So is nearly every other NRL side. Not many with 20k memberships.
Since the merger Saints did not need big name players as they inherited McGregor, Barrett, Wishart, Craig Smith, Fitzgibbon, Patten etc. all players that would have been in demand or where later snapped up. We inherited the Illawarra juniors in Hornby, Cooper, Bailey, etc. Browny snapped up some quality signing like Withers, Soward, Ennis, Kite (from memory). Brown was good at bringing in talent. Had a great eye hence why I think he would be good to bring back. Then Bennett came along and we got some great recruits in Boyd, Costigan, Jeremy Smith who were all big names at the time. On the back of the players Browny brought in.
It's just now they are struggling due to current coach. Who would want to play under this guy. His first year was terrible second year getting worse.
Craig Young also looks to have gone offside with the players managers hence why they don't deal with us much which is also a concern.