if we didn't make any signings?

If Smith took advantage of the fact our reserves are top of their league to reward our home grown juniors with their opportunity to be in the first team, and next year's squad was made up of players retained from the existing squad and new guys added into the first team who are currently in the reserves and Warrington Academy products. It would save us money and let us clear the tax debts and take a look at what talent we have go on our doorstep.

Would it be a major disappointment if we fail to tie up the deals with Sonny Bill, Orford etc.

Not for me, no.

For years people have said our weak area is coaching, so if tgat is fixed, and our squad plays to its potential, then I would be okay with that, and the promotion of youngsters.

Yes & No.

If we only made one signing, but it was a halfback, I'd be happy. The rest was as you were, using the squad we have plus the number of academy prospects that we think deserve a go like McCarthy, Williams etc. If we lost Briers, and didn't replace him, I'd be unhappy, just because I don't think we could compete.

If it was say :

Out : V Anderson, Rauhihi, Grix, Briers.

In : Orford/Myler & Academy step ups.

Happy.

Yes because firstly we need a goal kicker and a good consistent tactical kicker, secondly we also need a ball playing 2nd rower as neither Westwood or Louis Anderson are that and its not the sort of position that you want to throw a kid in, we also need another prop to replace Paul Rauhihi and with the last 2 positions being forwards then kids are not physically built for SL at this early stage in their careers and you will get them mullered, you need to gently drip feed them into the team.

We also need a quality right centre and as far as i`m aware we don`t have one thats ready in the reserves yet, it would have to be a player thats at least a match for Martin Gleeson or better as you don`t progress with replacing players with inferior versions in the main. We also need a scrum half as Michael Monaghan is a waste of a quota spot due to his poor overall form and lack of a tactical kicking game and i don`t hear of a version of that in the reserves just yet thats ready for SL.

I also think we need a ball playing loose forward, Vinnie Anderson hasn`t shown any worthwhile form for a long while plus he has more than his fair share of injury problems.

Spot on for me, We'd need to replace Rah thats for sure. I don't think Cooper or Pickersgill are up to playing week in week out. Monaghan is a waste of a quota (unless he starts playing spectacularly). And we need a dangerous player on the edge a young Martin Gleeson.

Fine by me, just as long as we re-sign Bridge.

I'd be happier initially, but for most, I suppose it would depend on performances/results early doors. For instance, if AN Other scrum half was signed and had a relatively poor start to the season, people would question why he was signed and a reserve halfback wasn't promoted, and vice versa.

Would have to improve, has been no more than average so far

He's not a centre is he though ? He's a stand-off so of corse he aint gonna' be perfect !

I would be happy if the reserve team player was of good enough quality to stand up and be counted at Super League level .
The problem is I doubt we have a or half back that is anywhere near ready for it,we seem to have some promising forwards that are close to being ready but no backs and it is backs we are short of and the only option imo is to bring two or 3 in from the NRL who have an abundance of talent in the backs

I wouldn't be bothered aslong as they were upto standard and WANTED to wear the wire shirt I'm sick of watching players who look like they couldn't give a rats!

But they aren't.

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I think we have had a spell of signing players for the sake of it over the last few years. I suspect Saints look at their juniors and think "maybe this Graham kid might make it in a couple of years" and then sign Paul Anderson at the end of his career until the kid Graham makes the step up.

I think we have done things the other way round and raided players because they were available with little regard to future planning (Gleeson, Johns, Reardon, Parker, etc etc) some signings come off and some dont. The juniors then get a chance when injuries kick in.

I am not after signing superstars but would like junior players who have the talent to make it in a couple of years to be identified, then good, solid experienced players brought in to fill the gap in the mean time to allow the juniors to develop playing 5-10 SL games a year as part of their development.