As for the rest, it's very quiet on the recruitment and retention. With quota spots potentially to play with it will be interesting to see what develops.

I believe Mata'uita is off which would be a real shame, he's been immense. Hurrell I'd replace, there were some rumours about Opacic coming in a couple of weeks ago and that seems to make sense, doesn't quite carry the physical threat but pretty skilful and much better defensively.

I'd lean towards keeping Blake although he's been very hot and cold. I think that's a theme with most Antipodean signings in their first year though, and would expect some improvement. Providing he wants to stay of course.

Burns showed up well on debut and is certainly worth keeping. The rest I can take or leave depending on what cap they take up, who is coming through the academy to the first team.

Opacic looks solid and not much more whenever I watch him. I can't lie, I hope he signs for Saints over Hurrell. He might not be the best defensively Hurrell but he always causes you problems and in a side that is very good overall defensively (when at it's best), somebody like Hurrell can come up with a moment that can be the difference in tight games. If Opacic dropped in to this Saints side currently, he'd make little to no difference in attack.

Saints are interested in Drinkwater (the one at Warrington).

A quick question to our Saints friends, is Paasi carrying a lot more timber than last season?

When he first came back a few weeks ago he looked relatively lean and in good shape however when he came back after the international break he looked quite out of shape.

It looked like he spent the week off continually eating. The players having time off has been a bug bear of mine and I have argued with other Saints fans about this. They had the CC SF weekend off and obviously the Final and the players were given time off, most of which went on holiday. The same thing happened with the international weekend and again most went away. They then came back and produced the horror show against Cas.

By contrast Wigan have played every week including the WCC and seem to be getting better every week. How many holidays do they need?

We aren't.

Ok, who are you interested in?

Several wingers and centres and then a forward should Matautia leave, which is looking increasingly likely. I've been given names but I wont be plastering them on here.

The emergence of Robertson, Whitby and Roberts means we are highly unlikely to sign anyone to play in the halves. Those 3 should thrive under our new incoming attack coach.......

Bad news YG, it's not Briers, it's Ian Watson

If they are only rumours then why not? Is the current attacking coach on his way out?

Oh there’s plenty rumours doing the rounds that we’ve all heard. Opacic, Swift, Handley all been mentioned openly on redvee. Then there are others as well which may or may not turn out to be true.

Yeah I believe Briers will replace Frayssinous.

Redvee? It is but a wish list. I don’t understand your reluctance unless you are trying to edge your bets. I won’t hold your feet to the fire, I promise.

Because sometimes I get told stuff and get asked not to make it public. Why would I burn my bridges by blabbing? Not sure I know what you mean by hedging my bets. I’ve said we won’t be signing Drinkwater - I think that’s fairly definitive from me.

Stu M who posts on here knows I get bits here and there and I’ve sent NickyKiss info in the past that wasn’t public. So I’m not some fantasist who makes things up.

I don't disagree really, but I suppose the counterpoint would be that a better time to judge is at the end of the season and the state of the squads going into knock out rugby. Wane's first season immediately comes to mind when we were battering teams earlier in the year but picked up injuries and ran out of gas when it mattered.

I don't think we'll see a repeat this year, but I'd be lying if I said wasn't a bit concerned by the lack of chances to rest throughout the season.

Exactly, there is a reason the double has only been done 6 times in 28 years.