Of course we overhype our youngsters now because its the only way we will see quality in the team.
We shouldn't be relying on their performances to win matches. But we are.
Cayless was the last attempt at recruiting a top class player in his prime.
We've hyped a lot of recruitment since but they haven`t been top class or gamble signings.
But we still had a world class spine that dwindled down from Scullys exit all the way to James Grahams.
We're now down to Roby but we have Soliola, some promising youngsters and we have got very lucky with Warmsley.
Personally I think you waste as much money trying to sign 2/3 players where one class player will do and let a few others step up.
This is how Saints used to recruit for years of mediocrity before we started to bring in real proven quality like Newlove and Sculthorpe etc to add to our own talent.
But wether you agree or disagree with that analysis I just can`t understand why we have no scrum half.
Its a massive recruitment failing. And yet last years coach has been made CEO?
I think we know the coaches have little input into recruitment but surely they identify positions?
And who is scouting older players for us?
We keep buying 2nd rows which argueably are the easiest position to recruit or develop yourself and then ask them to play other positions as well.
Wilkin at 7 is ridiculous. And then we start playing Wello at 6.
Please just buy a quality 7 - it would have an instant impact.
We haven't had a 7 since Longy and then eastmond left and you could argue eastmond was still a gamble at 7 at that stage.
The names I keep getting mentioned Smith ( why did we let him go - he wasnt good enough), Dobson etc are NOT the quality we need at 7.
Of course theyd do at the moment but that's the recruitment policy we have fallen in to making do and filling gaps.
If we cant get them in SL then we need to be raiding NRL reserve grade.
Dobson was a loan initially and never made it in the NRL. Chase was a reserve grader.
I've suggested a look at George Ndaira - he`s still a gamble but I`m no scout there must be other guys just under NRL.
Its a reflection of the league that I still think we are 1/2 quality signings away from making a good run in the league playoffs still.
