I think people will be pleasantly suprised by what Amor brings to the team, but irrespective of that, the question of is he as good or better than what we have is nonsense.

Better than Cooper? No, or rather not than the Cooper of 2021 and earlier. Cooper v 2022 looks error ridden and flat.

Better than Philbin? Hell yes
Better than Mulhearn? Certainly as good
Better than Bullock? As good and less prone to error
Better than Butler? Undoubtedly

Who else? Better than Hughes masquerading at prop? Better than J Clark at first receiver?

Can’t give you an argument.

I'll second that

Surely Hughes cannot be extended. He doesn't suit Powells style of attacking rugby.

Tanginoa > Hughes, if the rumours are true…

On the Amor signing I’m left rather perplex by this one, an experienced, head-down into the grind, no-nonsense type of prop we let go to Huddersfield last year

Butler & Cooper for Mikaele & Amor.. does this leave us stronger or weaker? I think the latter unfortunately.

End of day what is happening here is we are finally clearing out the last of the old school we had before TS came along.

This bad culture was all born before TS came along but he for me never fully cleared it, why because we then started to have jobs for the boys so the culture was still alive. Now I think we are getting to the point where we are getting to a clean slate and Powell can put his stamp on things.

Some are not happy with some of the new recruits but what it does is help to build a new culture/ identity and we can go out there and be the club that most of us wanted since we moved to the new stadium. 2023 will and should be start of a new Era. Oh and Jack Hughes still needs to be on the list to go.

Yeah i completely agree Karetaker I'm made up with the signings we've made, and happy we have Amor this year as well, i'd be more happy if we keep Cooper for the rest of this year as well.
Powell is doing what we all wanted and sorting out our front row issues. I'm happy so many players are off contract this year as Powell can change the culture and put his stamp on the club.
Also if the Tanginoa rumour is actually true i will be made up, play him in his best position at second row and he's deadly. And Matt Dufty i'm happy to see what he can do first before i write him off. I've got full faith in Powell still and he's making all the right moves with recruitment so far. Just hope we re-sign Mulhern as well as i really like him, especially if Cooper does in fact leave.

I heard this too, it was Powell s decision to let Hill go.

Hill is playing well for Huddersfield, as we all thought that he would.

Watson did a similar clear out at Huddersfield and their 1st season with him in charge was a disaster, but they have turned the corner now.

I see Dudson and Kasiano as stop gaps given their age, and now we have a loan signing stop gap to fill the gap before the real stop gaps appear. I'm now even more underwhelmed and just hope that I'll be wrong.

I’m not so sure Hill’s release was down to a ‘bad’ attitude, just more of a lack of resilience and leadership for a senior squad member. I think he and a few others became ‘comfortable’ despite showing they could play consistently well. They just don’t have that ‘drive’ to salvage things when the chips are down. If you look at the likes of L Farrell, O’Loughlin, Roby et al, they seem to have a steely resistance that our top leaders lacked. I think this has been something that Powell has perhaps learned about Cooper (which is a shame as he’s been a great servant). Sometimes players can stay too long and things go stale too, just like coaches and Tony Smith.

I like the sweeping changes and the clean slate idea. Back in 1995/96, Saints had gone through a similar transition. All their old pros retired or left. They had a good number of talented young players coming through and signed a maverick scrum half (followed by Sculthorpe the best forward in a generation). Seemed to start a legacy for them.

Is this your final statement or a stop gap?

Joe Philbin is a backrower and the sooner he plays there the better. Amor signing will help a little. Trying to understand what's going on at the club is a waste of time but hopefully all will be clear when comings/goings are finalised.

I think the reality is that the financial situation at all clubs has worsened considerably because of the pandemic, and we're at a point where longer-term contracts will become less common. Getting a young NRL prop like Mikaele for two-and-a-half years is excellent business, and I have no problem with two-year deals for Kasiano and Dudson.