I think we did.

Joynty was a rolls royce of a second row, quick, powerful, evasive , ran great lines and could tackle anything and do it all day.

Like all top players, he changed his game as he got older. When the legs had gone and he could no longer break the line, he changed to a tackling machine.

We sure did! The best 6 or in Martyn's case (20) never to play for GB.

In his last year at the club in 2004 I thought he was superb on the right. Tackled everything and played as a 3rd Prop.

The thing I remember most about Joynt was the run of three games-
Picked up his 2nd Harry Sunderland in the 2000 GF
Our next match was the WCC against Brisbane - MoM again after scoring the winning try.
Then we played Wigan in a CC game as one of the (if not the) first matches of the 2001 season. Joynt was again given man o' the match.

Absolute legend.

Joynt was without doubt the best Second Rower of his generation. An outstanding professional, A great athlete, A great player, called tackle all day long and make breaks and had the turn of pace to convert them breaks into tries. I remember his wide to west try he played 70 mins (due to being sin binned) still made 40 plus tackles and still had the energy to take the pass from West and beat James Lowes and score.

Tommy came about 6 months after Joynty. I've still got a very old copy of a Rugby Leaguer where where there's an article (it might be a Dave 'Nosey' Parker one ) saying that Saints are weighing up a bid for two Oldham youngsters, Chris Joynt & Tommy Martyn.

I remember Joynt being mainly a fast SR'er, his game based on his running game. Then he seemed to morph into a tackling machine but was a less effective runner. Then the two sides of his game came together and bang! One of the best back rowers ever at Saints. Didn't he play loose forward for quite a while?

Anyone remember a Lancs Cup Final at KR, us against the pies? Think it ended up 5-4 to them. Joynt was head shoulders the best player on the pitch that game and so unlucky not to score the winning try in the corner late one (scorebord end, stand side)

I couldn't agree with this more.

We are far better having a player stepping down from a higher level than stepping up from a very low one. Even a player coming from say Widnes or Castleford or Hull KR would be making a big step up.

Walsh is a very good bet. People on here are just sitting on the fence so if it doesn't work out they can slag off the club. They can then say whatever second/third/fourth rate player they wanted, that the club would never dream of signing, was a better option.

Some people just like to moan.

If he got player of the year for the Panthers in 2011, that suggests he's got soemthing about him. We're not gambling on him changing position like we did with Lance, although he would have to cope with moving around the world.

I'm not one for sucking off everything NRL, but when it comes to producing halfbacks, they're streets and streets ahead of us.

But Hill and Walmsley are both forwards. I think that says a lot about the differences between developing a HB and a forward.

People are putting everything in place to hate Walsh if this signing does come off. IMO he's not world class but if he was anything other than half decent he wouldn't be leaving the NRL this kind of signing is the best we can hope for and at least he is a 7!

I don't really get the misgivings.

We're crying out for a 7 and here is one plying his trade in the NRL and coming off the back of a match winning performance where he showed the sort of kicking and passing game we are lacking.

People on here make me laugh. We go from "we need to bring in any old half back" to "I've not heard of him so he's going to be like Lance" (who in case you hadn't noticed, isn't a half back whereas this guy categorically is).

I'd be happy with Walsh.

Agreed (wholeheartedly).