If I remember rightly YG, Matautia only extended his contract late on in the season and that may have had a knock on effect regarding the Whitley signing. Matautia at prop is a big gamble in my view, I think Saints should have looked for a recognised prop rather than possibly putting round pegs into square holes. I suppose time will tell whether the right decision was made.

Konrad has never been fit, he looks way over his fighting weight. Wellens will need to flog him pre-season.

Any worries you have with a guy like Hurrell (and we’ve had it over the years with Feka and to a lesser degree Mago) are doubled when they end a season in poor shape. He’s unlikely to come back in even as good a shape as he is now at the start of pre season, so there will likely be even more work needed come the start of his pre season. Add in the fact his pre season is delayed due to his Tonga involvement and it’s a big big ask.

The Hurrell gamble has worked out for Saints - he was a big part of their success in 2022 and he was a great attacking weapon in the first part of 2023. Even if he falls off a cliff now Saints fans would have taken that considering his Leeds form. But he was only ever supposed to be a back up option originally and that's probably what he should be in 2024. They'll find someone to replace Hopoate IMO even if its a punt or someone out of left field.

Saints should have taken Chris Hill for a year or 2 before he signed his Huddersfield extension. Forget his age, he's still a class act. And knowing how tight fisted he is, I'm positive he'd rather be on this side of the pennines instead of wasting all that money on petrol

Well if we're being pedantic I didn't say never. I said that they're rarely both fit and in form and I think that's pretty much on the money

The rest I agree with.

I've said many times that Wigan should have signed Chris Hill when he left Wire. He's been a tremendous servant to whichever team he has played for and was really good again for England in the series v Tonga.

Hurrel himself admited he was unfit at the end of the season he's off home to Tonga for a while wants to visit his mums grave for the first time since 2019

As a professional sportsman he should hang his head in shame. I fully understand his desire to return home and pay respects to his mother but I can’t see the visit doing anything for his fitness.

Hang his head in shame for going home after the season is over? Behave

If he comes back another stone overnight then you will have a point