Am I missing some sarcasm here or is this a genuine post?

You are missing the sarcasm!!!

I get what you mean, but there is no harm in having a massive number to choose from. It should make it a more competitive pack in terms of starting places. It would only take an injury to LMS and Amor and we would need the likes of Clough and Laffranchi to move from a bench spot to a starting spot leaving spots on the bench for Walker and Thompson and Beaumount.



It's likely we are going to be playing with LMS at loose so effectively 5 props a match. They will get bumps and knocks so rather than playing with a bump a week later, you can rotate one out one in.



We did it with Graham, Baloo, Fozzard, Cayless and Tuilangi? (I think that was the line up).

Each week one would miss out to keep them fresh or to cover injury. It made for a competitive pack and I think Fozzard missed out on the GF. If we are playing effectively 5 props each week with LMS at loose then, there will be always 6 or 7 props getting regular games.

Faasavulu.

I know what you mean, the 5 props in the squad thing may have a bearing on it, but with Beaumont signed and forward back up from Flash, Walker, Clough, Greenwood, Richards and alike, I don't think Boof's a keeper.

The more I think about this signing the more I like it. I am not convinced that Amor is the superstar in the making that some people are saying he is but he is a good player that fills a massive hole in our team. That is a true starting prop rather than an interchange prop.



We have had 4 problem positions this year (prop x2, stand off, scrum half) and this signing takes us to 3 our of 4 filled very well. This also means that Masoe is definitely been signed as an interchange prop and Beaumont has been signed as a squad player (5th choice prop).



This leaves us with a very large pack with the likes of LMS and Laffranchi moving into the back row, with plenty of competition for places in the pack especially in the front row. I still believe the key to our success in 2006 was having 5 international class front rowers. I don't see how any club can last 30+ games in a year with the same 4 props.



Regarding our last "problem position" stand off you feel the club has the players to fill this spot Wilkin, Hohaia, Wheeler will all be looking to fill in. Given we have a playmaker at fullback and Brown is clearly going for a big pack Wilkins nature position in the team probably is stand off.

Just like I transformed the heat from a mid table team to greatness, Amor could do the same for St Helens.



Regards



King James

I don't think anyone is saying he's a superstar, but he's as good as the other props on the edges of international honours.



Amor's stats are up there with the likes of Chris Hill - in a far poorer team he averages 112m per game at 7.8m per carry (109m @ 7.2m for Hill) and busts more tackles.



Comparing to Scott Taylor at Wigan, who I think has been excellent this season, his average gain and tackle busts per carry are higher despite carrying the ball far more often and making more tackles in a weaker team.



He's a top, young, go-forward prop and just what Saints needed.

Great signing! About time we beat other teams to a good player.

Should this squad being assembled for next year boost season ticket sales?

Improved squad + cladding should equal bigger crowds if the whingers are true to their word.

He will definately fill a gap and although, for me, he isnt the player i would have chosen for Saints from the ones available he looks to be the best. So well done to Saints for addressing this seasons issues.



We will however have an issue next year that NB will need to address. The fact that we now seem to have 2 impact props neither of which on this years form look like starters.

NB will have to be really crafty with his interchanges next year and this may burn through more than he would like.

You cannot have both of these players on the field at the same time (except in exceptional circumstances) so managing their game time will be crucial.

Penrith this year have been using Masoe in a very organised way, he comes on at about 20 - 22 mins and plays the 20 - 18 mins till half time. he then plays the opening 8 - 12 mins of the second half. They then bring him on sometime in the last 12 mins - so he can fill at the most 44 mins at the least 35 mins, but doing this he was running on empty for about 8 of those mins especially at the end of the 1st half in his last game against Manly. Probably because he wasted energy in a fight.

So that would mean Walmsley would need to cover 2 stints each of about 22 mins - this season he doesnt look capable of doing this.

So do you have a second row/loose forward fill in at prop for at least a 10 minute spell as needed and bring in other back row replacements? - seems like an idea for me.

Amour is probably a 50 - 60 min prop and there isnt an obvious opposite to him so prop management will be one of NB's headaches for next year - mind you its a better headache to have than trying to put Perry into a shirt

I don't see why Walmsley and Masoe can't be on the field at the same time. They wouldn't be a good starting pair, but bringing them both on after 20-30 mins would be devastating IMO. Laffranchi can spell the steady stuff with Amor.