Now T Party, he was playing when I started to go on a regular basis. In those days I had no clue who was playing were.

Was Bishop before or after him????

Scully is the same age as peacock ... Maybe we should do a Wigan and just play the staff

His knee was still bad, he could hardly run in that first season. His second season he was the best 6 in the world.

Yup was an amazing transformation, I was gutted when he left. Hooper is probably the closest we have come to a like for like replacement for him.

That try when he tore the pies apart and slipped that pass out to cooper.

Ropati was the best 6 I've seen at saints in that one season. He's was so strong upper body. I actually modelled myself on his style if play as a youngster.

He could play there if needed, but I don't see Turner as a stand-off personally. I just don't agree with going into the season with one real kicking option, and I don't want to see us force Lomax or Wilkin into taking on that extra responsibility. That's the big thing IMO.

Either way, I'm yet to hear anything to suggest that our back line will be different to what most expect/expected.

I'm still mystified about this after reading through the thread. Btw, the comparison to Leon Pryce is completely fanciful atm!

Btw, I was at the Batley game last week and Lee Briers was there watching us. Is he on the first team coaching staff at the wolfs now? Is Brown just trying to make them lot guess for that first game?

Anyway, it's nice to have something (FINALLY) to debate properly!

I have been reading the comments on the last 8 pages.

I think this would/could be a stroke of genius be Mr.Brown. Think about the balance of the team, in particular the backs:-

1. Lomax
2. Makinson
3. Percival
4. Jones
5. Swift
6. Turner
7. Walsh

(Use Hiho as utility bench player)

Young with pace and power, plus our new forwards makes me feel very optimistic for the New Season. We have strengthened everyone else is either the same or weaker.

Come on you Saints for 2014.

I`m looking forward to attending the Auckland 9s Mid Feb, has that had much advertising in the UK or is it even televised?

That's a very young back line!!! It's also really good to see 5 homegrown players making it up (if only we had kept any of the halfbacks we produce!)

If that's how we see the longterm line up of our squad, then turner needs to find a new place to fit in the team (it's not like he's a dinosaur!), if that's at 6 then it kills 2 birds with 1 stone - brown appears very good at developing halfbacks so let's wait and see, I just hope everyone is given time to adjust!

Lomax
Makinson Percival Jones Swift
Turner Walsh
Amor Roby Laffranchi
Wilkin Manu
LMS

Hohaia Soliola Masoe Walmsley

Looks good to me!

Joking aside, I thought Wheeler was going to be staking his claim to 6 this year. He seems to be on the outer in this plan. That is a shame for him, as I've heard so many good things about his talent for so long, but have never seen him play enough games to form a view on him.

I don't think anyone doubts his talents, but even me as an eternal optimist is losing faith in the ability of his body to take it.
I hope (I've said this for about 4 yrs) that he proves us all wrong and has a wow of a season , injury free!

I would think the plan is being formed as such, because his injury record is against him. If he manages to play a lot more games this year, I'm sure we'll see him at 6 at some point.