Saddened is now begging Jackson Hastings on twitter for Saints rumours hahahah

I agree you do have some lads coming through the system, whether they make it or not we will have to see. Trying to fill the gaps left by the four players previously named is a different matter altogether, it’s a massive challenge and the Saints faithful may need to be patient.

I think Saddened may be Mike Rush in disguise. Only joking Mike if you listened to him you would be playing in League 1.

I’d be very surprised if it isn’t Wigan and Saints battling it out at the top again next year. I can’t see Catalans having a season like this again, minus some really influential players and nobody jumps out a mile in terms of making a stonewall prediction that a team will finish in that top 2. If somebody held a gun to my head, I’d probably go with HKR or Wire to run Wigan/Saints the closest.

I don’t think any Wiganer would write Saints off in the slightest. Yes, people are having some fun but it’s been a long 4 years. Wigan are there to be shot at now and have that WCC disruption to deal with, just as Saints did this year. We’ve got plenty of new players to bed in and you never know how that will go. I’m sick of hearing people outside of the club and outside of the Wigan fanbase talking up some sort of new dynasty incoming. It ain’t that easy and the mentality to go again is not one all teams have, so we’ll have plenty to prove.

We need both teams to be competitive otherwise SL could take a downturn. Much will, yet again, depend on injuries (given the relative small squads SL teams have) and who copes best. I don’t see Saints fading away and it would be folly to assume they will/might. I, like you NK, cannot see who the main protagonists will be.

Smithies leaving has now given me more optimism for next season. He’s been outstanding this season, cut out the grubbiness and concentrated on his game.

With him, KPP and King going I’m not so sure their replacements are stronger.

King > Keighran
KPP > Walters

Now granted 2019 Thompson is an upgrade on Smithies but NRL Thompson isn’t so it’s still a risk.

I’d also be worried about Havard and his hamstring issues. I know he’s not all about pace but sometimes players just can’t shake them off. Michael Owen in football being a prime example. For England’s sake I hope he comes back fully fit and not susceptible to continually pull his hamstring.

There’s no doubt Wigan will start favourites and will be the team to beat but Smithies leaving has just brought them back to the pack a bit.

The WCC will be a huge distraction too regardless of where it’s played. Back in 2017 they never even made the play offs after beating Cronulla. Clearly that’s not going to happen this time but it’s a distraction nevertheless.

I agree with all that bar this myth that Smithies has only just sorted his discipline out (heard a few people say it now as though it’s recent, not just you). He gave away less penalties in 2022, than he did in 2023 and received no yellow or red cards in 2022, compared to a single yellow in 2023. His discipline was fine this year, absolutely outstanding in 2022 and a bit over egged before that. He loves being in a battle and giving and taking verbals and it rubs opposition fans and players up the wrong way and has lead to him being thrown in with loons like James Bentley, when that’s simply not the case.

When you live in an echo chamber of Bile what do you expect

Smithies is like O’Neill they are the guys who do the grunt and allow others to play. I am pretty relaxed about our replacements, I think there is plenty of improvement in them. What is obvious though is that we will have to adapt our game to accommodate them and play to their strengths. If I remember rightly, many experts ridiculed Wigan signing King but it didn’t turn out bad. KPP was very poor at the start of the season but the coaches managed to get him to another level, I expect the same result with Walters and Nsembe. Keighran brings something different than King. Toby is a workhorse, Keighran less so but he is technically a better centre, I look forward to seeing how he progresses. Regarding Thompson, I am sure we have done due diligence on him and if we can get him fully fit he will be a great signing for us. I have got to say that I am grateful that he didn’t go back to Saints, that would have made me really nervous. Leeming is the one I am least sold on but I have to admit that he will offer us something different. Also, our recruitment is not over yet.

I just hope we don't lose fluidity in our attack with Smithies gone. His pivot play was hugely underrated particularly this season...not many 13's doing that anymore to the level he has been.

Walter- I’ve seen enough out of him this season to be happy with him replacing KPP. In a poor Leeds side he seemed to stand out for his effort. Some of the lines he ran as well were good. KPP has been great but like it’s been said only at the back end. I think with Walters he’ll give us a solid 7 out of 10 every games.

Keighran- I’m not too sure about and to be honest I think that’s because I haven’t seen much of him. We’ll definitely loose the yards that king made. Keighran did put some good hits on Saturday obviously not the one he was sent off for

Thompson- is the worry for me. Will he get to full fitness. I do trust our forwards to be able to compete if he’s not ready to start the season. Might be looking at burnt fingers with this signing. If it does go well and we get the Thompson of old. I’m really looking forward to seeing someone with the strength to score from a crash ball. I don’t think I’ve seen us have a prop crash over from 5 out in a good while,

Leeming- I think will be good. From what I’ve heard he was vocal at Leeds about players not putting 100% or being better. If that’s true, he’s in the right environment at Wigan as Peet will demand 100% off the lads. Defensively he can improve but his back up play is great.

Chan- just seems like a project signing. Not really seen much of him. We must have seen something in him to sign him but yet again Catalan must have been happy to let him go.

Why wouldn't he be? He worked his socks off to make the last couple of games in the NRL and will have pre season to be in the best possible condition.

I don't understand the negativity, he had a troublesome foot injury which he has had the all clear from

More than happy to be proven wrong but his track record of staying on the field hasn’t been great

I understand that but he has signed a fully fit player so I don't understand why he wont be fit to start next season

I agree with all that, but also trust the coaching staff to improve the players already here. Most of whom are young (only really Farrell and Isa towards the end).