WITH the season’s end seeing some high-profile departures, and so far three external recruits replacing them it will be something of a new-look Saints squad in 2025.

Long serving wing Tommy Makinson has joined Catalans Dragons, Lewis Dodd has switched to South Sydney Rabbitohs with Waqa Blake departing and Sione Mata’utia today announcing his retirement from sport.

Sam Royle, Ben Lane and McKenzie Buckley have also moved on from last year’s top squad, with their places expected to be filled by promotion from within from last year’s Academy runners up and Reserves Grand Final winners.

Coming in is prolific NRL try-scoring wingman Kyle Feldt, replacing Makinson, after finishing in Australia with a strong season with North Queensland Cowboys.

Also joining from the NRL is former Wakefield speedster Lewis Murphy who effectively replaces Blake – although some would argue he is effectively a belated replacement for Regan Grace, who departed in 2022.

Although not a like-for-like replacement for Dodd, another NRL incomer Tristan Sailor will likely move in at number six with Jonny Lomax switching back to scrum half.

It does leave Saints’ spine without a dominant last play go-to kicker, who can control the game like say a Harry Smith at Wigan, but that will be something that Paul Wellens and particularly new attack coach Lee Briers will have to work in pre-season.

Lomax is no stranger to the number seven role, having held down that position in the 2011 and 2012 campaigns – and then steering the team to Grand Final success when returning there in 2022 despite a ruptured bicep.

The other ingredient to factor in will be the pace of Sailor, alongside Lomax and with Jack Welsby chiming in from full back.

Waiting in the wings for a second opportunity, after a try-scoring debut last year, is teenage scrum half George Whitby – a player with arguably the best, and most varied toolkit at the club when it comes to kicking game.

And then also coming into the equation for 1 and 6 is teenager Harry Robertson, whose pace, footwork and unpredictability was a breath of fresh air in an often turgid campaign.

Given his talent, it is highly like that Robertson may fill in places other than 1 and 6 should opportunities knock.

Wellens has already hinted he could follow a similar trajectory as Welsby who played plenty of rugby on the wing and in the centre before nailing down his spot.

So far there has been no replacement for Mata’utia, who today announced his retirement from professional sport after 11 years of top-flight rugby league.

Although Saints appear to be well-blessed with back rows to absorb the loss of Mata’utia – with Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, Matt Whitley, James Bell and Jake Wingfield - his absence may be felt in other areas.

For a good chunk of last term his services were utilised as a prop – and, also through necessity with mixed results, centre.

The physical attributes that Mata’utia brought to the Saints’ game – that aggressive shoulder-in and lift tackle, harassing of kickers and the punch in his carry, will be something that the team will sorely miss next year. So big boots to fill – and a popular character among players and fans alike.

Having had their fingers burnt last year with the belated rush to sign Blake to replace Will Hopoate, Saints may be even more guarded in this last bit of recruitment.

At the moment, prior to any further elevation from below or external signings, Saints will go into the 2025 with five props – Alex Walmsley, Matty Lees, Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney and Noah Stephens.

After a break-out season in which he featured 14 times, the just turned 20 year old will continue to knock on the door and will benefit an off-season as a fully-fledged first teamer.

Bringing a size that Saints lack on occasion – Stephens will continue to vie with Paasi, who is in the last year of his contract, for that big man spot on the bench.

The concern is that front row – studying the events and impact of the past two years – is prone to the occupational hazards of injury and suspension.

They do have players that can play loose/middle, with a fit again former WCC winner Jake Wingfield ready to start the new campaign, and Morgan Knowles can always push up as he did in 2023 and for England.

But if Saints do have any cash free – then another big unit or a centre would top of the list.

However, it is not fantasy rugby – and an additional thing that must be factored in cap-wise is the impact of losing two club trained players in Makinson and Dodd, and replacing them with two NRL stars without such dispensation.

There will undoubtably be some juggling going on – and maybe an adjustment within the squad with marquees, whilst also being mindful that a few of the starlets poking their noses through will be looking at upgrades in the future.

But it brings us to arguably Saints’ current biggest weakness – centre. Seeing Mata’utia play there at the back end of last year underlined that.

There has so far been no final confirmation that Konrad Hurrell will be staying, although that seems the likely outcome pending an all-clear from the specialists this month on the significant neck injury that wrote off the second half of 2024.

Unless there is a rabbit being produced from a hat somewhere, all the signs point to Hurrell and Mark Percival being Saints centres again next season, with two new wing partners.

Ben Davies has filled in there at times, and former England Academy captain Jonny Vaughan will be looking to add to the eight appearances he made last year in what was a baptism of fire – being on the winning side just once in that run of games with the injury-ravaged side.

Speedy youngster Dayon Sambou caught the eye with his long-range try against Salford in the pre-season friendly, but injury impacted his season. Like Owen Dagnall, he too is waiting for his first senior shout.

Some of the shirt numbers may change, but here is Saints' possible squad list for 2025: 1. Jack Welsby, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3 Konrad Hurrell (TBC), 4. Mark Percival, 5. Lewis Murphy. 6. Tristan Sailor, 7. Jonny Lomax, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Curtis Sironen, 12. Joe Batchelor, 13. Morgan Knowles. 14. Moses Mbye, 15. James Bell, 16. George Delaney, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jake Wingfield, 19. Matt Whitley, 20. Noah Stephens, 21. Ben Davies, 22. Jon Bennison, 23. Jake Burns, 24, Jonny Vaughan, 25. Harry Robertson, 26. Tee Ritson, 27. Owen Dagnall, 28. George Whitby, 29. Dayon Sambou, 30. Will Roberts, 31. Leon Cowen. (Plus any promoted youngsters).