Cherry_Warrior wrote:
The biggest problem Saints seem to have for me is they seem to have put all their eggs in this 'golden generation' basket but there is only 2 of them any good in Stephens and Robertson. That's normal, a full crop never makes it. It is usually one or two. So these old players they are expecting to be transitioned out will make them even weaker. They have poor recruitment and a short sighted future plan from Mike Rush. I would be worried if i was a Saints fan................... Which thank god i am not
I think that's a bit unfair. Last year was a poor environment for any young lads to thrive. With injuries and some hammerings, confidence was low and there weren't enough experienced heads around any of the younger lads to support.
Whitby is highly rated but made his debut at home to HKR when they absolutely smashed us and Wellens (not for the first time) got his selections horribly wrong. Vaughan is another who was Lancashire and England Academy captain but struggled at times especially when partnered with Ritson. He needs some size on him and there is still a question mark over whether or not he will play centre or second row. Dagnall is another who whilst he hasn't had his chance yet, looks very promising and has done well for Lancashire and England Academy.
I think Rush was wrong with his comments as he gave the impression that we had a Class of 92 and then of course we struggled badly last season. Our recruitment has been poor the last couple of seasons admittedly but over the last 6-8 years we have recruited really well. Overseas signings like Sironen, Matautia, Coote and Paasi have been some of our best and then we got some gems like Batchelor and Bentley from the Championship- (Bentley at Saints was good as has Batchelor bar last season)
Even before that we bought Walmsley from the Championship. James Bell has been another good signing so I think more often than not we have got it right.
That said we have got it badly wrong for this season with not signing one if not two centres and at least another prop and it looks like McManus has misled us by saying we always spend up to the cap as it looks like Matautia isn't being replaced.
Sadly (for us) it looks as though financially we just haven't got the money at the moment. The Covid loans are really hurting us which has affected recruitment
Statistics: Posted by Stu M — Mon Dec 30, 2024 9:09 am
