As I stated earlier, if Saints have a weakness looming it is at prop. Fozzard, Maurie & Puletua won't be at the club in three years. There is - I think - a realistic possibility that Graham will choose to have a bash in the NRL circa this time also (if for no reason other than a healthy contribution to his retirement). I know Hargreaves has showed signs of improvement, but I'm skeptical about his long term future at Saints.

At this moment there are no obvious candidates emerging from the junior ranks. Which means we may well be forced into purchasing an entire front row (starters and reserves). But buying is always costlier than producing and - unless you pull out a stroke of genius (Lyon) or luck (Maurie) - the result is paying above the going rate.

Which highlights the absolute necessity of producing - at the very least - one or two of your own front rowers within a three year period. Even if they are little more than bubble wrap, they keep the wage bill down (and the yardage up) thus allowing you extra finances for external purchases. I had hoped that Frodsham would emerge this season (indeed, I predicted that for Saints to stand a good chance of winning SL he had to both develop and replace Hargreaves). Unfortunately he seems as injury-plagued as ever and of no immediate use. Whether he'll shake off his difficulties is moot. And the clock is tick, tick, ticking ...

I'm hoping Fozzard was a stop gap signing as we've earmarked a new prop for 2011. Whether that's a player from the NRL or Super League who knows, but I hope we have looked at someone in that area. It'll never happen, but I would kill to have Sam Burgess in our team. He would transform our pack and give Graham some much needed support.

The problem is we'll also need to recruit a Centre to replace Gidley and possibly a winger aswell. We definitely need an injection of pace in the backline.

Shenton according to Stuart Pyke on the radio

Yes please

Luke Bailey, Michael Shenton and Mike Cooper in.

The board to then get a nosebleed and release 14 senior players to make up for their reckless spending.

I wouldn't complain about that as a replacement for Gidley. He has potential to be a quality Centre and he's pretty quick. It would be a Gleeson-esque signing and the fact he's British is a bonus as we can focus on overseas recruitment up front.

I'm happy with Shenton & Wheeler as our centre combination. In time, I think Wheeler will offer the most in attack, but it's on defence where we'll prosper. Both are very solid indeed.

Certainly frodsham's progress seems to have stalled (mainly with injuries). I don't think Emmitt is going to turn into a first teamer. Who are the other props in the u20s? Have I heard old rogues wax lyrical about a lad called Cooper?

Pity nothing came of the brent kite rumours....

Unless the conservatives sort out the economic confidence in the pound the chances of us signing anything of quality from the NRL are massively reduced.

Its got stronger (against the euro, anyway) this week. Perhaps the prospect of a change of office is giving investors confidence in the UK.

Quote: Saddened! "Unless the conservatives sort out the economic confidence in the pound the chances of us signing anything of quality from the NRL are massively reduced.'" thats a very good point. news.bbc.co.uk/news/business/mar ... _month.stm its gone from 2.1 to 1.6 ish in 12 months which is $100,000 less per year on a £200k deal.

Quote: Saddened! "Unless the conservatives sort out the economic confidence in the pound the chances of us signing anything of quality from the NRL are massively reduced.'" thats a very good point. news.bbc.co.uk/news/business/mar ... _month.stm its gone from 2.1 to 1.6 ish in 12 months which is $100,000 less per year on a £200k deal.

Eric Grothe Jnr to arrive next month.

Youve been begging for some rock n roll in the saints team for a long time.

You dont get any more rock n roll than Eric Grothe Jnr and we get an enforcer to boot. He would fight his own shadow!

We dont have a quota spot though which is a shame, id love him at Saints

Craig Hall

Looks like Shenton is all but done from what i've heard.

Good signing imo. We could of done alot worse. The Aussies wont be coming over any time soon with how poor the pound is.