Quote: bewareshadows "I think the OP is overstating the case slightly saying warrington have 2 play off sides in their squad. Wire are obviously the ones to catch with them finishing at the top of the league last year. But things change even if the personel don't.
Just looking at in's and out's everyone looks to be staying pretty much where they were, but it does not account for injuries or players form. Some years players are on fire, but the next year things can change.
For Saints the loss of Eastmond is only positive. He added nothing positive to the start of our year last year and nothing after that. Graham is a loss, but again Perry hardly played last year so if we get a good run from him and laffranchi then that should go some way to make up the difference.
Basically starting 13's or 17's are hard to judge until you see who your actual starting players will be down to coach preferance, player form and injury.'"
It is true that good players can off periods. For example, I didn't think Ben Harrison had his best season for Warrington last year. However, it is almost delusional to think that a mediocre to poor player like Perry is suddenly going to have a James Graham quality season. The chances are he will, just as last season, coast through super league. Looking like he could do some damage but never really executing. Even more so, there is that fear of bringing in an Aussie that they won't instantly click. I don't really buy into it but expecting a new player being brought in to be as good as James Graham is bonkers.
James Graham is a massive loss to Saints and I have no doubt that they will feel it and it will be reflected in the league table. To be frank, there were times last seasons when the difference between them winning and a pretty heavy loss was James Graham.
