Stephens looks the real deal for sure but I haven't seen someone to build your pack around as yet. His fitness is lacking at the moment and there are props who have that throughout their career. Will he get there with his fitness or is he more of a Mago impact type? Robertson is also an exceptional talent but the caveat there is too much is being expected of him from the fan base. He needs time and having seen some of the comments from your fans I can only hope he gets it. Together with Farrimond they could form an international pairing down the line if given the right development.

The new coaches will add something if the tools they have to work with are available. I'm not convinced they will have though as I've said previously. We'll see.

Lees and Knowles are interesting. I agree that Lees may take the opportunity to try his hand down under. Which leaves Knowles who could present a challenge. He's undoubtedly important to Saints but in the way Ellis has become for us. He's important but he isn't a French or a Smith if you see what I mean. On the one hand you need to keep him but on the other I suspect it will take marquee money to do so. Which means one less spot for a world class half or x factor game breaker (or preferably both as we have in French). Even though you have to go all out to retain him, particularly with all those players off contract, it could, ironically, prove to be a millstone when it comes to rebuilding the squad.

Good news is that if they keep flogging Walmsley to death ,come towards the end of this season he will be knackered like last season.

Said the same thing on Redvee on both fronts, I don't understand letting Bell go with Knowles already going. It's going to be a massive ask to get a replacement rotation that's anywhere near as good as the Knowles/Bell rotation so unless Hull just provided an offer we couldn't match then I don't really understand it. Think Bell is coming off quota next year or the year after too. Also agree that whilst I don't see Smithies as being as good as Knowles, he's pretty much the best possible replacement we could get for Knowles, short of Radley coming over which obviously isn't happening. I understand the biases but I don't really understand people saying they wouldn't want him, can't think of anybody else that would be a better fit and obviously fed trained too.
That said I don't actually see Smithies coming, pretty sure that was just some clever seed sewing from Rogues! Going to be very very interesting to see how we line up come next year anyway, going to be a massive shift in personnel.

I can't see Morgan returning to SL. The question I would be asking is did Saints try to retain Bell. I suppose the acid test will be who Saints replace Knowles and Bell with.

Straight away you lock down the 13 shirt for at least 5 years if you sign Smithies and you don't tie up a quota spot. You need the right sort of forwards around him (metre makers, a bit of pace and threat with the ball) and I think Saints have some of that with Walmsley, Paasi Clark, Sironen etc. If there was a chance of him coming home, I could see Saints throwing good money at him because of the need for non quota players. I'm really struggling to see where British replacements for Knowles and Batchelor come from at the minute and if quota spots are needed to replace Hurrell, Bell etc then it's going to get tricky. It feels a bit like the house is being bet on kids like Robertson, Whitby, Stephens and Dagnall not only making it but making it big. If that doesn't happen then replacing Lomax, Walmsley, Clark, Percival etc in the years to come will be a massive challenge. 

Are Saints dark arts at play here? Ex-St Helens man could be facing huge ban after biting charge - Serious About Rugby League Oldham outside back Jumah Sambou has been handed a Grade E charge by the RFL’s Match Review Panel following a biting accusation. The allegation comes from Sunday’s Championship clash with Barrow Raiders, a game which saw Sean Long’s side fall to their first league defeat following their promotion from League 1. Sambou is the man at the centre of the allegations with the former St Helens youngster set to face an independent tribunal before a verdict is reached and a punishment is potentially handed out. Sambou will be given the opportunity to argue his case and fight his corner if needs be. However, if he is found guilty of biting he could be looking at a lengthy ban. All Grade E charges result in an immediate referral to a operational rules tribunal with bans set at a minimum of six games, with a full disciplinary points penalty decided by the tribunal.

Are Saints dark arts at play here? Ex-St Helens man could be facing huge ban after biting charge - Serious About Rugby League Oldham outside back Jumah Sambou has been handed a Grade E charge by the RFL’s Match Review Panel following a biting accusation. The allegation comes from Sunday’s Championship clash with Barrow Raiders, a game which saw Sean Long’s side fall to their first league defeat following their promotion from League 1. Sambou is the man at the centre of the allegations with the former St Helens youngster set to face an independent tribunal before a verdict is reached and a punishment is potentially handed out. Sambou will be given the opportunity to argue his case and fight his corner if needs be. However, if he is found guilty of biting he could be looking at a lengthy ban. All Grade E charges result in an immediate referral to a operational rules tribunal with bans set at a minimum of six games, with a full disciplinary points penalty decided by the tribunal.