Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:12 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Grace and Nzongou are rumoured on here? Saints usually put out a news report about those promoted later in the year - a couple of years ago we announced signing Dawson bundled in with it!

Lomax
Makinson Percival Turner Swift
Burns Walsh
Amor Roby Walmsley
Greenwood Vea
Wilkin

Tasi <another prop signing> Thompson LMS

Bailey
Grace Dawson Wellington Fleming(?)
SMD Richardson
Richards Charnock Savelio
Peryoux Davies
Knowles

Nzongou Haggerty Ashworth(?) Fozard(?)

Only 4 in the second team who haven't made their debut yet... Few question marks over some though and whether theyll still be here

I did a depth chart of the squad next year (I was bored at lunch ).

It shows pretty much what you have shown above. We have a lot of backrowers and not a lot of half backs (again). I know we have a lot of good kids and our squad is big but the club needs to get Adam Quinlan on a deal for next year. He is so dynamic, covers a number of positions and you can see him as a long term solution in the halves given he is still a young man.

We started the season with Lomax, Wellens and Hohaia so I don't see why we couldn't have Lomax, McDonnell and Quinlan in 2016.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:32 pm  

saint87 wrote:

All I know is that there are now quite a few current under 19s players that are training with the first team. They are:

Grace
Wellington
Richardson
Knowles
Spedding
Levy
Bailey

I don't know if they are going to get a first team contract for next year, but they are all training with the first team right now.

Apart from Wellington, they all have one year remaining at under 19s level.

Cheers mate that is good to know.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 3:21 pm  

As well as looking at who's coming in for Saints it's important to think about who's LEAVING other clubs.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 3:25 pm  

Noel Cleal wrote:

There is no limit but you can only really have so many players in the first team squad and give each player a fair chance of making it.

Assuming Hewitt and Fozard out while Hagerty, Knowles, Richardson, Grace, Wellington, Nzoungou and Bailey in, that would take the squad size to 34 which is already a big squad.

There are others in the u19s that would appear to be worth a contract as well. You can see why the club is screaming out for a second team competition.

Can anyone provide a list of who has been offered a pro contact for next year?

Grace and levy have. Not sure on rest.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:14 pm  

St pete wrote:

Grace and levy have. Not sure on rest.

Cheers mate

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:55 pm  

Noel Cleal wrote:

I did a depth chart of the squad next year (I was bored at lunch ).

It shows pretty much what you have shown above. We have a lot of backrowers and not a lot of half backs (again). I know we have a lot of good kids and our squad is big but the club needs to get Adam Quinlan on a deal for next year. He is so dynamic, covers a number of positions and you can see him as a long term solution in the halves given he is still a young man.

I think we have to be very careful when thinking about Quinlan. He's one of those odd type of players who have one or two excellent attributes (special hands and a quick brain in this case) but when you start thinking about others you're left with more question marks than answers.

He's doing ok at FB right now. And I'm sure he'd do even better given a decent run in the first team. But where else really can we play him? So far I've seen no great evidence that he can kick a ball or control a forward pack. Both are essential skills if he's to function as anything more than a sticking-plaster should Walsh or Burns go down. He's not big enough for centre and given his height I doubt SL's giant wingers will even need to get off the ground to beat him to a corner kick. I do think he could be a very dangerous hooker rotating on and off with Roby. But I'm really scraping the barrel here.

Unfortunately, we're behind the eight-ball waiting on Lomax and McDonnell's recoveries. It's a terrible situation to be in because we won't know if either has successfully overcome their injuries until the start of next season. Maybe longer. Personally, I'd think long and hard about paying up McDonnell's contract and cutting him loose. That way we can begin working with one or two youngsters right now so that, should Lomax fall short, they are ready to take a shot.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:16 pm  

I believe the squad split is 25 players in the first team squad and 25 in the academy squad.

I can't remember exactly but it's something like £1.8 million cap for the first team and £100K for the academy.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:55 pm  

I think it's certain one or two will be farmed out on loan. There are too many good prospects in this cohort all challenging for too few slots.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 6:45 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I believe the squad split is 25 players in the first team squad and 25 in the academy squad.

I can't remember exactly but it's something like £1.8 million cap for the first team and £100K for the academy.

I'm sure I read the average academy wage was 8k so it must be higher than 100k?

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Mon Aug 03, 2015 10:41 pm  

I hope Levy turns out to be a big success. Might encourage half the town to quit moaning about immigrants stealing their jobs.