That’s not really the point though. Yes, the team losing a player may have lost even with 13, or the team losing a player may overcome and win anyway. What’s undeniable in every single case though is it completely changes the dynamic and momentum of the game

Murphy confirmed now on a 2 year deal

Well Well Well RobRiches- its almost like I do have sources after all....posted this before the media started to, check the date d**k head

Much improved backline for 25

1.Sailor 2.Feldt 3.Karapani 4.Percival 5.Murphy 6.Welsby 7.Lomax

Still think there is plenty of work to do on that pack but with Briers coming too should see an upturn in your attack.

Great signing if he's got over that bad injury, got to admit I've seen nothing of him since he went to Oz but he looked a terrific young player at Wakey

Karapani isn't cut and dried its just that it seems Briers is definitely bringing a young centre with him and fans are looking at who is off contract. Karapani is in and around the first team now and the fans seem to rate him.

There's also Robertson to add to that 1-7 at some point. He's played way more games this year than first envisaged and the lad has looked vulnerable at times and made a few errors. He needs taking out of the firing line for the rest of this season (seems like Welsby may be back in a couple of weeks against Cas) but with a good pre-season and hopefully a bit of size put on, he will get more games next season.

I agree with the pack btw, think we need another prop but would have to be English and non-quota

Decent back line for next year. No excuses for Wellens next year not to challenge for silverware

Murphys an exciting signing, genuine pace and great finisher

I agree the backline looks far more exciting on paper for 2025. Replaced Makinson like for like and then injected some pace with Sailor and Murphy over Dodd and Bennison/Blake effectively. Karapani (or whoever we sign) replaces an aging and unfit Hurrell.

Robertson is showing huge potential and will cover 1,6,7 along with Whitby in the halves too and we've got a couple of highly rated backs in Dagnall and Sambou.

Not sure I agree there is "plenty" to do in the pack. I think we are another solid prop short but that's about it.

Props: Lees, Walmsley, Paasi, Delaney, Stephens, Wingfield
Hooker: Clark, Mbye, Burns
2nd row: Sironen, Batchelor, Whitley
Loose: Knowles, Bell

That's without mentioning any of the younger lads coming through.

So a prop would definitely be nice but that aside I think the pack is fine and if we get a centre in as well, the squad is looking good.

Hopefully Briers is giving freedom to liven up and vary our attack and if so, we will be serious players again.

If Matautia is leaving then I think that is a massive loss. In effect the Saints pack will, in my opinion, be weaker. Also, he is an all round rugby player being able to operate at centre, second row and prop.

Lewis Murphy is the best signing of the lot. Not convinced with Sailor at all. Like a Wish version of Albert Kelly. Fully expect Robertson to have displaced him within 12 months as first choice

Harry Robertson will play at the top end of Super League and/or the NRL for the next 10 years and will play for England in the next 2-3 years. Absolutely certain of that.

To suggest he doesn’t have huge potential is complete and utter biased nonsense I’m afraid. Yes he’s dropped a few kicks but he’s also had some great moments in attack and won MOM in our most recent game. If Saints fans were saying Farrimond hasn’t shown potential you’d be saying the same thing.

As for Rush’s comment, we’ve seen Stephens and Robertson break through this year, academy international George Whitby is about to and then there’s the likes of Dagnall, Sambou, Roberts, Cowen to come. Our academy side has also just finished top of the league for the 3rd consecutive year. I think it’s a decent generation to be fair.

I do agree that there are a few lads with great potential but killing at SL is far different than excelling at academy level. As always only time will tell if they have the tools to make it. I have seen many a player who has been outstanding at U18 level at Wigan and they have struggled to make it in the Championship. Rush has gambled, we will have to see if he holds all the aces, I really hope for the sake of our game that some of these lads do go onto to play for their country. If they do, they may end up getting poached by teams in the NRL, especially when two new franchises are introduced in 2028 unless something is done about the salary cap and club developed players.

Massively unfair on a kid who has literally only been FT training for 3 months.

He’s come into a side low on confidence and beset by injuries with a different backline every week. He’s made a few errors without question but has also shown glimpses of his undoubted talent. The golden point DG win against Salford was as a result of his kick return

Whereas Wigan have had the luxury of dipping Farrimond in and out of the side, Robertson has had to play a lot of games when in an ideal world he wouldn’t have done.

I’m willing to wage a decent sized charity bet with you that he will be one of the top players in SL within the next 3 years