level of the game. I've lost count of the number of opposition players who have been left shivering on the ground in a crumpled, demoralised heap after attempting to stop him.

Out of curiosity, how many minutes does he tend to do? Is he an impact player or a starter?

Looking forward to seeing him play.

He's an impact player doing a couple 15-20 minutes stints if I'm not mistaken. He certainly works hard on his fitness so no worries there.

Pickavance had a decent career as far as I remember - was a regular in the side through the mid '90s. Did he retire due to injury or something? Or get shunted off to Swinton?

I seem to remember him kicking a drop goal at Wigan once.

In the 16 all draw in the CC at Central Park. Always played well against Wigan.
Went to Swinton around '98 I think.

He,s had 18 games as impact player and 1 game as starter, in that time he has scored 8 tries and won 3 MOM awards.
Last few games he,s playing like a wrecking ball, difficult player to stop when on the charge.

I believe he will be dual reg, saints appreciation to John Kear who processed some of the move. He will be brought into the team cautiously and maybe taken out of the first team squad to play a couple of games for Batley. Thats what I was told, perhaps St Pete can confirm this.

That's exactly the same as what I've been told, bar the bit about Kear. I'm not sure Pete is posting anymore, certainly haven't seen any recently which is a shame.