It is widely rumoured that they have but nothing confirmed as of yet. Personally i don't expect us to announce any players that are involved in the 4 nations as signings before the comp is over.

At last, someone who "get's it"

Half the time I don't know why I bother on here.

bill arthur certainly announced it on commentary today...

What's Lauaki's quota situation? Have we got any quota spaces left?

I thought it was reduced by one for next season so losing Hoffman and gaining Lauaki would mean we have no room available, so we obviously wouldnt be able to get a replacement for Joel from the NRL.

Hock will replace Hoffman as the left sided 2nd row. He is not as consistent as the Hoff but Hock is an explosive player. He can explode through tackles that Hoff couldn't but can have a brain explosion where Ryan would not.
Fielden back in the squad to replace Coley as starting prop.
Joel will go to be replaced by, who knows? My preference would be Josh to right centre and Roberts right wing. Unless a 3 is signed.
Lauaki was billed as a prop in the press release but can play 2nd row.
Deacon cannot be replaced by younger players at the club. They can take his place but it's impossible to have the experience Deacs had. He was a terrific signing for us.
Next season our props could be Fielden, Lima, Prescott, Mossop, Lauaki, Dudson then Crosby and Spencer from dr and U20s.
Back row, Lockers, Hock, Hansen, Farrell, Tuson, Hughes and Flower.
If SW goes with the first four props above then Lauaki will go to the back row.
That set of forwards is greater in number than last season, bigger and more aggressive. We won't go into a game 2012 with only three props and lacking size that's for sure.
Behind that lot i'd risk Mellor with Finch as half backs. Mellor adds pace and Finch has all the class you'd want.
Ideally we need a right centre but I do think if Roberts shows up in training then he could go to 2 and Josh to 3. It's Roberts last season on his contract and now he's fit needs to show what he can do.

Big season for Amos hopefully, as SW said on Tuesday.

Lauaki is quota and we have four quota players for next season. I am not sure if it is down to four or still at five.

[iIf [/isigning Lauaki means we can't go looking for a centre in the NRL (given there are none available here) then that is another reason why he should not have been signed.

So does anyone know if it is still at five?

EDIT: it remains at 5. Looked it up on the RFL web site so Lauaki has not stopped us signing an NRL centre if we can find one.

The centre postion is a hard one to fill these days. Not many good quality centres available and every club under the sun is looking for one.

We've only had one centre at saints since willie talau went Salford about five years ago. We have shenton and then who ever holds their hand up first in the other centre.

If Joel leaves for union and you get a big transfer fee then I'd use it on Tom briscoe. He will move to centre and with ball in hand he could be devastating. His defence needs work but IMO he'll end up a top class centre.

This is how i see it...

1. Sam
2. Roberts
3. Charnley
4. Carmont
5. Pat
6. Finch
7. Tommy
8. Fielden
9. McIllorum
10. Lima
11. Hansen
12. Farrell
13. Lockers

14. Flower
15. Mossop
16. Lauaki
17. Logan Tomkins

18. Dudson
19. Hock
20. Tuson
21. Prescott

Alternively - 9. Tommy -> 7/6. Sam -> 1. Roberts -> 2. Charnley -> 3. (New Signing?)

if so we've no chance of a top 2 finish.

not that top 2 matters like, but from this season, that team is a few notches down in quality

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Amos Roberts
3. Josh Charnley
4. George Carmont
5. Pat Richards
6. Joe Mellor
7. Brett Finch
8. Stuart Fielden
9. Thomas Leuluai
10. Lee Mossop
11. Harrison Hansen
12. Gareth Hock
13. Sean O'loughlin
-------------------------------
14. Jeff Lima
15. Paul Prescott
16. Liam Farrell/Lauaki
17. Mike McIlorum

Something like that is how I see it.