Couldn't agree more, our front row are laying a good platform. We are still missing a Stapleton or Cashmere to give us some experience up there though.

I thought Foran looked sharp at acting half-back. He was getting the ball away from the ruck area quicker than Wayne Godwin does. I've a feeling he's played hooker before.

Indeed...

...but that's a good thing, surely. It means the opposition don't know what he's going to do. Saints used to use James Graham in a similar way. Mauro certainly has the ability to put a decent pass out (he threw out a real defence splitter at Wakefield that led to a try) so why not use it?

Maybe it was a deliberate ploy to make sure he wasn't involved in that first play, because all the receiver ever does it shovel it on to the nearest forward. He never tried anything different did he?

I thought he did OK. Gave very few penalties and let the game flow. I'd prefer that to a nit-picking performance with lots of whistle.

Don't really understand where this anti-Foran stuff comes from. He looks quality to me; very sharp, vocal, good organiser and a good kicking game. He is obviously still a little unfit so can only get better once his fitness improves. Maybe people knock him and Mauro because they're Veivers' signings?

.

Neither Foran or Mauro did themselves any favours by arriving so out of shape, which might be causing Foran's lack of pace. Neither let us down on Saturday, and Mauro showed plenty of strength, unless we find a true world class forward he's worth keeping hold off.

I have a sneaky feeling Foran will become like Josh White was, most people knows hes crap but some will back him to the end and then he will leave our club never to appear on the rugby radar again due to his lack of quality

I think Foran needs to go to the toilet before going out onto the pitch, either that or he's got his legs on the wrong way!

True , He has a distinct way of walking/limping , gingerly .He must be carrying either an injury or an impressive set .

Foran is nowhere near as bad ad people have made out. Don't get me wrong he's no world beater and I think we already had better in Sneyd, Evalds, Theo and Owen but even so the criticism is harsh.

The criticism of Foran and Mauro is because they arrived massively unfit and if anything appear to be getting less fit. They've been here since February and there's been no improvement in their fitness. As you say about Foran 'he's no world beater', so why on earth did he get a three year contract? I breathed a sigh of relief when they both waddled off on Saturday.

I thought they were signed on 2 year deals?

They arrived unfit because they had only recently begun pre-season training in Oz, this move wasn't in the pipeline for months it literally happened in days. Neither should have played vs London but Veivers thought he knew better. Mauro in particular was unfortunate to pick up his injury which hampered his already lacking fitness.

I thought both contributed more than enough on Saturday night, especially Foran who had more impact at dummy half than Wagga.

Well this is the issue, isn’t it? The lad looks a bit slow at half-back, a position we recruited him for. So we’ll make do and mend as we’ve always done...

I thought Mauro looked fitter than he did at Wakefield. He is giving us some go forward, so he's worth a place in the 17. We are still far too reliant on Darryl Griffin for taking us up field the hard way.

Foran is an odd one. Someone questioned his tackling ability, so I tried to watch him carefully on Saturday. His tackling is pretty poor, to be honest. However, other aspects of his game are worth persevering with. His distribution is okay and he talks to the players around him, organising attack and defence. I'd keep him close to the ruck where there are a few others to help in the tackling department. Out wide, he's a liability with someone like Shenton running at him. (It wasn't his missed tackle that set Shenton off on a long run, though)

In all fairness he was asked to do a job at hooker and he did it well, I don't see how that's making do. Now we've got a settled camp and a decent coach there's no excuse for either Foran or Mauro to flourish.

Thought Mauro looked very good going forward on Saturday, sure there are better props around but Christ if you think about some of the lightweight performances by the front rowers last season he is a world beater. Think the one player we all seem to over look who left in the off season is Sidlow and think he would have fitted into the Noble grand plan wonderfully.

As for Foran think he is a natural leader who despite joining the squad part way into the season is the main person talking when he on the field. There were times on Saturday where Wild was annonymous when words were needed and Foran was doing his job for him.

Sorry on that topic think we might have to look at dropping Wild as he offered very little on Saturday, pretty sure we must have a more effective #13 (I'd like to see Foran tried personally) as he is becoming more and more nothing but a blocker rather than the modern #13 who brings a bit creativity and guile to a team.

I would hope, when McPherson and Jewitt are fit again, Wild takes a back seat like Nero is. Nothing against Wild I still think he'd run his blood to water for us, but he just isn't competitive in SL anymore. Never in a month of Sundays does Foran have the physique or fitness for Loose Forward.

A Loose Forward needs the size to take in hit ups (sorry for the terminology, been watching the NRL) and good enough hands to perform as the extra pivot. Now we have Sneyd at FB there is no real need for another pivot, thinking too many chiefs and not enough Indians type scenario. Although he is overweight, he doesn't have the stature to play in the pack. So if he can't take hit ups and we don't need another pivot, he shouldn't be playing Loose Forward. Infact, I'm of the opinion for an elusive runner or the Paul Gallen style extra prop, but to find someone who can effectively do the latter is very difficult.