Three big names left the club

Chris Riley
Trent Waterhouse & Michael Monaghan

Looking at the likely aggregate wage bill of Riley, Monas and House, it is tempting to think that Simms, Clark and Wheeler are direct replacements on the salary front.

Anyway, Simms and Clark must be significant upgrades on what we had last season. Add to that some further development from our youngsters - Ben Evans and Laithwaite for instance had a strong year before injury, and we at least have a significantly improved team for 2015 on paper. I am fairly optimistic for the coming season and I am surprised we have had negative comments about our chances of making a final.

I agree Winslade, our squad is better than last year's and we managed two semi's.

Sims will have House's and part of Monas' wage, Clark will have the rest, Wheeler will have Riley's IMO.

Chaz, when you say that Sims and Clark "must be significant upgrades on what we had last season", do you mean in salary terms or playing ability? I wouldn't have thought there would be much difference in cash and whilst I'm really looking forward to seeing these new lads play. Clark particularly has big boots to fill as for me Monaghan had a final fling of great form and will we have to adapt to a slightly different style of play.

We do look to have strength in depth that may help us to overcome injuries and a lack of form and I'm optimistic about our chances. Even most of the 'experts' on VT seem to agree we are a top 3/4 side I've not seen much negativity at all NTW

No, I genuinely feel that Simms and Clark are upgrades;

Monas and Clark
The only real direct replacement where you can compare two players. Mona's was my favourite player over the last few years. He seemed to have it all - fantastic temperament, outstanding defence, great vision and sniping breaks. But he was fading fast (for me anyway), playing in bursts, and whilst his experience still allowed him to make breaks and score close range tries, he was not the player of a few years back. Clark doesn't have the same defensive qualities, but when you watch him you can see a huge difference in dynamism. He will tear defences to shreds next year and should allow us to exploit the likes of Myler and Currie when backing him up. I think he is a very clever buy, not just for his individual talent, but for how he will get more out of the rest of our players.

House and Simms
Perhaps this comparison is a little less controversial. House has been a solid player for us, he caused panic on the left flank when we played Leeds in the CC final which for me was his best game for us. In defence he is great, wrapping up the player and ball and halting the big men, but he never gave us much go-forward. Simms is the opposite, more importantly he will provide more balance for the team where Hill is too often the only prop making good yardage. Add to that a fair bit of mongrel and aggressive defence and I think he is another inspired buy.

I went to the Semis against Leeds & Wigan thinking & praying we would win but deep down I thought both Semis were a season too early for us.

+1.

I'd be surprised if we don't make it to any Semi's this year.

I think Clarke will fit in better than Monas did over the last year. That might sound crazy but since we lost Briers and Hodgson we were playing a different style but just with players that were more familiar with our old style of play. Take the play off game against cas for example. We looked really dangerous after 60 mins when Ratchford was jumping out of DH. That is the style we will be playing. More direct and more running with the ball than passing (like when Briers and Hodgson were here). We will have Clarke , Ratch ,Russell and at times the likes of Atkins, Bridge and Wheeler all jumping out of DH.
All good if the officials allow quick play the balls.

Doh!

Genuinely concerned about our in-play kicking game and a leader in the halves.

I can't see Wheeler being on much money. He cannot guarantee he will even pull on the shirt through his glass bones and balsa wood muscles. I think he is a squad signing, a punt on someone who can fill in if he's fit and others aren't and if we're(/he's) lucky might make more of it and if he does maybe an extension will come in the future.

He's on just under an average SL salary, and a modest increase on his last Saints deal ... Guy must have a hell of an agent is all I can assume

Wheeler will (in time) be our next leading half back. Assuming he manages to keep himself alive.

You can all dish wheeler but I'm sure he'll have many of you knockers going all quiet just like Bridge did last season.
Saints will find things very much harder without him.
Imo Wheeler was the most talented player Saints had.
Okay he has had more than his fair share of injuries but I'd say partly because he has been too busy with the ball at Saints over the last few years as their other halves have either been shat or injured.

Many of us are looking forward to seeing Sims and Clark, I'm looking forward to seeing Wheeler the most.

Going to be a genuine problem next season i think.