IN confirming head coach Paul Wellens’ extension at Saints for a further 12 months, chairman Eamonn McManus said it would be backed up with both team strengthening and a bolstering of the coaching team.

It is tricky, Saints will have to juggle cap space and quota space, whilst also being aware that it is not fantasy rugby at a time when the NRL is awash with cash and the gulf in finance between the comps widening.

As much as clubs can engineer extra cap space through the marquee rules, for most clubs there is not an infinite budget at time when TV revenues have been cut and COVID loan repayments kick in.

Much focus has been on an ageing Saints side, one in transition from the 2019-2022 dynasty. There are signs that Saints have been seeking to evolve that partly by promotion from within.

For example when Lachlan Coote departed in 2022, Jack Welsby was already teed up for the full back spot and LMS's effective replacement has been George Delaney.

There are plenty more waiting in the wings - and Academy products were, after all, the key bedrock to all Saints' successful years. 

But there is not always a ready made replacement, hence why junior development has to be complemented by quality external recruitment.        

Saints have already moved to bring in Tristan Sailor, who will slot into a re-shuffled half back pairing next year with Lewis Dodd heading to the NRL.

Saints' wing priority

As yet there have been no strong hints on the likely replacement for wing Tommy Makinson, who will leave the club for Catalans after 14 trophy-laden seasons in the red vee.

Saints absolutely need to nail down a direct wing replacement for Makinson, who has not simply been a supreme finisher but also a strong set starter that has been integral to the club’s success.

They still have a quality squad, but the Saints first choice backline does need attention, despite having plenty of youngsters champing at the bit to break into the first team.

But anyone looking in on the Saints side knows that it is crying out for an injection of real pace – something that was less of an issue when they were able to grind teams down and out-work them, but now they need to evolve that style.

Apart from a wing to replace Makinson, there are still huge question marks over the Saints futures of off-contract Waqa Blake and Konrad Hurrell.

And earlier this week coach Wellens explained that Sione Mata’utia would be expected to make a decision on his 12-month contract option.

The decisions on those three imports will determine what Saints are looking for, and the cap space and what quota spots would be available.

Prior to his neck injury Mata’utia was arguably Saints best player of a difficult 2024 campaign in which he had to play plenty of middle. The club have offered him the option of staying for a further year, but the ball is in his court having spent the past four years in the UK.

If Mata’utia chooses to leave, then Saints must prioritise more strike in the outside backs with that cap and quota space as they are already more than adequately blessed in the back row having signed Matt Whitley last year.

Blake, who was a late 12-month signing as replacement for an in-and-out Will Hopoate, has blown hot and cold since his arrival and was dropped earlier on in the season as he struggled to find his feet and has been prone to the odd gaff. Plenty of observers are still wondering how he failed to score at Leigh the other week when presented with an open line.

Two new wings, with at least one with genuine pace, should be top of the shopping list as they have mixed and matched without ever really replacing Regan Grace who left at the end of 2022.

As cover Saints still have Tee Ritson for another year, and you would expect them to renew the stay of the still developing Jon Bennison who has scored in Grand Finals from that position.

Do Saints need to buy a centre?

Konrad Hurrell has been a popular figure in his three years at Saints, and his carries and surges to the line have offered something different to the side.

He has been ruled out for the rest of the season having needed neck surgery, so has not been able to further press his case for a new deal.

It is difficult to look at 33-year-old Hurrell in isolation. In a squad with a considerable number of players around the 30 years and above mark, Saints may have to move on Tongan centre to help the overall age profile of the side.

Saints then have to decide whether to go with the ultra-confident young talent that is former England Academy captain Jonnny Vaughan to partner Mark Percival in the centres, or go into the market for a short term buy whilst the young guns grow into the side.

Apart from the 19-year-old Vaughan, there is England Academy three-quarter Owen Dagnall, pacy Dayon Sambou and the versatile Ben Davies.

With Sailor coming into the halves at 6 and skipper Jonny Lomax moving to scrum half and Jack Welsby continuing at 1, Saints have the spine covered especially with the likes of Harry Robertson, Will Roberts and George Whitby shadowing them at 1, 6, 7.

In the pack this year’s progress of Noah Stephens so soon after George Delaney’s first team advancement adding depth to the front row options alongside the more experienced Alex Walmsley, Agnatius Paasi and Matty Lees and with middle forward Jake Wingfield coming back into that mix when he finally returns from injury.

Should Mata’utia leave they would inevitably lose some punch from the middle, but as stated earlier the priority should be on injecting more finesse and pace to the side rather than a direct pack replacement.

So for a first choice Saints 17 for next team there are still question marks over three or four positions, but plenty in reserve to cover.

How Saints could line up in Saints 2025.

1. Jack Welsby. (Harry Robertson as cover for 1, 6 and wing) 2. New recruit, (Tee Ritson and Jon Bennison as cover). 3. New recruit or Jonny Vaughan/Konrad Hurrell. 4. Mark Percival. (Ben Davies as cover). 5. New winger or Waqa Blake. 6. Tristan Sailor. (Robertson/Will Roberts as cover) 7. Jonny Lomax. (George Whitby/Moses Mbye as cover. 8 Alex Walmsley. 9. Daryl Clark. 10. Matty Lees. 11. Curtis Sironen. 12. Sione Mata’utia (if he stays) or Joe Batchelor. 13. Morgan Knowles. Subs: Moses Mbye, James Bell, Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney, Matt Whitley, Noah Stephens, Jake Wingfield, Jake Burns.

The 10 Saints off contract at the end of 2024.

There are currently 10 Saints players who are off contract at the end of 2024 (or who have not yet had contracts confirmed/announced). It is highly likely that discussions have taken place and decisions made on some retentions, but have yet to be announced. They 10n are Waqa Blake, Jon Bennison, McKenzie Buckley, Jake Burns, Ben Davies, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Lane, Sione Mata’utia, Will Roberts, Sam Royle.