For me bell will be 18th/19th man along with amor
14. Lussick
15. Lms
16. Paasi
17. Batchelor - he deserves it after this season. Cant drop him for new comers
Delighted for James Bell that he has managed to sign for a club like Saints. Didn't work out for him at NZ Warriors, but starred for Toulouse in the championship before signing for us. Played nearly every game at loose forward for us, apart from a couple at stand off. Not sure how many games he'll start for you, but not a bad player to have on the bench or if you have injuries.
I suppose it’s about availability. Knowles could still be one of the best props in the country, have a massive impact on the team, and isn’t a huge departure on the role he plays in the team now. I guess it boils down to is having Bell at 13 better or worse than Amor or LMS at prop. Given we have given Bell a two year deal, you have to assume the answer is yes?
Knowles will not move to prop.
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Signing Bell ends all the speculation?
At least Bell seems genuinely excited to be coming here.
All this recruitment addded to the strong development of our home grown talent is looking excellent as we transition towards the future. It really is good work from the club.
Woolfe has been a brilliant coach bringing the youngsters through. So Im Not worried about anyone losing out because someone else has signed.
Maybe people are starting to appreciate KW now?
NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS
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Fair to say this guys debut was worth the wait! Tremendous performance yesterday.
Welsby, Field, Lolehea, Coote, Tomkins all comfortably ahead of Connor. Evalds and Ratchford in the same bracket I would say, but that makes Connor, statistically at least, mediocre at best.
Anyway thought Bell played really well today. Thought he was trying too hard in the first 15 minutes, looking for a big shots and shooting the line. Once he settled down he was excellent and really looked the part.
With Sironen back, Mata’utia shouldn’t be too far away, Batchelor and Knowles in good form, and Wingfield highly rated, there’s some serious competition for the backrow places coming
Bit of a sidetrack, but if Batchelor can continue to get regular game time with that competition and continue to improve as he has, he could be in with a shout of an England place in the near future. Not too many English back rowers playing great at the moment. Obviously Knowles and Bateman ahead, but how many others?