THERE were a few raised eyebrows when Saints replaced veteran former skipper Chris Joynt - with an older man!

But on the showing of the pre-season friendlies, 19 stone plus prop Paul Anderson has a spring in his step that belies his 33 years.

And the Castleford-based former Great Britain front rower has made one thing clear - he cannot see his career finishing line yet.

Anderson said: "I have a one-year deal, but that does not mean I am looking to wind down. I have not come here to see my days out and then fade into the background. I want to play a massive part here and I don't think my age is a big factor because I have not played a lot of football - game time wise."

One thing barrel-chested packman is eager to do in his stint at Knowsley Road is shake off the tag of only being a player who can only play in short bursts - with Bradford being notorious for spelling their props by the stopwatch.

"You become stereotyped - but you can only play the minutes the coach leaves you on for. In my first two games at Saints I have played 70 minutes and 60 minutes respectively.

"It was comical against Widnes because they fetched me off for 30 seconds - then I was back on again. Apparently someone heard 'Anderson' instead of 'Edmondson', but I am sure the little break did me the world of good!" said the ex-GB packman.

The front row has been a relatively weak spot for Saints in recent years - and although Nick Fozzard, Keith Mason and Mark Edmondson impressed at the beginning of last term, they were desperately in need of support after May.

"The reason I have been brought here is to assist Mark, Nick and Keith. I don't think it is any secret that these guys started tiring half way through a gruelling season.

"They just needed some back up and some size and that is where I come in.

"Hopefully guys like Keiron Cunningham and Mickey Higham can play off the back of me and that can add something to the team," said Anderson.

Favourite

Anderson is the biggest forward Saints have had on their books, and the noises that greeted his every touch of the ball in the Boxing Day friendly win over Leigh, showed he is set to become a crowd favourite.

The Popular Side roared as if they were at a Big Daddy bout as man-mountain Anderson swatted off hapless would be defenders, marking his debut with a try.

But he knows the opposition will get tougher from now on in, but he is game for that.

"You cannot read too much into the pre-season games. I am just getting used to the people around me and in that game against Leigh I was twice as old as half of my team-mates which didn't feel good," he said.

Anderson, who played at Halifax and Leeds before spending eight relatively successful seasons at Bradford, has a very good reason for joining Saints.

"Every major final Bradford have ever lost - until last year - has been against Saints.

"They have taken four or five winners medals off me in my career. If you can't beat 'em join 'em - as the Tetley Bitter advert used to say!" he quipped.

Saints fans with memories that go back before Super League are just hoping Anderson can turn out to be half as good as the last ageing Castleford-based front rower they fetched over - Kevin Ward - who acquired almost legendary status in his short stint at the club.