Not every signing, but for a half-back the team is meant revolve around at a club supposedly aiming at being top 4 regulars and aspiring to a GF win, definitely approaching that level of quality at least. Out of the 12 halfbacks the top 6 teams have, only 1 hasn't played international or SOO RL.

I agree he's the best on offer for 1 season whilst we wait to see if Dykes can manage 20 games. All I'm saying is that if you consider him on his own merits as a half-back being brought in, he's not top-4 team material.

Signings are underwhelming in my book if they are overhyped beforehand, a disappointing, anti-climactic inferior alternative after missing out on much better, or not as good those they are replacing in the team from the last 3 seasons. Particularly so if they are poor/average uses of the limited quota. Thorman, Cusack, Byrne, and Maiava all fit that description recently IMO.

If there is 1 positive to take out of this signing it's this:



Dykes doesn't look like he's going anywhere so if the worst comes to the worst what would you rather have?

i think we have got room for both without anybody leaving.
but i dont think we could bring in another 2 internationals.

I still doubt we will bring in a centre, Byrne, Hall, Briscoe, Horne and Whiting can all play there and I can't see us bringing in another one. More likely to sign a centre and a SH this time next year when we have quota spots available. Will also allow Agar to see how Hall and Briscoe develop.

The thing is we have enough average players in the squad as it is, if we are to strengthen then it needs to be with quality, therefore for me i`d rather have 1 top signing rather than two average signings.

tbh i dont know how much we've got left on the cap if we've got £300,000 then we can bring in 2 players because, as i see it, because we only have 23 out of 25 'top earners'.

He was, they also had to put up with some horror shows from him for a season or so but saints always prefer to pair a weaker winger who knows where the try line is with a top class centre who can help defensively and virtually hand them openings on a plate.
We go the other way and sign a top class winger and put him outside a centre who couldn't unlock a door never mind a defence.

Looking at the team for next season so far we will probably line up something like this:-

Tony
Calderwood
Horne
Yeaman
Raynor
Horne
Dykes
Radford
Berrigan
King
Crocker
Tickle
Washbrook

Cusack
Thackray
Manu
Houghton

So players out of the 17 will be:-

Byrne, Briscoe, Hall, Whiting, Thorman, Dowes, Lee, Burnett and Maloney.

We seem to have enough cover for the backs so IMO I think we need to sign another prop. Signing another centre does not seem a must. Yes we lack a real quality centre to play alongside Yeaman but the only guy out there just now seems to be Talau and I am not sure it is worth it for a year tbh. All that would do is limit the progession of Hall and Briscoe.

Could it also not help their development, seeing another good centre?

i was thinking

tony
calderwood
R horne
yeaman
raynor
thorman
dykes
radford
berrigan
cusack
crocker
tickle
washbrook

thackray
manu
dowes
houghton

Possibly but imo they need gametime. If Briscoe/Hall don't get the games we can't judge them properley. If they get a chance and it does not work out then at least Agar knows that when Byrne goes at the end of the season we need a top centre as the youngsters are not ready. If Briscoe/Hall go really well then we may not need to sign one.