Stu do you worry that this trip would put Welsby, Dodd, Knowles etc in the shop window for the NRL?

Think a big factor in your recent success is keeping the core team together and not losing them to the NRL/Union (something the 2010s Wigan team couldn’t)

From what I’ve read it looks like Dodd is keen for the NRL in 2025.

Massively so. Also looking at their social media they absolutely love the lifestyle there. I know that they have been before with Saints Academy but this is completely different, they now have the better facilities, hotels, eating at better restaurants etc, worlds apart from an Academy tour that they more or less had to fund themselves by raising money.

To be honest I wouldn't blame them either. Take Welsby for example, a 21 year old kid who has already won x4 GF's and a CC. What else is there for him to achieve at Saints? Go and test yourself over there and if it doesn't work out then he's still young enough to come back here and get a marquee deal somewhere.

I know that some of the Aussies were particularly impressed with Dodd's cameo. Looks to me like he has put a bit of size on in the off season so looks even better. He'll be like a new signing as we were playing superbly up to him going off on Good Friday last year and being done for the season.

Yeah agree on the Welsby point.

NRL scouts will have noted the form of 21-year-old St Helens half Lewis Dodd - with a shortage of class number sevens in Australia, he could find some clubs knocking on his door.

Above is what Moley said in his column this morning.

In note both are out of contract at the end of 2025.

Could be some rebuilding task if they both go, especially with Lomax and Roby retiring around then.

Saints in a boat we’ve found ourselves in previously in wanting to win a WCC game but knowing that by doing so, it opens plenty of eyes over in the NRL. It’s sad for the game here that the likelihood of a British side winning a WCC just means we lose more of our best players.

If I look at it from a players POV though, they’d be mad not to go and give it a crack. I look at Welsby and Knowles in particular and why wouldn’t you want to go within the next couple of years? You’ve won everything here, you’ll get more money and a better lifestyle and you’ll get to really test where you’re at. Saints seem to be able to find ways of keeping these lads but they’ll be tested more than ever if they put in a good performance on Saturday.

I think the best guess as to when the current Saints dynasty will end would be around 2025. Roby and LMS will be gone and a number of key players will be in their mid 30s (Makinson, Walmsley, Lomax, Paasi, Hurrell) and if one or both of Dodd/Welsby leave then it may also be around that time. Id be surprised if they didnt give it a go as they would have the safety net of a Saints return whenever they wanted it.

There will be replacements when the squad starts to disband of course and no doubt they'll be good ones as they've made lots of great decisions in recent years. But 2025 would be the earliest I'd say that this current run will come to an end - it will still be incredibly challenging for the other clubs to get over the top of them in the meantime.

Agreed. I actually think that this season is our last one with this core team and the ages they are at. Nothing lasts for ever and I think that from next season onwards we will need some rebuilding and transition will follow.

Wigan will always be there and there's huge wraps on this current Academy team with by all accounts some real potential superstars in there. Warrington will come good at some point especially as they are investing in their Academy at last. Leeds are also going down the project route with some Championship players that if they get some of them right like Walmsley and Batchelor, then they will be much improved too.

As I've said before I'd love to see Welsby over there. Whilst it would weaken us I'd love him to go and kill it over there at some point.

I think it could be a year earlier. You look at the amount of rugby that the likes of Percival and Makinson have played and you'll see them picking up more injuries. Percival in particular has struggled of late and Makinson missed a few last season too.

So it's just a Friendly then ?
Best get an Asterix Ready

Let’s be honest. As much as Welsby and Dodd are fantastic SL players, there are just as many equally as good NRL players running around in reserve grade over there.

We cannot compete with the talent pool over there

Kick off time put back 50 mins due to the heat.

Suits me as I'm at CentreParcs Fri- Monday so won't have to get up as early