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.

Tony
Calderwood
Hall
Yeaman
Raynor
Horne
Dykes
Dowes
Berrigan
King
Crocker
Tickle
Washbrook

Houghton
Manu
Cusack
Thackray