I thought Olpherts was going from Cas, but linked to Lds, could be him, but I think the only winger like grace in SL is Davies at Cats - hence TJ signing

Taking an ex Wigan player is very much a Saints thing, so you might be on the button there.

I think it's only in the last month or so that Lewis has really come to peoples attention, so a bit early for Saints I'd have thought.

Need tog et next year's recruitment spot on.

I would sign a centre, a full-back, a half back, two props, a second rower and a hooker at a minimum. Wingers we have cover in Kay, Taufau, Murphy and Kershaw. Need to try and offer Murphy a good deal and tie him down for the next 3 or 4 years. Fullback we've got Max and so need Shaul or someone else. Halfback is the one we need to get right the most. We have Lino and Gaskell who can cover but need a stand off who can start and organise. In losing Walker we've lost a bit of utility so hopefully there's a young half in the academy who can be back up in case of injury crisis. At centre we have Lyne, Croft, Hall. The jury is still out for Croft. He's spent a lot of time injured but has improved the last couple of games. Reece is solid. Gaskell can cover but I'd rather have another specialist centre so we have four which is plenty of cover. At prop we have lost Fifita and Arona. Currently we have Battye, Butler and Bowden. Battye is probably past his peak. Butler is a gamble. Bowden has been solid. We need two decent big props if we play Whitbread at 13 on top of Eseh and Shaw.
Second row we have Pitts, Ashurst and Tanginoa. Fairly solid. If Jay leaves then he will need replacing. I'd probably look at signing a second rower. Hooker we have Bowes and Hood. We should look at signing another so we've got depth but Bowes looks to be developing and could feature more next season.

In terms of young prospects that could potentially come through into the first team squad next year, who do we think? Oli Pratt looks like he could be ready to step up and maybe get a debut at some point from the little I've seen and I believe he can play centre/fullback/wing. This would give us a bit more depth at centre.

Anyone know if we've got any decent young halves in the academy that are expected to come through? It seems to be a position where we have rarely been successful in bringing players through. We've churned out wingers and currently seem to have some good young forwards but halfback has always seemed to allude us.

Tom Lineham.

Whitbread is a prop and has been arguably our best. No need to change that.

Pitts isn’t signed for 2023.

Gaskell isn’t a half and has found his position at centre (personally think he’s been better than Lyne at centre this season). PHe can cover full back and halfback but it would only be in emergency imo.

Croft has been very good last few games and I think has earned a deal. Coming back from a big injury and getting back confidence and fitness meant was always going to take time.

We have Lineham also as a winger option as it stands.

I do agree that we need 2 props (one must be an experienced enforcer).

A quality halfback is a must.

We need 1/2 second row. A loose forward. A utility back and back up half.

There are a few players who don’t seem to be getting the chances in Windrow and Pat O’Donnovan. Think next season will be their 2/3rd? Surely it’s now or never for this players.

After mention on here of the possible signing of Taylor I watched him closely against Cas.Big strong LF who is Salfords defensive linchpin and captain.Played nearly all the game and was very impressive in defence but didn't see much of the ball in attack so not sure about that side of his game.

I have seen quite a bit of him and I think you have called it about right. At Cas he was playing in the second at
row channel but usually plays in the middle at LF. Great defensive organiser and good tackler and that looks his game.
However 33yrs at start of next season, just wonder how long his contract will be.

Can't see the point of signing an "enforcer" when you're hardly allowed to tackle nowadays

Call him a steam roller then

That will do lol. We do need a dominant figure though in the middle with some experience to replace Fifita and Arona.

Steam roller is better.
Enforcers are on their way out. Napalm is a good example.
A Fifita or a Walmsley is better. Make ground and frighten defenses but don't get into a fight and don't get sent off.

I'm thinking what Trojan means is not an enforcer (they are long gone) but a player who can make things happen up the middle. I wouldn't say Arona was that but Fifita was in a very unorthodox way.

Whitbread has now stepped up to that one but another would be nice. They don't have to be big, Dean Hadley did the job for us for a while and he was no steamroller as did Westerman last year.

You're certainly more likely to find one of those in the NRL than the UK. I reckon Shaw could be one of those but not for a while ditto Eseh and a few of the youngsters but that's not next season.