Looking at what you put together
@Auntie.Gerald Saints have improved their register with some smart buys. Thanks for putting it together as it made me realise this recruitment has not been as bad as what has been made of it. They may not be world beaters but definitely better than what they had.
People can look at what the Tigers and Dogs have brought in but they don't look at what they let go. Saints lost JHunt, Woods, Mbye, Bud, Kerr, Musgrove, Burns, Ramsey, Moga & Amone. People like me are still sore about losing Bud out of the lot and you cannot really include Ramsey as he has a medical condition and Amone so Saints had no choice but lose them for 2024. For the other guys, are they really such a big loss that will come back and bite us? Can you really see them making such a huge impact apart to their new clubs apart from Bud if fit?
If you look at Tigers, they lose Blore, Brooks, Laurie, Maumalo, Ofehengaue, Tommy Talau and Wakeman. Of those Blore is still young and can make a difference to a new squad especially under Bellamy, Brooks and Laurie are pretty handy as well and can spark something out of nothing to break a game. I know Brooks has copped criticism but he was a Daly M winner and I would not be surprised if he gets to those levels with a fresh start and new team. He can become one of the NRL's top 5 halves at his best. Laurie will be so much better under Cleary as well at Penrith. I would have loved him to come at Saints as I like how he plays. I am sure if Saints signed Ofahengaue, Laurie, Brooks and Blore we would not be too dissapointed. These guys have been replaced by youngsters, Olam and Sezer for 2024.
Dogs let go of Alamoti, Averillo, RFM, Flanno, TPJ, Luke Thompson, Waddell. All pretty handy under a different coach and replaced with I feel like for like. Only improvement is Crichton but Averillo under Bennett and Alamoti under Cleary may have outsanding seasons to counter that. What makes this interesting is the 4 forwards of RFM, TPJ, Thompson and Waddell and the only big boppers they brought in to replace them is Curran & Faamausili. They replaced there squad with versatile utilities but not big bodies like what they had. Ciraldo must have a short memory from his time at Penrith because alot of their success comes from their big pack especially Leota & Fisher-Harris. Without the big boys making the yards how will they capitilise on their attack with the one of the best centres in the game playing 5/8 in Burton and the youngster in Sexton at 1/2? Not sure but having a complete new squad will take longer to gel than a team that has a few changes so time will tell if they come good.